Rhythm games are one of the most diverse genres of video games, with many different types catering to every preference and skill level. With this fact comes an obvious caveat, and that is that some rhythm games are far from being beginner-friendly. To help beginners who want to take their first step, and pros who want to take it to the next level, I’ll be doing exactly as the title says: ranking types of rhythm games from easiest to hardest.
Acronyms & Terminology
Before we begin, it’s important to understand some basic rhythm game terms.
– [num]K: The amount of keys used in gameplay (if keys are used), and the amount of lanes that notes can be in.
– RG: Rhythm Game.
– VSRG/HSRG: Vertically/Horizontally Scrolling Rhythm Game.
Judgment Area: The area that notes need to overlap with for you to hit them. Usually comes in the form of a line or a cutout in the shape of the note.
Tier 1: 4K VSRG
This is where most RG players begin. While there are tiers that are lower, like 3K, 2K, and even 1K, they’re very uncommon. Games in tier 1 are simple to learn and require no prior knowledge, but, like all games on this list, can still reach high levels of difficulty. Games in this tier include FNF, Quaver and osu!mania, although the last two also have modes besides 4K.
Tier 2: Freeform RG
Freeform RGs refer to ones in which notes can be anywhere, instead of just on predetermined lanes. Most freeform RGs are mobile games, and the ones that aren’t mobile allow you to press any key once a note reaches the judgment area, instead of the key assigned to the lane. Games in this tier include Project: RUSHER on Roblox and the mobile game Rizline.
Tier 3: Low-Tier Gimmick RG
In RGs, a ‘gimmick’ refers to anything that makes the game more difficult without increasing how many notes you need to hit. Low-tier gimmicks only change things like input methods and basic visuals. Examples of low-tier gimmicks include Rizline’s dynamic lines and DDR’s dance pad.
Tier 4: 7K VSRG
As you add more lanes to an RG, it gets exponentially harder, increasing by a tier for each key added. 7K RGs, despite operating off the same principles as 4K ones, are many times harder, even with only three more lanes, due to how much you need to keep track of. There aren’t many RGs that purely focus on 7K gameplay, but games like Quaver and osu!mania have 7K modes available, along with other modes.
Tier 5: Mid-Tier Gimmick RG
While low-tier gimmicks change minor aspects of a game, mid-tier gimmicks are able to cause significant changes, altering the entire experience by introducing things like non-standard note types and heavy visual alterations. Examples of mid-tier gimmicks include Chunithm’s air lane and Phigros’s dynamic judgement zones.
Tier 6: High-Tier Gimmick RG
While every tier so far has been more difficult than the last, the games they describe have still been purely RGs. This changes at this tier. The gimmicks of tier 6 games are so complex that they alter the game entirely, often to the point where the game gains a second genre, or just becomes insanely hard. One example of this is the mobile game NOISZ STΔRLIVHT, which is simultaneously a 4K VSRG and a bullet hell.
Final List
Not every RG in a tier is equally difficult. This is where I believe each game I mentioned should rank.
- Tier 1: FNF (1.0) | Quaver 4K (1.6) | osu!mania 4K (1.6)
- Tier 2: Rizline (2.6) | Project: RUSHER (2.7)
- Tier 3: DDR (3.3)
- Tier 4: Quaver 7K (4.5) | osu!mania 7K (4.5)
- Tier 5: Phigros (5.4) | Chunithm (5.6)
- Tier 6: NOISZ STΔRLIVHT (6.4) – [Sidenote: If you’re going to play NOISZ STΔRLIVHT, then be aware that the progression is very slow and also locked behind a story]
Conclusion
While this may be a lot to take in, remember that this isn’t a comprehensive list, and it only ranks how difficult the mechanics are to learn, not how difficult the games themselves are. It’s perfectly reasonable for your first RG to be a tier 6; it’ll just take more effort to learn compared to a tier 1. I hope you learned something from this article and are ready to take a step into rhythm games– whether it be your first or your next.