Beat to the Beat: Assorted rhythm-hybrid games

Games that make pushing buttons at the right time feel even groovier. This uses "hybrid" as a catch all term - anything non-standard combined with conventional rhythm game mechanics you'd expect from your Guitar Heros, Parappas or Rock Bands is fair game, be it shooting, platforming, giving orders, etc. Feel free to suggest any of your favourites if you have any, no doubt this is missing plenty.

Some side notes:
- Jamphibian's another upcoming one of these, a rhythm/ARPG hybrid specifically, but it doesn't seem to have a page on here yet.
- This isn't in any particular order; Brutal Legend, NEO TWEWY and 3D World are only at the very bottom because their inclusion's more about one or two specific mechanics rather than the entire games.

Hi-Fi Rush
Hi-Fi Rush
Mother 3
Mother 3
Super Mario 3D Land
Super Mario 3D Land
Same as 3D World.
NEO: The World Ends with You
NEO: The World Ends with You
The main meat of the game (i.e. its combat) doesn't really feature any rhythm stuff, but it has this feature calling Soundsurfing where you can move around hub zones faster if you time Rindo's movements to the beat of the music and which also starts you off more resources in the next fight you get into, so I think it's worth mentioning to an extent.
Super Mario 3D World
Super Mario 3D World
Features slot machine mini-levels where jumping to the beat of the music'll get you the best rewards, as well as a level called Beep Block Skyway where the platforms fade in and out in time with this tune.
Metal: Hellsinger
Metal: Hellsinger
Sayonara Wild Hearts
Sayonara Wild Hearts
Crypt of the NecroDancer
Crypt of the NecroDancer
Everhood
Everhood
Muse Dash
Muse Dash
Beat Saber
Beat Saber
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
Rhythm Heaven
Rhythm Heaven
Rhythm Heaven Fever
Rhythm Heaven Fever
Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend
From memory I don't think rhythm mechanics play into this very much and it's mostly just in the presentation, but I've stuck it on here anyhow because of how you summon certain units in the RTS bits (timed button presses presented in the style of a music sheet). Don't ask me why Ocarina of Time isn't here too, alright?
Gitaroo Man
Gitaroo Man
Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring the Legend of Zelda
Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring the Legend of Zelda
Rez
Rez
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory
Thumper
Thumper
Patapon
Patapon
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Audiosurf
Audiosurf
Bit.Trip Runner
Bit.Trip Runner
Rhythm Doctor
Rhythm Doctor
Patapon 2
Patapon 2
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy
Just Shapes & Beats
Just Shapes & Beats
Bust A Groove
Bust A Groove
Patapon 3
Patapon 3
Pistol Whip
Pistol Whip
Rez Infinite
Rez Infinite
Audiosurf 2
Audiosurf 2
Child of Eden
Child of Eden
Amplitude
Amplitude
Bust A Groove 2
Bust A Groove 2
No Straight Roads
No Straight Roads
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: All-Star Carnival
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: All-Star Carnival
Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure
Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure
Gitaroo Man Lives!
Gitaroo Man Lives!
Mad Rat Dead
Mad Rat Dead
Gun Jam
Gun Jam
BPM: Bullets Per Minute
BPM: Bullets Per Minute
Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure
Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure
Theatrhythm Dragon Quest
Theatrhythm Dragon Quest
Afterlove EP
Afterlove EP
Noisz
Noisz
Good Knight
Good Knight
Unbeatable: White Label
Unbeatable: White Label
BeatBeat
BeatBeat
I've inadvertently stolen this title, it seems.
The Metronomicon: Slay the Dance Floor
The Metronomicon: Slay the Dance Floor
Lo-Fi Room
Lo-Fi Room
Yoiyami Dancers
Yoiyami Dancers
Unbeatable
Unbeatable
God of Rock
God of Rock
Rift of the Necrodancer
Rift of the Necrodancer
Touhou Spell Bubble
Touhou Spell Bubble
Terrorhythm
Terrorhythm
Gurumin 3D: A Monstrous Adventure
Gurumin 3D: A Monstrous Adventure
Noisz Starlivht
Noisz Starlivht
Ratatan
Ratatan
Jungle Rumble
Jungle Rumble
Serial Lover
Serial Lover
Noisz Re:Verse
Noisz Re:Verse

14 Comments


1 year ago

Gurumin might fit the bill here, it's basically a dungeoneering hack and slash game where attacking to the beat of the music deals critical damage.
WOOOO NOISZ REPRESENT...........so bookmarking this list also
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood may fit the bill. Everyone says the combat system is literally just Elite Beat Agents. Can’t remember if the music was synced to your inputs though so it may not fit the bill. Either way I highly recommend everyone play it as it’s an underrated gem and the general consensus on it is wrong. I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL!

1 year ago

This comment was deleted

1 year ago

You can't leave Yoiyami Dancers out like that

1 year ago

oh and Touhou Spell Bubble of course

1 year ago

thanks for the list, Id been looking for something like this
Thanks all, happy some are finding this useful. Just added Gurumin, Sonic Chronicles, Yoiyami Dancers and Touhou Spell Bubble there now.

1 year ago

Oh yeah and Mother 3! Might be the true pioneer rhythm hybrids, plus it does some really funky stuff such as including songs with completely inexplicable rhythm signatures just to throw you off.
No worries, good shout. Added Mother 3 as well.
Super Mario 3D World could be put amongst Brutal Legend and NEO TWEWY because if you time the slots to the rhythm, you can get a full row.

https://youtu.be/5YZ52pWn9Ms
That's a good one, thanks Beanix. I actually thought of 3D World too because of that level where the platforms appear/disappear in time with the music, but I didn't know until now that that minigame was tied to it as well. I'll slap it on here with an asterisk.
Oh well if you're counting levels as well, Super Mario Galaxy 2 has Beat Block Galaxy, 3D Land has some levels with that mechanic, and Captain Toad has beat blocks, but you don't really jump so I don't know if the latter really counts since you just walk.
No probs, I'll leave Treasure Tracker off for now since I'm not too sure about it myself but I've stuck on 3D Land for the same reasoning as its big (little?) brother.


Last updated: