Just Dance is a rhythm game series developed and published by Ubisoft, beginning with the original game in 2009.[2] The games feature of a variety of songs that are accompanied with choreography performed by on-screen dancers. Players physically mimic the dance routine shown on screen and are scored based on how accurately they followed. The series has attracted popularity among a wide age range and dance skill level, and has been played in various contexts, such as entertainment, fitness and education.[3]
Just Dance is a motion-based dance video game for multiple players, with each game including a collection of classic and modern songs each with its own dance choreographies. During each song, players mirror a dance performed by dancers on the screen, following moves that appear as pictorials on the bottom right corner of the screen, and are awarded for their accuracy. Additionally, there are gold moves in which players must strike a pose or complete the hardest move in the dance in order to earn bonus points. Players are given ranks based on how well they do. Depending on the game and system it is played on, the game can be played with either motion controllers or camera devices (such as the Wii Remote and Kinect), or using an app downloaded on a smart device. The game can be played by up to six players at once on eighth- and ninth-generation consoles, as well as the PC version of Just Dance 2017 and the Stadia version of Just Dance 2020, Just Dance 2021, and Just Dance 2022, with support for a gamepad and a keyboard used to navigate the menus. This excludes Dance Crew routines for Kinect users for the Xbox One version, as well as Wii Remote users for the Wii U version, and PlayStation Move users for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 versions, which are limited to four players. Seventh-generation consoles and the Wii U versions of Just Dance 4 to Just Dance 2015 and the Wii U version of Just Dance 2019 are also limited to four players.
Background
The technological advancement in the 2000s shifted the gaming industry, with one of the most important developments during this time being the introduction of motion sensing controllers. These controllers were different from traditional gaming controllers, where players interacted with games using joysticks or buttons. In 2006, Nintendo released the Wii and the Wiimote, a device that uses accelerometers and infrared sensors that allow players to interact with games by physically moving their body.[4][5]
Fitness culture became increasingly popular in 2000s mainstream culture. According to Marc Stern, the number of private fitness clubs in the United States grew from 3,000 in 1978 to nearly 20,000 by 2002, with memberships increasing from 1.7 million in 1972 to 42.7 million by 2006.[6] The popularity towards fitness can also be seen in the increase of exercise classes such as Zumba and dance cardio, which were mainstream trends in the 2000's.[7] During the same time, video games such as Wii Sports were released which integrated physical activity into their game designs, responding and contributing to the growing demand for fitness-related entertainment.[4]
The Nintendo Wii was released in 2006.[8] Its motion sensing technology and simple yet intuitive design made gaming more accessible to a broader audience. This included families, older adults, and casual gamers. The Wii exposed gaming to those who had previously not been part of the gaming community, such as non-gamers or those with limited experience with video games. The Wii’s success also had a role in the rise of casual gaming, as it helped expand the demographic of people who played games. Both the Wii and the casual gaming industry also led to the creation of new genres, including fitness games.[4]
Released on October 9, 2012. This installment was announced at the Ubisoft E3 2012 conference on June 4, and is the first installment to be released on the Wii U. It includes over 50 tracks by Carly Rae Jepsen, Pink, The B-52's, Rihanna, Flo Rida, and others.
Released on October 23, 2018.[14] This installment was unveiled at the Ubisoft E3 2018 conference on June 11. It includes tracks by Bruno Mars, BigBang, Blackpink, Sean Paul, J Balvin, Camila Cabello, Daddy Yankee, and others. It is the last game in the series to be released on the Wii U and the last game overall to be released for the Xbox 360.
Released on November 5, 2019.[15] This installment was unveiled at the Ubisoft E3 2019 conference on June 10. It includes tracks from Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran, 2NE1, Panic! at the Disco, Khalid, and others.[16] It is the first game in the series to be released on Stadia and the last game to be physically released on the Wii in North America.
Released on November 22, 2022. This installment was unveiled on September 10, during the Ubisoft Forward September 2022 web presentation.[19] It includes tracks from Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, Dua Lipa, Ava Max, BTS, Taylor Swift and others. 2023 Edition marks a new release form for the series, with all future content consolidated into a new Just Dancelive service platform, therefore, switching to annual song packs.[20]
Released on October 24, 2023. This installment, serving as the second annual song pack for the Just Dance service, was revealed on June 12, during the Ubisoft Forward June 2023 web presentation. It includes tracks by Sub Urban, Rosalía, Miley Cyrus, SZA, Blackpink, Aurora, and others.
Released on October 15, 2024. This installment, serving as the third annual song pack for the Just Dance service, was unveiled on June 18, during the Nintendo Direct June 2024 web presentation. It includes tracks by Jack Harlow, Ariana Grande, Melanie Martinez, Celine Dion, Blackpink, Mandy Harvey, and others.
Scheduled to be released on October 14, 2025. This installment, serving as the fourth annual song pack for the Just Dance service, was unveiled on July 31, during the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase July 2025 web presentation.[21] It will be the first game in the series to be released on the Nintendo Switch 2.
A Japanese version[22] of Just Dance published and edited by Nintendo but developed by Ubisoft Paris. It was released on October 13, 2011, only for the Wii.[23] It features 16 J-pop songs from Exile, Kara, Kumi Koda, and AKB48, as well as 11 songs from Just Dance and Just Dance 2 and only one song based on the Super Mario Bros. game that can be unlocked by playing all of the other songs. According to Media Create, as of March 11, 2012, the game sold 560,301 copies in Japan.[24]
The second Japanese Just Dance game published and edited by Nintendo but developed by Ubisoft Paris. It was released on July 26, 2012, only for the Wii.[25] It includes 20 J-pop songs from Exile, Kara, Speed, Da Pump, T-ara, DJ Ozma, 2PM, Happiness, and MAX, as well as 15 songs from Just Dance 2 and Just Dance 3.
The third Japanese Just Dance game published and edited by Nintendo but developed by Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft Reflections, Ubisoft Romania, Ubisoft Montpellier, Ubisoft Bucharest, Ubisoft Milan and Ubisoft Pune. It was revealed in a Nintendo Direct on February 14, 2014, and was released on April 3, 2014, only for the Wii U.[26] It includes 20 J-pop songs by SKE48, AKB48, BIGBANG, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, and Momoiro Clover Z, as well as 15 songs from Just Dance 4 and Just Dance 2014.
The fourth Japanese Just Dance game developed by Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft Reflections, Ubisoft Romania, Ubisoft Montpellier, Ubisoft Bucharest, Ubisoft Milan and Ubisoft Pune and co-developed and published by Level-5, featuring songs and characters from the Yo-kai Watch video game and anime franchise. It was released on December 5, 2015, only for the Wii U.[27]
Released on November 9, 2010 for the Wii, it was created with an emphasis on songs popular with children. It features 42 tracks from various kids' songs, songs from TV series including Yo Gabba Gabba! and The Wiggles and current pop hits from various artists,[28] including Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez & The Scene, and Demi Lovato. The game was released in Australia and Europe under the name Dance Juniors in February 2011.
The second installment in the kids themed lineup, released on October 25, 2011 for the PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360. It features 40 tracks from various kids' songs, songs from films including Shrek 2, Gnomeo and Juliet, Despicable Me and Disney's The Lion King and Tangled, songs from TV series including Yo Gabba Gabba! and The Wiggles, and current pop hits from various artists, including Selena Gomez & The Scene, Ashley Tisdale, and Bruno Mars. The game was released in Australia and Europe as Just Dance Kids in November 2011 because of the first installment being called Dance Juniors there.
The third installment in the kids themed lineup, released on October 22, 2013 for the Wii, Wii U and Xbox 360. It features over 30 tracks that includes the original versions of songs from artists including Demi Lovato, One Direction, and Bridgit Mendler and songs from TV series and films, including Victorious, Fraggle Rock, Yo Gabba Gabba! and The Wiggles.
Just Dance: Disney Party is the first installment in the Disney Party series, a spin-off to the Just Dance Kids series, published for the Wii and Xbox 360. It was released on October 23, 2012 in North America, October 25, 2012 in Australia and October 26, 2012 in Europe. It includes songs from Disney films, and current pop tracks from Disney Channel.
Another spin-off of the Just Dance series, featuring 26 songs and full dance choreography by Michael Jackson. It was released in November 2010 for the Wii, PlayStation 3 and Mac OS X. Eurogamer thought that the dance routines in the Xbox 360 game "feel a little slower and more simplistic than those in the PS3 game".
Yet another spin-off of the Just Dance series, the game features more than 20 tracks by The Black Eyed Peas and was released in November 2011 for the Xbox 360 and Wii. Note that the Xbox 360 version has a completely different gameplay from that of the Wii version.
The third Experience game by Ubisoft. It includes top hit tracks by artists like Flo Rida, B.o.B, Rihanna and much more. It was released in 2012 for the Wii and Xbox 360.
A spin-off of the Just Dance Kids series, featuring 25 songs. The game allows players to dance alongside Papa Smurf, Clumsy Smurf, Brainy Smurf, Grouchy Smurf, Gutsy Smurf, Smurfette, and Gargamel. It was released for the Wii on July 19, 2011 in North America, July 29, 2011 in Europe and September 8, 2011 in Australia.
Another spin-off of the Just Dance series, featuring 26 ABBA songs. It was released for the Wii on November 15, 2011 in North America, November 24, 2011 in Australia and November 25, 2011 in Europe.
Just Dance: Greatest Hits (also known as Just Dance: Best Of for PAL Wii) includes Ubisoft's favorite songs from previous titles: Just Dance, Just Dance 2 and Just Dance: Summer Party, only one PS3 exclusive/Wii DLC from Just Dance 3: "Baby Don't Stop Now" by Anja, and the two NTSC Target/Zellers/Xbox 360 PAL exclusive songs from Just Dance 3: "Airplanes" by B.o.B feat. Hayley Williams, and "Only Girl (In the World)" by Rihanna.
Just Dance Summer Party (also known in Australia and Europe as Just Dance 2: Extra Songs) includes most of the downloadable content from Just Dance 2, and two of the Best Buy exclusive songs from that game: "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" by A.R. Rahman and The Pussycat Dolls feat. Nicole Scherzinger, and "Funkytown" by Lipps Inc. covered by Sweat Invaders in-game. All the songs that were missing from the game were planned to be featured at some point but were scrapped during development. These scrapped songs include: "Crazy Christmas" by Santa Clones, "Spice Up Your Life" by Spice Girls & 3 more.
Just Dance Now is a mobile video game that lets players play Just Dance anywhere after syncing up a device with the website on a television screen or a computer. It does not require a console to be played and the device used to sync the game will be used as a controller in a similar way to the Wii Remote.
Just Dance Controller
Just Dance Controller is an app that lets players play Just Dance anywhere after syncing up a device with a game on a console or computer. The device used to sync to the game is used as a controller, similar to the Wii Remote. The app was originally known as Just Dance 2015 Motion Controller for the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Just Dance 2015; it was later retitled Just Dance Controller on July 27, 2015. Support for the app was added to the Wii U version of Just Dance 2016, and later the Steam and Nintendo Switch versions of Just Dance 2017 (the Steam version requires a smart device to play). Until Just Dance 2018, there was a "photo booth" option, which allows the player to take a self-portrait customized with items from the game. Smart device compatibility was removed from the Wii U and Nintendo Switch versions of Just Dance 2019 in October 2018, and later Just Dance 2015 in November 2018. It was later added back to the Nintendo Switch version of Just Dance 2020. It was then added to the Stadia version of Just Dance 2020 and the ninth-generation console versions of Just Dance 2021, all of which require a smart device to play.
Just Dance Unlimited
Just Dance Unlimited is a subscription-based service, featured on Just Dance 2016 through to Just Dance 2022, which replaced downloadable content. By the end of the post-launch cycle for Just Dance 2022, Just Dance Unlimited featured over 700 songs. The service was delisted on Xbox and PlayStation consoles on July 1, 2024, and on Nintendo Switch on March 31, 2025.[30][31]
Just Dance+
Just Dance+ is a subscription service that was launched alongside Just Dance 2023 Edition. It serves as a replacement for Just Dance Unlimited and features songs from previous Just Dance games alongside new exclusive songs.[32]
Just Dance VR is a virtual reality game that lets players dance to 25 songs from the main series, rebuilt in a virtual reality environment.[33][34] It was released on October 15, 2024, for Meta Quest 2, 3, and Pro.[35]
Just Dance 3: 70 out of 100 (Xbox 360),[38] 74 out of 100 (Wii),[39] and 75 out of 100 (PS3)[40]
Just Dance 4: 66 out of 100 (Wii U),[41] 74 out of 100 (Wii),[42] and 77 out of 100 (Xbox 360 and PS3)[43][44]
Just Dance 2014: 71 out of 100 (Xbox One),[45] 72 out of 100 (Wii U),[46] 75 out of 100 (PS4),[47] 77 out of 100 (PS3),[48] and 79 out of 100 (Xbox 360)[49]
Just Dance 2015: 70 out of 100 (Xbox One),[50] 72 out of 100 (PS4),[51] and 75 out of 100 (Wii U)[52]
Just Dance 2016: 66 out of 100 (Xbox One),[53] and 73 out of 100 (PS4 and Wii U)[54][55]
Just Dance 2017: 72 out of 100 (Nintendo Switch),[56] and 73 out of 100 (Xbox One and PS4)[57][58]
Just Dance 2018: 71 out of 100 (Nintendo Switch),[59] and 75 out of 100 (PS4)[60]
Just Dance 2019: 72 out of 100 (Nintendo Switch),[61] and 77 out of 100 (Xbox One and PS4)[62][63]
Just Dance 2020: 74 out of 100 (Nintendo Switch),[64] and 77 out of 100 (PS4)[65]
Just Dance 2021: 70 out of 100 (Nintendo Switch)[66]
Just Dance 2022: 71 out of 100 (Nintendo Switch),[67] and 83 out of 100 (Xbox Series X/S)[68]
Just Dance 2023 Edition: 70 out of 100 (PlayStation 5),[69] 76 out of 100 (Nintendo Switch),[70] and 80 out of 100 (Xbox Series X/S)[71]
Just Dance 2024 Edition: 68 out of 100 (PlayStation 5) and 72 out of 100 (Nintendo Switch)[72]
Just Dance 2025 Edition: 79 out of 100 (PlayStation 5) and 72 out of 100 (Nintendo Switch)[73]
On 14 January 2019, Deadline reported that Screen Gems has acquired rights to a film adaptation of Just Dance, with Jason Altman and Margaret Boykin from Ubisoft Film & Television set to produce alongside Jodi Hildebrand and Will Gluck of Olive Bridge Entertainment.[78] In January 2020, it was reported that Molly Prather, Amelie Gillette, Brian Gatewood, and Alessandro Tanaka wrote the script for the film.[79] In January 2023, Gluck was reported to be re-writing the script alongside A.C. Bradley.[80]
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