Music is regarded as one of the best inventions by man since pre-historic times. whether you’re a grumpy cat or a happy bird, you always hum to your favorite music throughout the day. Research has even proven that music can help to heal our minds and induce a state of happiness. Whatever be the source of music, be it guitars or flutes or piano, we instantly get hooked to catchy tunes and they leave an imprint in our minds.
You’d be surprised to know that music has been beautifully incorporated into video games by some of the best video game makers across the world. Be it a simple rhythm-based game or a complex song creating game, the world of video games will never disappoint you. PS4 is replete with good quality music video games which you can enjoy and play along with your friends too. Some of the games have rhythm as their main theme while some others have a different gameplay and music plays an important part of it. Guitar games have long been popular among music game players and they simply can’t get enough of it.
But the genre of guitar games on PS4 is very narrow as this is a relatively new sphere for game developers so your options are very limited. But the selected few guitar games available currently on PS4 will definitely be up to the mark in meeting your requirements. The best thing about music games is that it has plenty of mini games in the form of puzzles to test your memory power and boost your reaction time. So if you’re someone who is hooked to the android game ‘Piano Tiles’ you’ll definitely fall in love with the better and more mature versions of music games that PS4 has to offer.
The following are some of the best music and guitar games available on PS4.
1.Rock Band 4 Predecessors
This game was created and released by Harmonix on October 6, 2015.
This has both single-player and multi-player modes and is a rhythm-based game. This is the fourth game in the rock band series and allows the player to use their controls to create harmonics or rhythms on virtual instruments. You can either play with guitar or drums. The game also allows you to use your vocals to create rhythms. This fourth version has a lot of enhanced techniques regarding the sound effect and graphics. You can either follow a pre-recorded song or create your own set of vocals and harmonics. The greater freedom allowed to the players is a huge plus point of this game and was widely appreciated. The hardware hasn’t changed much but the content has undergone a big change in terms of sound effects and controls. New instrument controllers have been added to give you a great musical experience
2.Thumper
This game was created and released by Drool in October, 2016. This is a single-player rhythm based game and you control the character of a beetle whom you have to guide across several tracks having a set of tiles. Some of the tiles are lit and you have to control the beetle to step only on that tile. Stepping over a tile creates a sound and as you progress, the sounds collectively form a soothing music. The concept and gameplay is really nice and you won’t get bored by playing this game because it also has other missions to accomplish like, fighting with enemies, jumping over obstacles and running over pointed objects. The graphics are really stunning and create a magical experience for the player. All the songs included in this game are really pleasing to the ear and are in sync with your movements. The game has many levels and each level is made up of many segments and you have to reach a minimum score to unlock the next segment.
3.Amplitude
This game was created by Harmonics and was released by Sony Computer Entertainment on January 5, 2016. This is the sequel game to Frequency and you have to control a ship across a track of six lanes. Each lane has a set of tunes which will play when you ht them with gems. There are different instruments for different lanes and yu score points by accurately hitting a point. If you miss out, you’ll lose scores and repeatedly mission out will end the game. The game was popular for its concept and the music. The controls are also smooth and are in tune with your movements. There is a multi-player mode too which allows many people to play together.
4.Rocksmith 2014
This game was created and released by Ubisoft on November 4, 2014.
This is a music based game and is a sequel to the original Rocksmith game. You have to control either an electril guitar or a bass guitar. The main feature of this game is that you can plug in your actual electric guitar to play the game. This is really interesting to musicians and guitarists who can creatively use their talents to score points and have great time. For beginners, there is a learning mode in which you can learn to play a guitar. The graphics are good and the sound is also impressive. There are three different modes to play in. You can take part in challenges to test your skills against other players. You can also choose the level of difficulty which you want. You can even jump to a higher difficulty level instead of starting with the easiest one. This game teaches you and guides you throughout all the levels and if you’s a beginner, you’ll find this game to be really useful.
5.Superbeat: Xonic
This game was created by Nurijoy and was released by PM Studios, Altus and Acttil on June 6, 2017. This game is the sequel to DJ Max. you have to tap a series of notes with the touch pad of your console to create rhythms. You can choose from over 50 songs to play with and each song has a different level of difficulty. There are three modes of difficulty and to finish each mode, you have to collect a certain amount of scores. The songs are really catchy and belong to many different categories including rock and pop. If you’re a music lover, you cannot miss this game. There is a special world tour mode which is accessed as you advance through out the game. In each level of world tour, you have to accomplish certain missions having different songs to play. The mode of game is single-player and a multiplayer mode hasn’t been added in spite of repeated requests from gamers.
6.PaRappa the Rapper
This game was created by NanaOn-Sha and was released by Sony Computer Entertainment on April 4, 2017.
This is the game from where it all began. This classic game has been the favorite music based game of all the generations. Sony released this game on Play station and it was greatly appreciated. This is the first rhythm game which was originally released in 1997. The genre of songs used in the game is rap and you control the rapper, PaRappa who creates rap by tapping on the bar at the bottom of the screen. You have to create a rap song by following a set of lyrics given at the top of the screen. Your song should match with the flow of the lyrics and wrong timing will lead to decrease in score. You are marked on the basis of how well you follow the lyrics and are graded as Good, average or Cool. The meter for your scores is known as the U Rappin meter and determines whether you will progress to the next level or not. To pass a level, your score must fall under the ‘good’ category and must be in proper sync with the lyrics. Clearing all levels of a mode will unlock a special mode having a different set of characters.
7. Guitar Hero Live
This game was created by FreeStyle Games and released by Activision in October 2015. This is a rhythm based game and your instrument is a guitar. You have to control the guitar to play notes that should match the patterns given on the screen. The patterns are highlighted with different color tones to create a disco-like effect. You can also scroll down the patterns to know in advance what the next pattern would be. Your speed and agility will be tested in this game as you have to be quick in your inputs. This version of the Guitar Hero series has new game controls and better features than the earlier versions. This game has been made to seem realistic by the addition of a concert mode in which you can perform as a professional guitarist in front of a hall full of fans who will cheer for you when you play well. The game has several good songs which you can choose to play and all the songs are categorized according to their difficulty level. The more complex the song, the higher its difficulty level. You can also choose a song from a live concert and use it to play the game.
8.Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X
This game was created and released by Sega on August 30, 2016. This is a single-player rhythm based game and was originally created in Japan. You get 30 songs to play and each song has a set of tunes which you have to follow. You have to hit the right notes at the right time and failing to do so would make you lose the game. There are also additional songs which you can purchase by paying but the free songs are also good and are really challenging to play. This game is your chance to become the ultimate musical diva.
9.Rez
This game was created by United Games Artists and released by Sega on October 13, 2016. This is a shooter cum music based game and you have to control your virtual character through a malfunctioning system. The main theme of the game is to shoot down the enemies. Shooting down the enemies creates a music tone. When the bullet follows a projectile path and hits the target, it creates a tune. You need to move forward by following the music pattern given in the game. So you can predict your moves by guessing the music pattern. This game was popular because of its music which is really refreshing. The graphics are really good and the controls are smooth. This is a really fun game and if you love a good soundtrack, you shouldn’t miss this game.
10.Rock Band
This game was created by Harmonix and released by MTV Games on November 20, 2007. This is a rhythm based game having both single-player and multi-player modes. You can play along with 3 more players and rre-create popular songs. You can either play an instrument or sing through the USB mic, you will be scored according to the tunes you play or the vocals and pitch of your singing. You need to hit and match the tiles given at the top of the screen and successfully following the pattern will lead to an increase in your scores. If you fail to follow up, you’d be losing your score. It has over a whopping 100 million songs which you can download and play on your PS4, making it really interesting.
11.DJMax: Respect
This game was created by Rocky Studio and released by Neowiz games on July 28, 2017. This is a music based game and has both single-player and multi-player modes of playing. This game has 107 songs which you can play with. You have to follow the pattern of the music and create tunes in accordance with that. You can score a maximum point of 300000 beyond which scoring is not possible except in the fever mode. In fever mode, you can score as much as you want in a fast-tracked playlist which will test your skills and unless you’re a pro, you won’t be able to go past the first few notes. You can play with 8-10 keys to create a continuous input of tunes and create a really good song. The timing of your inputs also matters because an ill-timed input will lead to end of the game. You can also listen to other players in the air mode. There’s a special multiplayer mode in which you can compete with two players at a time to see who scores more.
12.Rocksmith
This game was created by Ubisoftand was released in September 2012. This is a prequel to the Rocksmith 2014 game. You can plug in your actual guitar to play this game. You will be provided with a number of coloured strings or patterns which you have to follow. The patterns are categorized according to their difficulty levels. A guide is also provided to help you play better and score more. This game is really good in terms of graphics and sounds. It also has a karaoke style mode in which you can plug in a microphone and sing a song. The better you sing, the higher will be your score. This has many game modes and levels to challenge your guitar and singing skills.
13.Persona 4: Dancing All Night
This is a rhythm based single player game and was created by Atlus. This was released by NIS America on May 24, 2018. This is an extension of the game Persona 4. You have to dance to the tunes of songs which were originally featured in the Persona series. There are plenty of songs to choose from and you can select the mode of difficulty you want. The controls include buttons and analog stick which you have to use to hit the notes on time. You have to be fast paced or else, you’ll lose. The game also has a story mode in which you follow a pattern of gameplay and have to memorize each set of tunes that you’re provided with. You can also be challenged to click on several buttons at a time or long press a button to be in tune with the background music. You can also customize your costumes and jewelry and some accessories are unlocked only after you reach a certain level.
14.Patapon
This game was created by Pyramid and released by Sony Interactive Entertainment on August 1, 2017. This is a rhythm based game and has 2D graphics which gives it a cartoonish feel. The game allows you to control the character of a tribe leader who controls many tiny creatures. The creatures play drums and you have to control the beats of the songs. The tribe is known as Patapon and you have to control them as they march forward on the battle field. You have to make them fight with enemies on the battle field by entering commands which are in the form of music. Inputting a wrong series of commands will lead to loss in points and the tribe will be killed by the nemy. The inputs have to follow a sequential order and you cannot swerve off track.
15.PaRappa: The Rapper 2
This game was created by NanaOn-sha and was released on December 14, 2015. You have to control the character who is a rapper, like in the previous edition. You need to follow a set of instructions given on the screen and guide your character to play out those tunes. You have to accurately follow the instructions given on the screen and select the right tune in the control box given below. Selecting a wrong tune at the wrong time can lead to the end of the game. There’s a meter to count your scores. You would be graded according to how well you follow the instructions. You need to keep scoring ‘good’ in all the levels to progress to the next level. Scoring ‘bad’ will lead to re-starting of the level and you have to start over again.
15.Sayonara: Wild Hearts
This game was created by Simogo and released on 19 September, 2009. You play the role of a woman and have to guide her through a series of beautiful locations. The woman seems sad at the beginning and gradually becomes happy as you keep collecting hearts in the game. The more hearts you collect, the happier she becomes. Each time you collect a heart, a tune plays in the background and you need to keep creating a series of tunes to keep progressing. Throughout the level, you’ll come across obstacles which you have to avoid either by jumping or by going around it. This is a rhythm based game and is broken up into 23 levels. The genre of music ranges from pop to semi-pop.
16 Just Dance: 2020
This game was created by Ubisoft and was released on June 10, 2019. The gameplay is rhythm based dancing. You have to follow the steps of an on-screen dancer on a polygonal piece provided to you. Each click on the tiles of the polygon will create a sound. You have to copy the moves of the dancer and create a musical pattern with your steps. Missing a step will end the game. If you follow all the steps properly, you’ll get a good score.
17. Let’s Sing Country
This game was created by French Studio Voxler and was released on October 25, 2019. This is a music based game and has both single-player and multi-player modes. The aim of this game is to sing popular songs according to the vocals and pitch appearing on the screen. You need to follow those patterns properly to score more. In multiplayer mode you can compete with your friends to test who sings better. This game is based on the Japanese Karaoke games.
18. We Sing
This game was created by French Studio Le Cortex and released by Nordic Games Publishing on November 13, 2009. This is similar to a karaoke game and can allow up to 4 players to play simultaneously. You have to sing and follow the pitch guide to accurately sing the song. You can plug in your microphone or use the one in-built in your console. You have to match the pitch given on the screen to score points.
19. Lumines: Puzzle Fusion
This game was created by Q Entertainment and released by Ubisoft on December 12, 2004. This is a shape based rhythm game in which you have to turn tiles and blocks to make them fit with each other. Turning a tile or block will create a tune and a series of such tunes will create a beautiful song. The graphics is really good and matches the theme of the game. You have to match the blocks having the same color. The feel of this game is like tetris but the addition of sounds makes this really interesting.
20. Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun
This game was created by Bandai Namco Entertainment and was released by them on July 19, 2018. This is a Music based drumming game and the player is given a set of drums which he has to play rhythmically to create a song. The beats have to be in tune with the set of instructions given on the screen and you have to match the sequence to create a perfect tune.
21. Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Arcade
This is aan arcade version of the original HAtsune Miku game and follows the same gameplay. The player has to sing songs and play guitar to score points. You can compete in challenges which will have other goals like running across a set of tiles. You have to step on the right tile to play the perfect tune. By scoring more, you can unlock new levels.
So these were some of the best music and guitar games available on PS4. Try out each one of it to have the ultimate musical experience.
