Editor Reviews

Muse Dash doesn’t pretend to be anything it's not. It's a music game mixed with side-scrolling action. The visuals are bold, bright, and unapologetically full of character designs that lean into anime aesthetics. However, beneath that energetic surface lies a rhythm game that takes itself seriously in its structure. Tap to the beat, dodge obstacles, and punch enemies in time with the music. Simple idea, addictive once you fall into the rhythm.

You choose one of a few heroines—each with stats and unlockable outfits—and dash through tracks that blend electronic, rock, classical, and quirky J-pop. The gameplay is straightforward: hit enemies and dodge hazards in sync with the beat. What keeps it interesting is how varied the music feels. Even slower tracks require precision. Faster ones can feel like controlled chaos until you learn the patterns.

The control system is clean. It's essentially two buttons—tap left for enemies on the ground, right for enemies in the air—but the game stacks challenges fast. You'll need fast reflexes and pattern recognition. No long tutorials or bloated systems. It expects you to figure it out through repetition, which suits the arcade style.

The interface could benefit from a bit more style, but once you're in the flow of gameplay, it hardly matters. What stands out is how well the game runs. Muse Dash performs with a near-flawless frame rate, even on mid-range or older devices, keeping the rhythm precise and smooth.

A built-in ranking system tracks your scores and performance over time, and the global leaderboards are surprisingly competitive. It motivates replay without forcing it, especially since each song has hidden scoring details and achievements that reward near-perfect timing. There's a lot to chew on for rhythm game fans who like chasing high scores and refining technique.

How to Play?

Step 1: Start the game and tap the music note icon to enter a level. Levels are organized by songs, each with a unique rhythm.

Step 2: Select the difficulty level—Easy, Hard, or Master. Start with Easy to learn the timing. Hard and Master require faster reflexes.

Step 3: Use one finger to tap incoming enemies. Tap when the enemy reaches your character. It’s all about timing with the beat.

Step 4: For slides, swipe in the direction indicated by the arrow. For long notes, hold your finger down until it ends.

Step 5: Each enemy is synced to the beat. Listen carefully. Playing by ear helps more than watching.

Step 6: Focus on perfect timing. The game scores you on accuracy—“Perfect,” “Great,” “Miss.” Aim for full combos without misses to unlock rewards.

Step 7: After completing a song, you receive rewards such as points or costumes. Use points to unlock new characters or songs.

Step 8: Unlock side stories or hidden songs by completing levels without mistakes or meeting score goals.

Step 9: Some characters have special skills. They auto-hit notes or boost scores. Switch characters in the home menu before playing a level.