The success of Friday Night Funkin’ has been unexpected, to say the least. The rhythm genre has seen a rise in interest ever since the title has kicked off in popularity. Players have even sought out mods for Friday Night Funkin’ to enhance the entertainment value.

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However, the game isn’t the only one that’s worth trying out. There are plenty of other options for players to immerse themselves in, other dance-related titles and similar rhythm games that have a unique twist of their own. So for players jonesing for that thematic fun only music games can bring, check out these other titles.

Updated September 28th, 2021 by Russ Boswell: Friday Night Funkin' continues to grow in popularity thanks to an incredibly active modding community and a recent Kickstarter for a "complete game" that reached well over its starting goal. There is so much to enjoy in the FNF universe, with absolutely rocking songs, a surprising amount of lore, great character designs, and simplistic yet addictive gameplay. But those that like FNF and are craving more like it will find an abundance of games like Friday Night Funkin available in the genre. Rhythm games have really come out of their shell in recent years, with many releases subverting the genre and creating some truly incredible experiences. To shine a better light on some of the best games like Friday Night Funkin, the following list has been updated.

15 Dance Dance Revolution

EyeToy Dance Dance Revolution Extreme

Still considered by many as the greatest dancing game ever, Dance Dance Revolution’s success has led it to be synonymous with the music genre. While the actual gameplay comprises dance moves, the title is fully immersed in its musical theme.

Friday Night Funkin’ fans will enjoy the level of immersion that this game brings. Players need to be you all in, as dance moves can get more than a little intense. Considering the quality of tracks available, repeated playthroughs are common among fans.

14 StepMania

StepMania Screenshot goin under song

Those that are looking for the feeling of Dance Dance Revolution but adore the modding community for Friday Night Funkin' will find a healthy middle-ground in StepMania. It operates very much like Dance Dance Revolution with rhythm gameplay that's on-the-beat but is heavily moddable. Although the rhythm community may be currently fixated on FNF, there is an immense amount of custom content that's been released for StepMania.

The title has been around for ages now, and with intuitive modding tools, it's pretty easy to find what players are looking for. If there's a particular song from a game or movie that players want to vibe to, it's likely it can be found in some form on StepMania.

13 PaRappa The Rapper

Dance scene in Parappa the Rapper

Friday Night Funkin' players should know that the same style has been seen before in PaRappa the Rapper. This title also has onscreen prompts to complete in order to enable the main character to complete his performance.

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The premise of impressing a girl is also the same as Friday Night Funkin’. The notable difference, though, lies in the focus on rap music in this game. It’s a highly addictive title that will make fans out of even those who aren’t too keen on rap music.

12 BPM: Bullets Per Minute

BPM bullets per minute grenade launcher

Those that are looking for the musically infused style of a rhythm game but want something a little more FPS-based should check out BPM: Bullets Per Minute. An incredibly unique concept, players will have to fight against hordes of angry enemies and bosses, all while staying on the beat.

Much like the name implies, players will only be able to shoot, reload, and use abilities to the beat of a song. Each level has its own varying beats per minute, making it one part strategy, one part shooter, and two parts rhythm game. There is freedom of movement, allowing players to position themselves wherever they want, but keeping on the beat while shooting is actually pretty tough. It's a challenging game but immensely entertaining.

11 Beat Saber

BeatSaber a screenshot of dual swords

It's one thing to tap a key to the beat of a particular song but players should feel extra-immersed when they're drumming it out to their favorite tracks. Beat Saber gives gamers that opportunity by putting the "classic rhythm formula" into the VR space. Easily one of the best games released for VR so far, Beat Saber provides players with an entirely new way to experience rhythm games, by having the notes fly towards them in real-time, in a first-person setting.

There is something that feels so visceral about slashing through Beat Saber's boxes and, thanks to mod support, there are tons of custom songs that players can vibe to.

10 Quaver

A series of direction symbols in Quaver

There’s probably no bigger challenge in the rhythm genre than this title, as Quaver brings extreme speed to its gameplay. The aim is to hit each mark as it arrives, but the challenge lies in just how quick the onscreen prompts go by.

Friday Night Funkin’ can feel like a prelude to Quaver, as the former is far easier to play. However, this only makes the latter even more appealing. Beating the extreme difficulty becomes players' main motivation.

9 Etterna

A series of direction symbols in Etterna

Another extremely challenging entry in the rhythm genre, Etterna requires players to essentially mash at the keyboard in order to get the combinations right. Of course, while it’s incredibly difficult, the game is also fun for those who put some time into it.

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It’s particularly satisfying when a combo is completed to perfection, as the game sets players up for failure due to the many patterns to be completed. Those who can overcome Etterna’s challenge can claim to be apex gamers in their own regard.

8 Osu!

A series of symbols in osu!

A unique take in this established genre, osu! players need to trace around beatmaps to complete sequences onscreen. This means gamers must staying very quick on their fingers, as mashing the right combinations is the way to go.

Like similar entries, the purpose is to map out a musical theme that plays. Failure to accomplish the task will result in having to redo the whole thing. It’s as challenging as one can imagine, but that’s what players sign up for when they partake in this genre.

7 Mad Rat Dead

MadRatDead Mad Rat Dashing through air

Another unique title that subverts the rhythm genre by blending traditional elements with a completely different type of game. Mad Rat Dead is, at its core, a rhythm platformer, forcing players to side-scroll their way through levels to the beat of the music. It's an interesting concept on its own but developers absolutely knocked it out of the park with the finished product.

Mad Rat Dead features an incredibly addictive soundtrack, cool character designs, an interesting story, and beautiful visuals. Those that enjoy rhythm games but want platforming elements too definitely need to check out this gem.

6 Muse Dash

Two characters battle in Muse Dash

Muse Dash is a mashup of adventure-style gameplay, mixed with the music genre. Here, the goal is to guide the playable character through the sidescrolling world, while knocking out enemies that consistently come their way.

Accomplishing this allows the music to flow naturally, making the experience both for the benefit of gameplay and a treat to the ears. Adding to the fun is the splash of colors that make up Muse Dash’s aesthetic.

5 Geometry Dash

Geometry figures of square and triangles

Disguised as part of the puzzle-solving game genre, Geometry Dash is simplistic in nature. Players must guide an icon through a world with geometry figures that appear as obstacles. If this sequence is continued, the music accompanying in the background can keep playing.

Make no mistake, though, the game can be a challenge of its own. The speed of the icon is such that dodging the geometry figures isn’t as simple as it might seem. Still, the sequence of music is motivation enough to go through with the whole thing.

4 Rhythm Doctor

Rhythm Doctor Screenshot arms stretched out

Friday Night Funkin' rewards players who are able to stay with the beat. Accuracy is important but there's a lot of variance found in FNF's four-key structure. That's what makes Rhythm Doctor such a unique entry on this list, as it's played entirely with one button. Players simply need to tap the space bar in each level.

But players shouldn't let the single-button simplicity fool them. Rhythm Doctor is hard as nails, touting itself as "the hardest one-button rhythm game you’ll ever play." Players will need to keep with the songs, striking the seventh beat in each level, while simultaneously sifting through an array of distractions. It's the ultimate test of focus, as the game attempts to cause the player to lose their beat through a series of planned glitches, lag spikes, and other annoying pitfalls.

3 DJMax Respect

A picture of a girl next to points scores in DJMAX RESPECT

Those who can contend with this game will understand how appropriate the title is. DJMax Respect isn’t as over-the-top in its difficulty as other titles, but is still a thrill to play through. Gameplay comprises landing the falling symbols in their respective columns, and this goes on as long as the player can keep it on.

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Music accompanies the action, as completing the goal keeps the tracks running. DJMax Respect has upwards of 100 songs to engage in, so it goes without saying that there’s a lot of replay value to be found here.

2 Taiko No Tatsujin

A number of round figures together in Taiko No Tatsujin

Using a simulated drum, players are meant to consistently complete the combinations that appear onscreen in this game. Fortunately, missing the marks doesn’t end a level, as the goal is to rack up the highest score possible.

The real fun aspect of this title comes from playing against someone else, as things can get into overdrive when competitive mode kicks in. The music plays on regardless, but it’s only by landing the most drum hits that players can hear most melodious version of the track.

1 Project Diva

A girl poses next to symbols in Project Diva

Project Diva requires players to complete the dancing sequence of the character onscreen, by fulfilling the button prompts that appear in quick succession. In a change from most games like Friday Night Funkin’, visual imagery is provided to help players understand how successful execution affects gameplay.

Apart from that, it’s the standard rhythm genre entertainment in store. Those who appreciate the presentation that Project Diva brings will get a kick out of the different dancing techniques the onscreen character portrays in varying soundtracks.

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