Just Dance 2024 Edition continues the tradition of Ubisoft’s beloved dance franchise, offering a familiar yet entertaining experience for fans. The core gameplay remains unchanged, with players mirroring dance moves performed by on-screen avatars. Utilizing motion controllers or smartphones, the game scores players based on their accuracy in replicating the routines. While the scoring system may have its quirks where things aren’t as accurate as some might like, the true enjoyment lies in the hilarity of dancing with friends and family, rather than chasing high scores. We tried out the PlayStation 5 version.
This year’s tracklist introduces over forty new songs, featuring a mix of chart-toppers, some lesser-known tracks and a few classics. This will always be partly down to personal preferences, but favorites on our ended included “I’m Good (Blue)” by David Guetta and Bebe Rexha and Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”. Unfortunately, for some tracks the Let’s Dance franchise still features covers rather than the original recordings, so Rapper’s Delight isn’t by the The Sugarhill Gang here but by “Groove Century”. And while it’s still a great tune, it’s clearly a case of “not the same”.
One notable addition is the Workout Mode, offering a simple yet effective way to track calories burned and total workout time. Just Dance has always been a fantastic form of exercise, and this feature enhances the fitness aspect of the game for those who play it primarily for that season. However, the absence of additional seated play options for players with mobility challenges is a missed opportunity for inclusivity in this sense.
Some other longstanding issues persist as well. The inability to create custom playlists remains a frustrating limitation, requiring players to manually select songs after each dance, rather than setting up your own routine. Additionally, certain routines featuring intricate clay or paper figures can be (visually) challenging to follow, highlighting the occasional clash between style and visibility in the game’s choreography. As long as the fun factor is the most important thing for you, these are easy enough to overlook, but they’re worth mentioning anyway.
So while Just Dance 2024 Edition may not revolutionize the series, it successfully delivers another round of entertaining dance routines. The game’s quirks and familiar mechanics are likely to please longtime fans, but the lack of significant improvements and the absence of new seated play options may leave some wanting more. Nevertheless, for those seeking a fun and energetic way to stay active, Just Dance 2024 Edition remains a solid choice.
Score: 7.0/10
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