Everyone loves music / rhythm games. Even though the genre took a much needed break in 2011, that doesn't mean the games aren't still fun. We have our picks for the top 6 music / rhythm games on the Xbox 360.
EA / MTVRock Band 3 is really two games in one. On one hand, it is the same plastic instrument music / rhythm game we've been playing for years now, and also introduces a new keyboard peripheral for even more fun. On the other hand, it can actually teach you how to really play a real guitar and also features more realistic modes for drums and keyboard as well. Either way you want to play it, Rock Band 3 is easily the best music / rhythm game on the market.
UbisoftPlease note - all of the other games on this list use plastic fake peripherals. Rocksmith, on the other hand, uses a real full-sized guitar. This is real guitar and real music, not just playing pretend. As the only new music / rhythm game of 2011, Rocksmith was a big risk for Ubisoft to release when the genre was pretty much dead. But, like I said, this is real guitar and it works really incredibly well. It is more of a learning tool than a party game, but if you want to learn how to play guitar, Rocksmith is highly recommended.
ActivisionRock Band definitely has a wide range of songs to choose from, but it is sort of lacking in two areas – real heavy metal (not fake pop-metal garbage) and challenge. Guitar Hero: Metallica is the answer to both of those problems. If you are a fan of Metallica or oldschool metal in general, this game has an amazingly great song list. Plus, these songs aren’t stuck on perpetual baby-mode difficulty. They have tons of notes and can be hard to play, but are as rewarding and enjoyable as any song you’ll ever play in a music/rhythm game.
EAThe biggest rock band in the world also has one of the best music/rhythm games ever. It is hard not to like The Beatles, and no matter what genre of music you claim to prefer, The Beatles offer clean sounding, catchy, fun music that everyone will recognize and enjoy. With that said, the songs aren’t exactly complex, so gamers looking for more of a challenge should try one of the other games on this list. If, however, you’re looking for a game for the whole family to play together, with casual difficulty and songs that everyone will like, The Beatles: Rock Band is a perfect fit.
ActivisionDJ Hero was the surprise hit of 2009, so you shouldn't be shocked that Activision is back just a year later with a sequel. This isn't some quick smash and grab where they are just trying to crank out sequels (insert Bobby Kotick is evil picture here), though, as DJ Hero 2 features a lot of improvements that make it even better than the original. This is a fantastic music game all around.
ActivisionGuitar Hero 5 is right up there with Beatles: Rock Band in terms of family friendliness. It offers a ton of difficulty modes, lets players all play the same instrument if they want (choose from bass, guitar, vocals, drums), and has more gameplay modes than any other title in the genre. There is a lot of stuff in this game that will appeal to players of all skill levels. It doesn’t have the strongest song list and, I have to admit, the gameplay feels kind of lifeless and too easy, but depending on your interest level and what you want to do with the game (like play with your family), GH5 is a solid pick up.
