Just Dance 2025 continues Ubisoft’s long-running franchise, offering a fun experience for all kinds of players, whether you’re dancing solo, with friends, or family. As always, the game’s main selling point is its diverse song list, featuring 40 new tracks, including chart-toppers like “yes, and?” by Ariana Grande and “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga. The game maintains its energetic and party-like feel, creating an atmosphere where everyone from casual players to die-hard fans can jump right in. We did so on a PlayStation 5.
What stands out is that Just Dance 2025 is all about inclusivity, inviting a broad range of players with different preferences, dancing experience and fitness levels. Whether you want to just have fun, engage in a workout, or compete against friends, the game offers modes that cater to every kind of dancer. The Challenge mode, which pushes players to outscore one another, is particularly engaging for those looking for a competitive edge. Meanwhile, the Workout mode helps players combine fitness with fun, and while it’s not a replacement for a full fitness regime, it does provide a light, enjoyable way to burn some calories while dancing to your favorite tracks.
One of the key new features in this edition is the Camera Controller mode. This hands-free mode, which makes use of your device’s camera to track movements, is an interesting step forward for the series. However, it’s not without its limitations—tracking isn’t always perfect, leading to occasional moments of frustration when the game doesn’t properly register your moves. While this feature is promising, it still needs refinement before it can fully replace traditional controllers, and there are times where we miss the Kinect/PlayStation Move era.
The core mechanics of Just Dance 2025 remain familiar, focusing on timed dance moves that score you based on your accuracy. Longtime fans will find comfort in this familiar structure, but it can also feel somewhat repetitive, especially for those who have been following the series for years. The new song pack does inject some freshness into the gameplay, but the overall experience hasn’t evolved much from previous iterations, which might leave some veteran players wishing for more innovation.
Visually, Just Dance 2025 delivers in its usual colorful and energetic style. Each song features its own unique choreography and background design, keeping the game visually stimulating throughout. While the visuals may not be pushing the PlayStation 5 hardware to its limits and haven’t evolved much since the PS3/PS4 days, they are well-suited to the party atmosphere of the game, with bold, vibrant colors and creative animations that enhance the dance routines. However, the visuals can sometimes feel a bit too familiar, as Just Dance tends to stick closely to its established formula.
In terms of audio, Just Dance 2025 is stellar. The mix of pop songs, current viral hits and a few classics ensures that there’s something for everyone, from casual listeners to hardcore music fans. The variety keeps the dance routines fresh and exciting, with each track offering something a little different in terms of style and rhythm. The audio quality is excellent, making every track sound crisp and clear, but it’s really the choreography that ties everything together. Each song feels like a mini performance, and the attention to detail in the routines helps maintain the game’s energetic pace.
However, while the game shines in many aspects, it doesn’t quite address some of the series’ longstanding issues. The core gameplay, while accessible and fun, has remained relatively unchanged, leading to a sense of repetition for those who have played previous versions. Additionally, the reliance on Just Dance+, a subscription service that unlocks additional songs, can feel restrictive for players who want more content but are hesitant to commit to yet another monthly payment – making Just Dance feel like it’s stuck between an annual game and a dance game platform.
Overall, Just Dance 2025 continues to do what it does best: deliver a fun, family-friendly dance game packed with catchy songs and energetic choreography. While the lack of significant innovation might not be enough to attract players who have tired of the formula, the game still offers a solid, accessible experience for both newcomers and fans looking to enjoy the latest tracks. The addition of new features like the Camera Controller mode shows that Ubisoft is trying to evolve the series, so we’ll see where that takes them next year.
Score: 7.1/10
Press Play Media 