Image: RobTop Games, Graphic: HGG
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Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
Simple in concept but diverse in their execution, rhythm games range from straightforward obstacles courses that players must navigate to a beat to more developed and elaborate storylines with tempo and other music-related themes at their core. Most rhythm games include expanding libraries of contemporary pop music or original music to discover. What’s true, rhythm games are fun and addictive, and you can’t play just one. Get started or discover your new favorite with this list of the best rhythm games for iOS.
Best Rhythm Games for iOS, Ranking List
We’ll start off with the 15th pick and climb to the #1 top pick.
15/15
One Hand Clapping (OHC)
- Price: $9.99
- Full controller support
- Microphone permission required
- Ages 9+
Up first in our ranking of the best rhythm games for iOS is One Hand Clapping, a vocal 2D platformer in which you’ll solve puzzles by humming, singing, or beatboxing into the mic on your phone. Gameplay takes place in one of six elaborately designed biomes, and the more you’re able to utilize harmony, rhythm, and melody, the better you’ll get. No music experience is necessary. We like the fun characters you’ll meet along the way, keeping things interesting and cheering you on.
In the “Duet Desert” portion of the game, some players weren’t able to get their voices to get low enough, but others were able to adjust the voice range on their phone to solve the problem. The game is also a bit of a battery drainer, based on some feedback.
14/15
Friday Night Funkin
- Price: FREE
- All ages
- Requires iOS 10.0 or later
- Popular indie game
Friday Night Funkin is the next pick in our list of the best rhythm games for iOS. In a fun twist on the formula, this indie game has you competing with your in-game girlfriend’s mom and dad, just by matching rhythms whenever the arrows point in your direction. The music in the game really sets the mood, and just use the arrows on your phone to adjust the rhythm and match whatever song the game is playing. The in-game mom and dad used to be rock stars, but don’t let that scare you.
There are lots of Friday Night Funkin FAQs available online if you ever get stuck. Checking how well you’re doing against your opponent along the bottom of the screen is a really nice feature. This app is only for two players, though.
13/15
Dynamix
- Price: Free (in-app purchases)
- All ages
- Premium version available
- More than 20 original songs
Next up is Dynamix, a mobile music game that helps you compose a song during gameplay. The triple-dropping track design creates the authentic experience of different instruments as they are played. There are five levels of difficulty to choose from, with more tracks able to be unlocked as the game progresses. Collectible characters help you get past the most difficult levels. There is also a nice variety of music available to keep things interesting, no matter your taste.
The game is otherwise a lot of fun. The beats you’ll produce match up really well with the catchy music, based on feedback. If you’re new to rhythm games, the easy-to-understand charts make this a good place to start. Things do get more difficult, though, as skills improve.
12/15
Groove Coaster 2 Original Style
- Price: Free (in-app purchases)
- Free songs as you level up
- All ages
- Nice retro style
With more than three million downloads, all that’s required to play Groove Coaster 2 Original Style is tapping your finger in time with the music. Or instead, sing, clap, or use any object in your surroundings for an instrument. Based on a popular Japanese arcade game, there’s a good selection of music to choose from, with more tracks added consistently. There’s also an upgrade event feature in this most recent version of the game, with full color avatars now available.
Fun and immersive, Groove Coaster 2 Original Style has an awesome soundtrack, and gameplay is forgiving for beginners, based on feedback. Look out for curve balls thrown at you during a “mission,” where you can also earn consumable items to change things up. The UI could be improved, but the mechanics are overall strong.
11/15
Planet Quest
- Price: Free (in-app purchases)
- Mild cartoon and fantasy violence
- Updated with Apple Watch app icon
- Requires iOS 8.1 or later
Like many rhythm games, Planet Quest’s objective is pretty simple — tap the screen, match the rhythm, unlock songs, and level up. The fun avatars (like rabbits and giraffes) are what truly sets this game apart, though. It’s fun to watch your score climb the leaderboard, with high scores announced once a week (first spot gets the ad-free version of the game). The game downloads with a full hour of original music and a homemade music tracker.
Planet Quest fans call the game truly beautiful. It’s super fun and addictive, though others note that you need to match the tempo to be truly successful. The boards, rhythms, and music change get harder as gameplay progresses, and the “flowery” Earth level is particularly challenging.
10/15
Lost in Harmony
- Price: Free (in-app purchases)
- Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence
- Requires iOS 9.1 or later
- No ads at all
Breaking the top ten in our list of best rhythm games for iOS is Lost in Harmony from Digixart Entertainment. With more than 28K levels to play, Lost in Harmony almost made the app store’s Best of 2016. All it really takes to play the game well is swiping in time with the music while jumping to avoid obstacles. Songs in the game are from noted musicians like Wyclef Jean, among others. There are two storylines to follow — M.I.R.A.I.’s Escape and Kaito’s Adventure.
The game plays smoothly, with a good story to follow and graphics, based on feedback. You may even find yourself attached to the characters. The ability to create your own levels is an especially popular feature, although some players find the level editor a little confusing.
9/15
Lanota — Music Game with Story
- Price: $1.99 (in-app purchases)
- Secret library election vol. 3 “Sunday Afternoon Tea” now available
- Mild cartoon or fantasy violence
- Mild profanity or crude humor
Can the power of music really save the world? According to Lanota, the answer to that question is yes. By tapping along to the rhythm, you not only unlock new levels with uniquely designed boss stages, but slowly and surely revive the world. There’s unique animation throughout, with a good selection of music and collectible achievements, as well as a leaderboard to track and compare your progress with other players.
The dynamic circular playing field is a particularly popular part of the game, based on feedback. Play on the master level, and it’s too hard for some. But overall, the game caters to a broad range of skill and experience levels, and the storylines are engaging.
8/15
Voez
- Price: Free (in-app purchases)
- All ages
- Requires iOS 10.0 or later.
- Wi-fi connection required
In Voez, the protagonist Chelsea has started a band with her besties at Lan Kong High School. The only thing Chelsea loves more than music is baking. Your job is to follow Chelsea and her friends as they pursue their music careers. New tracks are constantly added, and you can engage in real-time competition with players from all over the world. A leaderboard helps track your progress.
The game is pretty customizable in terms of both difficulty and speed, we found out. The music selection is large and always growing. You can also pay to unlock even more choices. A strong story component is a popular aspect for many players. Overall, it’s a beautiful twist on the idol game format.
7/15
Deemo II
- Price: Free (in-app purchases)
- Better tutorials
- Song sampling now possible
- Requires iOS 11.0 or later
Deemo II is an all-ages update on one of the most well-known and well-reviewed rhythm games ever. Deemo takes place in a musical kingdom under attack from a villain known only as “The Ancestor.” Echo and Deemo move through the world and dodge the Hollow Rain, which causes characters to blossom into white flower pedals before they completely disappear. Solving the mystery of “The Composer” is the key to the game, with 30 core songs, great graphics and artstyle, and a DLC song pack for even better selection.
Syncopated rhythms make the game even more of a challenge, and overall, playing is a beautiful experience that evokes a strong emotional response. The music itself always shines through, which is what any rhythm game should be about.
6/15
Love Live! School Idol Festival
- Price: Free (In-app purchases)
- All ages
- UI adjustments from earlier versions
- Special Practice voice issue fixed
With millions of players worldwide and more than 100 songs to choose from, Love Live! School Idol Festival is the next rhythm game in our list. We like the playthrough Live Shows, the engrossing storylines, the loads of in-game events, the companion match, and all the new stories to unlock. We also like how this latest version of the game lets you join up with other players to test your skills, with cute original costumes for your characters to wear. Several songs from earlier editions of the game make repeat appearances.
Love Live! School Idol Festival is surprisingly fun and addictive, based on feedback. And although there are in-app purchases, spending money is not necessary to get the full game experience. The beatmaps are consistent. Collecting cards is a lot of fun, and so, too, is deck building. It’s also quite generous with the in-game currency, we learned.
5/15
TAPSONIC TOP — Music Game
- Price: Free (in-app purchases)
- New sound design unpopular with some
- All ages
- Some data linked to you
Tracking the evolution from idol to superstar, TAPSONIC TOP — Music Game cracks the top five in our list. This well-reviewed game from NEOWIZ features ever-changing touch lines, with DJMAX songs, TOP originals, and classics to choose from. Just switch to grand-prix mode for real-time ranking against other competitors, and each idol (and song) emphasizes a different attribute, from vocals to dancing and more. Simply tap along to the rhythm and beat to score the most points.
What helped us feel confident in putting TAPSONIC TOP near the top in our ranking was feedback calling it energetic, fun, and fast-paced with visual appeal and great character designs and backgrounds. One person said they’ve played the game for years and rarely get tired of it — which is just what we like to hear. The added tutorials are there to help new players get started.
4/15
Tap Tap Music-Pop Songs
- Price: Free (in-app purchases)
- Ages 12+
- Requires iPadOS 10.0 or later.
- Subscription version available
With new music added weekly, Tap Tap Music-Pop Songs is one of most simple and well-designed rhythm designs we reviewed. In this popular and well-reviewed app, there’s also lots of familiar music from K-Pop to rock, and from EDM to hip hop. All you need to do is tap the ball as it bounces to get it into the scoring area. Shots are graded at the three different levels — perfect, great, and good — and things get harder as gameplay goes on. The more perfect shots you get, the better your overall score will be.
Some fans compare the game to Guitar Hero. There’s no off-line mode available so you do need an internet connection to play, which is a drawback for some people. The music selection also receives good feedback from users. Even more songs are unlocked with a subscription, which also includes a trial period.
3/15
Cytus II
- Price: Free (in-app purchases)
- Ages 12+
- Requires iOS 10.0 or later
- Connection authentication for in-app purchases
Cytus II from Rayark International Limited is a sequel to one of the most popular rhythm games in history. In this well-reviewed game, virtual reality has taken hold. It’s on the eve of Æsir-FEST where the game’s action picks up, with tickets to this first-of-its-kind event going fast. Otherwise, Cytus II offers Cytus II an “Active Judgment Line” rhythm game playstyle, with more than 250 songs, 50 of which come free with the game (the rest are in-app purchases).
There are also hundreds of charts ranging from easy to hard, and a fun cast of characters with whom you can explore the virtual world. This mobile masterpiece is worth every penny. The mechanics of the game are fun and intuitive with diverse music selection, all while following a unique and engaging narrative.
2/15
Arcaea
- Price: Free (in-app purchases)
- Two new “beyond” difficulties
- All ages
- Requires iOS 11.4 or later
In the penultimate slot in our list of the best rhythm games for iOS is Acaea, from lowiro. In this arcade-style experience, you’ll hear music from all over the world, broken into songs of light and songs of conflict in a world that’s been shattered by discord. There are two main characters, Hikari and Tairitsu. Each song “shard” they encounter communicates what the world was, and how to rebuild it into something new. The game’s difficulty grows as your skills improve, and the song selection expands to help keep things interesting.
We especially like the new online friends feature and the new scoreboards. The levels never get so hard as to become unenjoyable, and updates come regularly. You do have to pay some money to get new music maps, and it’s also a bit better suited for iPad instead of the iPhone. Otherwise, the game tells you if you are late or slow, and the controls are well-suited to the interface.
1/15
Geometry Dash
- Price: $1.99 (ad-supported versions available)
- All ages
- Apple Watch app icon update
- New folders and level sorting
First place in our ranking is the well reviewed and incredibly popular Geometry Dash, a rhythmic music platforming game that’s bred several spinoffs, including Geometry Dash Meltdown, Geometry Dash World, Geometry Dash SubZero, and Geometry Dash Lite, among others. The long-awaited Geometry Dash 2.2 is tentatively scheduled for release sometime in 2022. In any version of the game, players navigate their character — a lively and charming little geometric shape — over the obstacles in time with the music, including dangerous passageways and other spiky objects.
It’s simple and addictive, just like the best rhythm game should be. Currently on version 2.1.1 — the very last one before 2.2 is released, developers promise — there are great new icons and effects, level leaderboards, and a weekly demon challenge. Players call Geometry Dash the best app ever. We love all the icons, levels, and different prizes to earn along the way.
Join the High Ground
That’s it for our list of the best rhythm games for iOS in 2022 — thanks for reading! If you have any other games you’d like to suggest, leave them in the comments below. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more rankings like this!
Happy gaming!
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