Just Dance VR Review

Just Dance VR: Welcome to Dancity invites players into a world of rhythm and movement that breaks out of the living room and into the immersive realm of virtual reality. Released on October 15, 2024, exclusively for Meta Quest headsets (2, 3, 3S, and Pro), this long-anticipated VR adaptation of Just Dance finally brings Ubisoft’s dance series into the next dimension. For years, fans have wondered what it would be like to step inside Just Dance’s vibrant world of upbeat tunes and quirky coaches—and Just Dance VR delivers on that dream with a new level of immersion.

This release wasn’t the first attempt at VR for Just Dance. Ubisoft initially showcased a VR prototype at E3 2016 and later announced an exclusive partnership with Pico in 2023. However, following setbacks in Pico’s VR division, the project was reimagined and partnered with Meta, marking Just Dance VR as a significant step forward for Ubisoft and virtual reality gaming. With the release, players can feel like they’re dancing on an actual stage, surrounded by lights, colours, and energetic audiences. This adds an interactive dimension that previous iterations could only hint at.

The game offers a carefully selected tracklist of 25 solo-only songs, eliminating coach selection and group routines to ensure smoother gameplay within VR. Tracks like “How You Like That” by BLACKPINK and “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen add variety to the experience, while classics like “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor bring a touch of nostalgia to a high-tech dance floor. From choreography to visual design, Just Dance VR is more than just a novelty; it’s a rethinking of what a rhythm game can be when players are truly at the heart of the action.

Let’s step into the virtual world of Dancity and see how Just Dance VR transforms how we play and experience this beloved franchise.

Setting and Story

In Just Dance VR, the “setting” takes on a new level of importance, transforming from a colourful backdrop to a fully immersive dance world called Dancity. Dancity is more than a virtual city; it’s a vibrant, neon-lit environment filled with eclectic stages and interactive features that respond to your moves. The various dance floors in Dancity bring unique themes, each designed to draw players into the track’s rhythm. While the Just Dance series traditionally uses animated backgrounds to set the tone, Just Dance VR reimagines this with a 360-degree experience where the game’s infectious energy surrounds players.

Each track feels like its own world within Dancity. When you step into a song like “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd, you’re not just dancing along—you’re transported into a dazzling urban scene with flashing lights and cityscapes that pulse to the beat. Meanwhile, upbeat tracks like “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga turn the virtual stage into a high-energy pop concert. It’s a fully immersive world that invites players to explore, discover, and dance within different environments, each tailored to match the tone and spirit of its respective song.

To add to the experience, Ubisoft has included small interactive details that make the world of Just Dance VR feel alive. The stages, for example, react to the player’s movements—lights change colour, crowds cheer, and visual effects pulse in sync with the player’s score. This level of detail enhances the immersion and makes each track feel like a personal performance. It’s no longer just about dancing with an on-screen coach; players are now the stars of their virtual show, performing for an audience that responds to their every move.

Although Just Dance VR doesn’t include a traditional storyline, it builds a narrative through progression. As players move through various tracks and environments, they “unlock” more of Dancity, uncovering new parts of this neon-lit world and experiencing fresh visual surprises with each song. This dynamic world-building approach balances the lack of a conventional story, allowing players to craft their dance journey within the energetic universe of Dancity.

Gameplay and Mechanics

Just Dance VR takes the familiar rhythm gameplay of the series and adapts it brilliantly for virtual reality, bringing the action closer to players than ever before. In the VR format, the gameplay focuses on precise motion tracking and immersive choreography that engages players fully. Unlike previous games where you mimic a coach on a flat screen, Just Dance VR places you center stage, surrounded by a 360-degree interactive environment. The Meta Quest’s motion controllers track each hand movement, encouraging players to hit poses, mirror moves, and interact with elements around them.

One of the most striking changes in this VR adaptation is the shift to solo-only tracks. While the traditional Just Dance titles feature group routines and coach selection, Just Dance VR streamlines the experience to focus entirely on single-player choreography. This change simplifies the tracking process and enhances the immersion, making players feel like the leading performers. Ubisoft has smartly avoided complications that could arise from group routines in VR, instead creating choreography that is as fun and dynamic as ever but suited to solo play.

In Just Dance VR, familiar mechanics like score tracking and feedback are reimagined for a more immersive experience. Each move counts toward your score, with visual and audio cues letting you know when you’ve hit a Gold Move or nailed a problematic sequence. The Meta Quest controllers provide subtle haptic feedback, giving players a physical response to their actions and heightening the feeling of being part of the dance. Furthermore, Ubisoft has retained the beloved “Gold Move” mechanic, performing key moves ideally yields extra points, accompanied by flashy effects that light up the VR space.

Perhaps the most exciting addition is the reactive environment. As you dance, lights pulse, backgrounds shift, and even particle effects respond to your energy and accuracy. It’s an interactive layer that goes beyond traditional Just Dance gameplay, rewarding you with points and a spectacle that builds as you perform. This dynamic environment makes each session feel unique and genuinely emphasizes the joy of movement, taking the rhythm gameplay up a notch. By integrating these mechanics into VR, Just Dance VR creates a dance experience that feels fresh, challenging, and utterly immersive.

Multiplayer and Replayability

While Just Dance VR is primarily designed as a solo experience, Ubisoft has added elements to keep players coming back and sharing their dance journeys with friends. Though the game doesn’t include real-time multiplayer—an understandable limitation in the VR space—it does offer asynchronous multiplayer features that encourage friendly competition. Players can record their high scores and challenge friends within the Just Dance VR community to beat them, adding a social layer reminiscent of leaderboard-style competition. These challenges bring a sense of camaraderie to the VR platform, making players feel connected even when they’re dancing alone.

For fans looking to maximize their experience, Ubisoft offers weekly challenges and themed events that rotate throughout the year. These events often align with popular holidays or cultural events and introduce exclusive tracks, new visuals, and limited-time challenges. For example, Halloween-themed routines or New Year’s challenges encourage players to revisit the game regularly, adding seasonal flair to the experience. These recurring events and the addition of special rewards for high scores or participation add substantial replayability, making Just Dance VR more than just a one-time novelty.

Another feature that boosts replayability is the customizable playlist option. While Just Dance VR has a fixed library of 25 songs, Ubisoft has included options for players to favourite tracks, create custom playlists, and organize routines by difficulty or theme. This allows players to tailor their dance sessions to suit their mood, skill level, or fitness goals, whether they’re up for a light dance session or an intense workout. It’s a brilliant addition that transforms the game from a casual dance title into a personalized experience that can fit various types of play styles and routines.

For those dedicated to pushing their performance, Just Dance VR also tracks progress over time, showing players how they improve precision and endurance with each session. This personal progress tracker, combined with the asynchronous challenges and seasonal events, ensures that Just Dance VR offers plenty of reasons to keep returning. Whether you aim to beat your personal best, join in on a holiday event, or outscore your friends, Just Dance VR makes a compelling case for dance as a regular part of your VR routine.

Graphics and Sound

In Just Dance VR, the visuals are more than just eye candy—they’re an integral part of the immersive experience that transports players into the vibrant world of Dancity. Ubisoft has given each track a unique, fully realized environment that wraps around the player 360 degrees, creating a visual experience as dynamic as the choreography. The Meta Quest hardware renders each song’s setting with impressive clarity, from neon cityscapes to tropical beaches, making each dance routine feel like an adventure in a new world. The reactive environments add another layer of engagement, with lights and effects that pulse to the beat, heightening the energy of every track.

Character design in Just Dance VR retains the franchise’s playful and quirky spirit. The animated coaches are back, but they’re presented in a more lifelike, three-dimensional style that makes them feel like part of the VR world rather than distant figures on a screen. These coaches, now rendered as animated avatars with exaggerated expressions and vibrant costumes, embody the mood of each track. For instance, in “Born This Way,” the coach is decked out in glittering, pop-inspired attire, while in “Don’t Stop Me Now,” the character exudes rockstar vibes. Their lively movements and over-the-top expressions are perfect for VR, drawing players into the fun.

On the audio side, Just Dance VR delivers crisp, high-quality sound critical for a rhythm-based game. The soundtrack spans various genres and eras, with each song remastered to sound immersive and energizing in the VR setting. Whether you’re grooving to the nostalgic beats of “I Will Survive” or the thumping rhythm of “Blinding Lights,” the sound design ensures each track feels like a live performance. Surround sound and spatial audio effects on the Meta Quest headsets enhance this, making it feel like the music envelopes you, amplifying each dance routine’s immersion.

To round out the sensory experience, Ubisoft has cleverly used haptic feedback in the Meta Quest controllers. As players hit key moves or pull off high scores, the subtle vibrations sync with the beat, adding a tactile layer that brings players closer to the music. These vibrations are carefully tuned to avoid becoming intrusive, offering just enough feedback to enhance the rhythm without distracting from the gameplay. The combination of vibrant visuals, high-fidelity sound, and responsive haptics makes Just Dance VR a treat for the senses, capturing the franchise’s spirit in a fresh, modern, and fully immersive way.

Final Thoughts

Just Dance VR marks a bold step for Ubisoft, bringing the franchise’s iconic energy and fun to the immersive world of virtual reality. Ubisoft has captured the heart of Just Dance by crafting a fully realized dance experience in Dancity while adding depth and dimension that only VR can provide. With intuitive gameplay mechanics, an immersive 360-degree setting, and an engaging tracklist that spans genres and decades, Just Dance VR appeals to both long-time fans and VR newcomers. The move to VR brings a fresh feel to familiar routines, making the gameplay more interactive and, ultimately, more rewarding.

While Just Dance VR is primarily a solo experience, the asynchronous multiplayer elements and global challenges add a social aspect that keeps players connected. The rotating events and themed challenges give players plenty of reasons to return, ensuring that Dancity never feels static. Ubisoft’s decision to embrace seasonal updates and limited-time tracks keeps the gameplay experience dynamic and relevant, even for players who may already be familiar with much of the series’ core mechanics. This new format clarifies that Just Dance VR is more than just a one-off VR experiment—it’s a continuously evolving world with a strong community focus.

From a technical perspective, Just Dance VR maximizes the Meta Quest’s capabilities with responsive motion tracking, vivid visuals, and thoughtful sound design. Using haptic feedback and reactive environments enhances the sense of presence, making each session feel immersive and exciting. While some fans may miss the group routines or multiplayer party mode, Just Dance VR delivers a rich experience explicitly tailored to VR’s strengths. Ubisoft’s choice to streamline the gameplay to solo routines allows for a polished and focused experience that plays to the strengths of virtual reality.

Overall, Just Dance VR is a refreshing and innovative addition to the Just Dance series, taking full advantage of the VR format. It’s fun, challenging, and perfect for anyone looking to dance their heart out in a brand-new setting. With its engaging environments, iconic tracklist, and playful design, Just Dance VR captures the joy of dancing like no other rhythm game can. Whether you’re a series veteran or trying it out for the first time, this title has all the moves to keep you coming back for another song.

We prepared this review with a digital copy of Just Dance VR for the Meta Quest version provided by Ubisoft.