There’s something inherently satisfying aboutrhythm games. This genre tends to include a lot of experiences that ask the player to keep to a specific beat. Despite being packaged in a variety of different ways, the one goal of all of these entries is to do the best to keep that rhythm going throughout a challenge or adventure.

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A lot of the major rhythm games released over the years have done so across all platforms. But some of the hidden gems of the genre can mostly be found exclusively on PC, where there is a vibrant indie development space that is always worth checking out.

8UNBEATABLE [White Label]

It’s rare that developers would release a side story of a game that hasn’t come out yet, but the folks over at D-CELL GAMES are trying it out withUNBEATABLE [white label]. Set in the world of the developer’s upcoming rhythm adventure gameUNBEATABLE,[white label]is an episodic series that revolves around a young girl learning a new song.

The game features battles that can be fought to the beat of the music playing during it. It is set in a world that can be traversed in 3D with characters drawn in 2D. Thus far, only one episode has been released but more are planned for thisbeautifully animatedgame.

The main protagonist in UNBEATABLE [White Label]

7Quaver

It’s a rhythm experience combined witha sandbox environment. InQuaver, players can take on two different types of challenges. They can either try their hand at various songs using only four keys or increase the difficulty by using seven keys.

However, the key to theQuaverexperience is for people to create their own maps and challenge people around the globe to try their hand at it. Creators can pick from a variety of different songs as well as a slew of customizable options that change the look of a map. The game is strictly community-driven.

A sample stage in Quaver

6Project Arrhythmia

A lot of rhythm games task the player with trying to time their inputs with the beats of a song. However, there are some twists on this concept across the rhythm game spectrum. Takethe early access gameProject Arrhythmia, for example.

This musical bullet-hell has players play as a programmer attempting to determine if projects they came across might help them find a cure to a virus called the “Tokyo Flu.” Each level has players attempting to dodge hazards to the tune of the song as it also attempts to tell the story of each of these projects.

Project Arrhythmia stage where beams target the player

5Rhythm Doctor

It only makes sense that there is a rhythm game revolving around keeping up with someone’s heartbeat. InRhythm Doctor, players take on the role of a doctor in a world where learning a patient’s heart patterns is key to healing them. Specifically, players must learn to press their space bar at the seventh beat for each song.

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Three hearts that the player must keep the beat of in Rhythm Doctor

The early access experience features over 20 levels, with each revolving around a different patient and their story. There is a local multiplayer option as well as a level editor for those interested in community levels.

4Ragnarock

Theserhythm gamesare great on their own, but what if they were also in virtual reality? While there are somemajor VR titlesin the genre, a smaller game that is worth checking out is the nordic-themedRagnarock.

The heart of the gameplay is being a Viking captain who is trying to lead his ship to a victory in a race. Timing slamming on the drums in front of them while listening to rock and metal tracks will make players feel like they are on an epic journey. Along with a solo mode, there is a multiplayer component where players can pit their skill against others in either a public or private match.

The player’s ship as they beat their drum in Ragnarock

3Intralism

Generally speaking, this genre tends to contain entries that are meantto be very difficult.Intralismembraces this. The object of the game is to listen to the song that plays and try to match the arc that is displayed to the beat with not much room for error.

Intralismgives people the opportunity to create their own beat maps. In addition, each map has its own global ranking system that could reveal that the player is among the best in the world. There are also online battles and items that could be won by winning.

Ring gameplay in Interalism

2Spin Rhythm XD

Another early access game,Spin Rhythm XDis meant to embraceGuitar Hero-like mechanics and turn them up a notch. With a library of electronic music, thisrhythm entryputs players in control of a “wheel” of buttons that they must use to press the correct colored button at the right time while also spinning the entire wheel when prompted.

This unique take can be played in five difficulties and with a nice amount of accessibility features. The game can be played with a mouse and keyboard, a gamepad, and even MIDI DJ turntables.

A level in Spin Rhythm XD

1Audiosurf

A classic of the computer scene,Audiosurfis one of the more personalrhythm PC gamesout there.Released in 2008,Audiosurfasks players to find some of their favorite songs, whether they are formats like MP3s or iTunes M4As, and the game will design a level automatically that players can experience.

The game is a puzzle racer where players must try to hit as many blocks of the same color to wrack up a certain amount of points all to the beat of the song of choice. There is also a sequel to the game,Audiosurf 2, that allows people to incorporate Steam workshop mods.

A track designed around Meat Loaf’s Bat Out Of Hell in Audiosurf

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