Each passing year guarantees certain things: Superhero movies, a new FIFA-that’s-not-FIFA, Nintendo Direct speculation and, well, Just Dance games.
Just Dance 2025 Edition is the latest in the long-running series from Ubisoft . A colourful medley of tracks to jig around to in the living room (or wherever your Nintendo Switch happens to be). Maybe not on a packed commuter train, though, unless you’re chasing the elusive TikTok fame! With Just Dance 2026 Edition incoming, here’s a look at the 2025 version that should be forward compatible, too.
The series kicked off with the original concept on the Nintendo Wii, making good use of the Wii Remote and the console’s party persona. Just Dance stood out in a sea of party game dross, bring dancing goodness to family game night. The premise has remained constant throughout, with additional refinements along the way. Grab a controller, select a song and try to mimic the plodding silhouette on screen. Simple, right?
The same very much applies fifteen years later. The latest game is still brimming with pops of colour, it’s fast paced and has well-choreographed routines. There’s a proper workout to be had for those who truly commit to the challenging set pieces, but nothing too serious. The series has always been about having a jolly dance romp, not taking itself too seriously, rather than becoming an overnight K-Pop dance star.
Those who do want to put a little bit more effort into timing and moves, though, can follow the icons that scroll along the bottom of the screen. It’s still, years later, fiddly to get to grips with. Some of the icons don’t correspond all too well to the on-screen motion. It’s best to almost just keep eyes locked onto the on-screen dance coach to figure out the different patterns. The Joy-Con detection works well, though, aligning with the routines as accurately as possible.
One newer feature to the series is something Ubisoft has tried to get working for a few years now – support for a camera controller, via a phone app. Using the phone camera, the game can try to map out motion as best as possible on certain tracks. It does take a fair bit of room, though, as the app requires a full head-to-toe outline. For the most part, the camera captures movement well – with some tolerance. Phew. In a lot of ways, dancing without holding a device in your hands is a lot more freeing – all eyes firmly on the screen instead of focusing on the controller’s position.
One of the best features of the series, and something maintained in the Just Dance 2025 Edition is the ability to bring on other players onto the dance floor with relative ease. It only takes a single Joy-Con, making two players the default. Ubisoft also have a dedicated mobile app that functions in a similar way. Once on the same Wi-Fi network as the console, hit sync and you can use your phone to boogie down – until a social media notification steals the spotlight. Probably. Maybe.
Testing the app, it does work when it can connect. It did take a fair bit of restarting and wifi-jiggery to get both console and device to play together nicely, however – something reflected in the app reviews! Once connected, it’s easy to bring in a wide range of players using just their phones, perfect for quick multiplayer rounds!
As with every annual installment, the draw is always the songs available out the box. This time round Just Dance 2025 Edition is headlined by the likes of “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter, “Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” from Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face”. There’s also a selection of throwback gems on offer, too, including the likes of “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus and “Vogue” from pop-legend Madonna. It’s a decent mix of pop and R&B with glimmers of indie, folk and ballads to vary the tempo.
Just Dance 2025 Edition also includes a back-compatible setup for series-enthusiasts who may own the 2023 or Just Dance 2024 Edition. Songs from these, tied to your Ubisoft account, can be unlocked in 2025, preventing having to toggle between games. It’s a nifty addition – something that’s been in place for a number of years now.
As with recent installments, there is a heavy leaning toward a subscription service to make the most of the game. A successor to the previous “Just Dance Unlimited” service, the newly rebadged “Just Dance +” works in a similar way. Purchase through the in-game shop (with a free trial available) and these additional tunes can then be accessed. It’s quite a surprising mix of older and newer songs, with over 300 available at time of review. Vocal queens like Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Blackpink and Ariana Grande top the bill, with a various fan-favourites from across multiple decades also making the cut.
That said, the previous “Unlimited” service featured nearly double the tracks before it was discontinued back in 2022. While Just Dance+ is off to a strong start, its current library is noticeably smaller, likely due to ongoing licensing agreements.
