Summary
Rhythm gamesare music-themed action games that have been around for quite some time. FromDance Dance RevolutiontoJust Dance,rhythm games have evolvedinto virtual idol games, where players not only test their reflexes but also enjoy the story behind various types of characters.
Manyrhythm games were initially made for consoles. However, due to the ease of access around the world, most of them have now been developed into mobile games. As the popularity of idol games has increased over the years, one can also find that some of themhave received anime adaptationstoo.
Originally a rhythm game that was released in 2015,Idolish7tells the story of a new group of idols trying to make their mark in the entertainment world. The players assume the role of Tsumugi Takanashi, who is assigned to be the manager of this new group of 7 boys - Idolish7 - and make them famous.
The anime and the game are not for the lighthearted, as they address some heavy themes that could be triggering for viewers.Idolish7not only addresses the glitz and glamor of idol life, but also the struggles that many of them have to overcome to reach their dreams, and the associated traumas that can easily break a person. The game currently only has a Japanese version, but since its popularity has been growing, the anime currently has 3 seasons out, with talks for more in the future.
7Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Maji Love 1000%
MAL Score: 7.02
Based on theUta no Prince-samarhythm game series,this wholesome reverse harem animeis not only sweet but extremely hilarious as well. Compared to normal harem style anime,UtaPrirevolves around a group of boys in an idol school that doesn’t allow any sort of romantic relationships during their careers. Haruka Nanami is an aspiring composer from the countryside who dreams of writing music for her favorite idol, and thus enrolls into Saotome Academy.
Uta no Prince-samais one of Japan’s oldest male idol centered rhythm games, and after its PSP release in 2010, the game was immediately adapted into an anime a year later. The main global game released in 2017 under the nameUta no Prince-sama Shining Live,and though it is revered as a spin-off, it shares a lot of the same plot lines as the original story and anime. The anime currently has 4 seasons produced.
6Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream
MAL Score: 7.43
As part of thePretty Rhythmseries, the anime focuses on a group of idols known as “Prism Stars” that combine song with figure skating. We witness Aira Harune thrust into the glitzy world of Prism Shows - an idol showbased on figure skating.After meeting her teammates, Rizumu Amamiya and Mion Takamine, the three of them come together to learn more about themselves, the world of figure skating, and how they can steal the spotlight in the Prism Show world.
Pretty Rhythmfalls under the category of arcade games targeted at young girls.Pretty Rhythm: Mini Skirtis the first version in the franchise and released in July 2010. After 4 seasons of the anime, the game was relaunched asPretty Rhythm: Aurora Dreamto tie-in with the anime adaptation and the new characters.
5Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club
MAL Score: 7.50
Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Clubis part of a Japanese multimedia project known asLove Live!The anime is adapted from the gameLove Live! School Idol Festivaland centers around the students of the club. Though their school is diverse, with many creative majors and outlets, the girls of this idol club need to do whatever they can to keep it from disbanding.
The anime currently has 2 seasons with 3 movies set to release in September 2024. In addition, there are 2 seasons of the spin-offNijiyon Animation,which fellow players can also watch. The game initially launched on Nintendo Switch, but the developers released an Android and IOS version in 2014. The spin-off versions of the games are also free-to-play and released globally.
4Samurai Jam - Bakumatsu Rock
MAL Score: 6.03
Bakumatsu Rockis a Japanese PSP game that was first released in 2014 titledBakumatsu Rock: Howling Soul. Set in the Bakumatsu period, which is right before the end of the Shogunate, the Tokugawa Shogunate used Heaven’s Songs by famous idols in the Shinsengumi to brainwash the country. The franchise useswell-known Japanese historical figuresand pins an interesting twist on each of them. In this version of Japan, writing or singing any song besides Heaven’s Songs is considered a capital offense. Ryouma Sakamota and a few other rockers decide to rise up against the government and change the world with their rock ‘n’ roll.
The anime was released after the manga adaptation and only has one season, since the story behind the game is pretty straightforward. After its popularity, the company decided to release a second game titledBakumatsu Rock: Ultra Soulin September 2014.
3Ensemble Stars!
MAL Score: 6.95
Adapted from the Japanese gameEnsemble Stars!, this franchise is known for its star-studded cast and the highest number of idol groups available in a game. There are around 15 idol groups consisting solely of male idols. The anime introduces Anzu as the only female student in the male-dominant Yumenosaki Academy. She enrolls into the production course and soon becomes the manager of one of the first-year groups, Trickster.
Unfortunately, the anime only has 1 season and, after the game relaunched in 2022 asEnsemble Stars!!,the plot has progressed further than expected. The difference betweenEnsemble Stars!!andmany other rhythm gamesshows that the characters are extremely well-thought-out. Each boy has some sort of trauma, ailment or condition that has occurred in their life, and players can witness how each of them develops their personalities, whether it be positive or negative.
2King Of Prism
MAL Score: 6.20
King of Prismis also part of thePretty Rhythmfranchise mentioned earlier, where instead of girl-only idol groups, it focuses on male idol groups.King of Prismhas 3 animated films from the franchise and each of them follows the struggles faced by the idol group Over the Rainbow. The movies start off with Over the Rainbow’s successful debut, and their goal to win the Prism Cup. However, things don’t go according to plan when a new rival idol group shows up and steals the spotlight.
The gacha game is titledKing of Prism: Prism Rush! Livewas released in 2017 and tackled plotlines related to all three movies. Unfortunately, the game ended its services in October 2020.
1Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle: Rhyme Anima
MAL Score: 6.81
Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle: Rhyme Animais part of theHypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle Japanesemultimedia project which centers around rap battles in the female-dominated Chuo Ward. After the war, women took control of the government and banned weapons. This eventually led to the rise of menfighting through rap battles using Hypnosis Mics, which affect a person’s sympathetic nerves. The plot follows the story after the split of the legendary rap group The Dirty Dawg, whose members have created 4 different rap groups representing a division of Tokyo.
The Ikebukuro Division, Yokohama Division, Shibuya Division, and Shinjuku Division rap groups are each headed by the previous members of The Dirty Dawg, and now each battle each other to be the top rap group. The mobile gameHypnosis Mic: Alternative Rap Battlewas released in 2018 and is a little different from typical rhythm games.HypMichas the player join the game as an apprentice DJ and learn how to beatmatch various songs. Players can also enjoy the main story songs in the rhythm game mode. However, the game has not yet been released in English and is only available in Japan.
