Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platform: Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Tested on: Switch
Just Dance 2025 Edition – Review
By now, it has almost become an inevitability that every self-respecting gamer comes into contact with Just Dance at some point. Ubisoft’s lightning-in-a-bottle formula has grown into a massively popular behemoth, with an annual release alongside a subscription service. While this reviewer isn’t completely new to the franchise, quite some time has passed since we strung up our dancing shoes: our dance career ended with Just Dance 2 on the Wii. There’s probably still some incriminating video evidence of that in a dusty corner of the internet, but instead of reminiscing about our perfect score on Viva Las Vegas in 2011, let’s instead take a look at Just Dance 2025. That’s right, just when we thought we were out, Ubisoft pulled us back in. If you’ve been keeping up with the franchise, you probably won’t find anything new here. If you’re either new or returning from a long hiatus you might be wondering what Just Dance has to offer these days.
The core formula of Just Dance hasn’t changed since its inception. Players select a song and copy the moves of characters dancing on the screen. Moves of players are registered through the controller they are holding, and they are scored according to how accurate their dance moves are. While the base idea behind Just Dance remained identical through the years, the technology behind it didn’t. Not having enough controllers isn’t an issue, for example, as you’re able to simply connect your smartphone to the game instead. Additionally, while our memories of the Wii era are admittedly a bit dusty, we couldn’t help but shake the feeling that registering our dance moves definitely felt more accurate. In this regard, Just Dance 2025 definitely felt a lot more modernized, despite being in essence the same game over the last 15 years.
The biggest change in recent years is that Just Dance is, for all intents and purposes, a subscription-based game. If you’re going to enjoy everything that it has to offer, you’re inevitably going to have to pay for Just Dance+. For a measly €25 a year, you’re given access to an ever-growing catalogue containing hundreds of tracks and curated playlists, allowing you to dance to your heart’s content. Fortunately, you don’t need a Switch Online subscription in addition to the Just Dance+ service. Still, we’re a bit conflicted about this, given that you’re already paying a rather hefty price of entry to get started with dancing in the first place. Sure, the base game comes with 40 tracks, but if you’re not a fan of that specific selection of songs, you’re out of luck. We should probably note that the 2025 song list features a disproportionate amount of Ariana Grande, with a whopping FIVE out of the forty included tracks originating from her catalogue. We wouldn’t mind this approach if Just Dance+ gave you access to the entire back catalogue of Just Dance, but if you want to dance to songs featured in the 2023 or 2024 catalogue, you’re going to need to pay full price for those games just to add them to your library. A heavy discount or even the option to pay for songs separately to permanently gain access to them would have been preferable.
You might be wondering then, why you’d want to upgrade to Just Dance 2025 if you happen to already own a recent entry in the series. To Ubisoft’s credit, a handful of new features are introduced here. There are different versions and difficulty levels to the songs, including variants that can be played while sitting down, like Aladdin’s ‘A Whole New World’. After all, you’re on a flying carpet in that one. Additionally, when playing multiplayer mode, players who are more skilled and experienced can compete with newer players by following the on-screen dancers at different difficulties. This doesn’t extend to every song, but it is a nice touch. In addition, players can now create their own playlists in addition to the curated ones provided by Ubisoft.
The changes included make sense, though they don’t make Just Dance 2025 feel like a revolutionary or necessary addition to the series. We’re fine with that, because if there’s anything that Ubisoft has proven with Just Dance, is that the formula itself simply works. We can’t think of any other rhythm party game that is as accessible and iconic. Once things get going, even the stiffest or grumpiest party attendants will eventually find themselves on the living room floor, shaking their behinds to the beat of Boney M’s Rasputin. As a closing thought, we have to of course mention that it’s impressive just how extensive and varied the Just Dance catalogue has become over the years. From Spongebob to BTS to even local artists like Belgian pop sensation K3, there’s going to be something in Just Dance 2025 for everyone -as long as you’re willing to pay for either Just Dance+ or previous editions of the game.
Conclusion
At this point, most people already know what to expect from Just Dance, and the 2025 edition ticks every box. While there are a handful of features added to the formula, these feel more like polishing and streamlining, and not like must-have changes. If you already own a previous recent edition of Just Dance, there’s no real reason to pick up Just Dance 2025 Edition, unless you’re looking to add the new song selection to your library. If not, however, Just Dance 2025 is as good of a point of entry as any prior game. Just keep in mind that to get the most out of the game, you’ll need Just Dance+ as well. You do get a free month of that, but in all honestly, it feels more like a “first hit’s free” situation.
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