Music video game

A music video game, also commonly known as a music game or rhythm action game, is a type of video game where the gameplay is oriented almost entirely around the player's ability to follow a musical beat and stay with the rhythm of the game's soundtrack. Since the game play for this type of game is largely aural rather than visual, this type of game is similar to audio games. However, music games generally require a visual component as well.

In a music video game, the player must input specific buttons in time with the game's music. The control scheme is usually fairly simplistic, and the moves required are usually pre-determined rather than randomized. More recently, music games such as Rez have attempted to move away from the traditional "Simon says" approach, attempting to give the player more freedom in the sounds they create.

In Japan, music video games in the Dance Dance Revolution vein are known as "Bemani" games; the name is derived from Beatmania. Other famous music games are PaRappa the Rapper, Frequency, Pump It Up, and their respective sequels.

See also

• List of music games
• Video game music