Rhythm games have come a long way from the arcade scene in the late '90s and early '00s. back then, there was no need to worry about a narrative or characters, you were only there for two things: the music and the satisfaction of matching the music with your steps.
But now, the gameplay more often than not is simply a means to an end; a device to deliver different types of stories to the player that makes sense in the unique way rhythm games could. This is a celebration of narratively strong rhythm games. Each of them deserves a look or two.
8 Space Channel 5
A game that's as much about style as it is about rhythm, Sega Dreamcast's Space Channel 5 starts with the main character Ulala as she fights off an overwhelming alien invasion and rescues the victims of alien kidnapping.
The story is a fun time, but by no means deep, and that's okay. Sometimes, we just want to get away and shoot some aliens to the beat of Michael Jackson. Yes, that is a real thing in this game. It'll have you in a dancing mood by the time you reach the end of Ulala's journey to becoming a famous hero.
7 Arcaea
Arcaea's story isn't clear-cut and can be a little vague if you aren't familiar with its lore, but just because it's a little hard to piece together does not mean that it isn't worth a look. It deals with heavy subjects as well as the concept of being trapped within a cycle of fighting and pain. Knowing the truth about what's happening won't save you, as you are forced to live it out anyway.
The only real downside to this entry is that most of the story is locked behind a paywall, meaning F2P folk is out of luck outside the free songs that are available.
6 Parappa The Rappa
A classic entry, and probably a lot of players' first foray into the rhythm game genre, Parappa the Rappa has a relatable coming-of-age story of being a teenager just trying to find out who you are and how can you get a car as fast as possible to impress your crush.
Most of the jokes and story beats still hold up to this day, and the music bops just as well as it did when first released. The remastered version is the ultimate way to experience this classic, just make sure you follow that cake recipe correctly, or you'll have to answer to Cheap Cheap.
5 Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory
Good old Kingdom Hearts decided to throw itself into the rhythm game genre. That's no surprise from Square Enix, seeing how Final Fantasy Theatrhythm was a good game. But what a lot of Kingdom Hearts fans dreaded at the announcement of Melody of Memory had come to pass: it is part of the official Kingdom Hearts canon.
But let's face it, were we really surprised? Every single game to come from the franchise is canon. Every mobile game, every Nintendo game that exists, explains the world and plot to some extent. There's even a canon game to explain why King Mickey had no shirt at the end of Kingdom Hearts. Lore enthusiasts will have a great time trying to find where in the timeline this game takes place while jamming out to the classic Kingdom Hearts music catalog.
4 Deemo
Deemo has a lot of heart built into every part of its presentation. It stands out on its music alone, with most of its songs having a more melodic tone due to being a piano-based game, while others of the same genre tend to lean into the electric side of the musical spectrum. There's nothing wrong with electronic music, but sometimes you just need some soft piano music to make you feel all warm inside.
At its core, Deemo is a story about grief and how, despite the pain and emptiness you are feeling after losing a loved one, you must press on and find a way forward and honor those who loved you. It's a touching and beautiful game with a little sadness within its heart.
3 Lanota
The world has stopped turning and stagnated. All sound has ceased to exist, and the people who were unfortunate enough to remain have lost most of their memories. The only hope the world has rested on the shoulders of two friends with the power to cleanse the world of Al Niente, the mysterious entity/substance responsible for the world's current state.
You explore themes of sacrifice, secrets, and futility in the game, and at times you are left wondering whether or not the journey you've gone on so far is even worth the effort. Are you only delaying the inevitable? The circle interface you are using during gameplay is called a Notalium Tuner and is directly responsible for your rhythmic purification efforts.
2 Lost In Harmony
Wanting to escape the hard things that you go through in life is a normal response, and some people do everything they can to get away from the thoughts and sadness for as much as they can. Kaito, the protagonist, is no different. He watches his friend suffering from illness, and there isn't anything he can do to help other than visit her. So, he does the next best thing he can think of: dream.
The bulk of the gameplay takes place in Kaito's dream world with his friend (girlfriend?). All of his dreams start peacefully enough, she holds onto his back as he skates on his board toward their future, but things never remain peaceful for long, as all kinds of dangers, including tsunamis, chase them down to remind him of his inevitable reality. If you are in the mood to cry, this could be the one for you.
1 Everhood
Everhood deserves much more recognition. Not only is it a fun reverse rhythm game --avoiding the notes instead of touching them to the beat -- but it comes with an art style that is a mix of Undertale-like pixelated art with psychedelic 3-D backgrounds during combat that will mess with your perception as you play.
You start the game off as Red, a wooden doll who has gained sentience and goes on a search for its missing arm. As they come across new characters, they eventually amass a following and eventually gain the ability to talk to the universe itself. Not a bad deal for giving up your implied humanity. The music is phenomenal and matches the style of the graphics and gameplay to the letter.