Much like Earth’s rotation around the sun, a visit from Santa or neglecting your New Year’s resolutions, Ubisoft’s unstoppable dance franchise has made its annual return with Just Dance 2026 Edition.
As we’ve previously covered, these aren’t so much brand new games, but are more like song packs. They might expand the Just Dance collection you already have, or serve as an introduction to this long-running series.
So in a style that has now become tradition, I’ve endeavoured to offer advice, whoever you are, on whether you might want to purchase a copy of Just Dance 2026 Edition for yourself.
Pick the response that matches you, or just read the whole article!
‘What’s the deal with Just Dance? I’ve never played one before.’
If you like video games and having a boogie, you’re bound to have a good time.
In Just Dance 2026 Edition, you’re presented with a wide range of choreographed dance routines set to recognisable pop songs.
The game uses motion tracking to judge your dance skills by holding your smartphone in one hand and running the Just Dance Controller app, or holding a Joy-con if you’re playing on a Nintendo Switch. The app also offers the ability to use your phone camera to track your performance, which I’ll explain in more detail later on.
All in all, this game doesn’t take itself too seriously. Giving that it’s only using one hand to judge your sick dance moves, this isn’t exactly a precise science. For getting a group together and strutting your stuff during a fun night at home, this works wonders. But if you’re the type of person to flip tables when it rates your dance moves to ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun‘ with three stars, you might find that this isn’t for you.
‘I’ve already bought a Just Dance game, do I also need this?’
From Just Dance 2023 Edition onward, the series has operated as an ongoing live service platform, with each new retail release adding a collection of around 40 songs.
The same goes for new features being added to the series. The big new addition is the co-op Party Mode, which introduces distractions and bonus mini-games into the existing dance routines in a Warioware-esque fashion. But this feature is also available if you have an entry from the previous three years, it doesn’t require an extra purchase. Also, in my opinion, Party Mode is extremely irritating. Where’s the fun in interrupting my dance to just stand and shake my controller back and forth for a few seconds?
Whether you buy this year’s game or stick with one of the recent releases, you can also buy a subscription to Just Dance+, a subscription service with hundreds of additional songs from previous games and brand new releases. Every copy of Just Dance 2026 Edition comes one month of access to Just Dance+, so you can test if it’s right for you.
‘I love Just Dance! I buy it every year!’
It’s safe to say you’re going to enjoy Just Dance 2026 Edition.
We’re four years into this new approach of treating Just Dance in a games-as-a-service model and if it’s still working for you at this point, nothing has changed with this year’s entry.
‘How are the songs in Just Dance 2026 Edition?’
Let’s be real, this is going to be an extremely subjective question. So perhaps you’re better off looking at the songlist for yourself and coming to your own conclusion.
But if you’re desperate to know what I think? It feels like this year has dropped off a little bit from past entries. There’s still some heavy-hitters in the pop music space, with ‘Anxiety’ by Doechii and ‘APT.’ by Rosé and Bruno Mars. But with the nature of how long these games can take to put together, songs like ‘Houdini’ by Dua Lipa or ‘Good Luck, Babe’ by Chappell Roan feel as if they should have been in last year’s game. Like, where are my K-Pop Demon Hunters tunes?
Then there’s the matter of all the original songs or when they use covers like they’ve done with ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart‘. They just have an air of cheapness to them and they’re becoming a larger part of the songlist each year. It’s almost like Ubisoft are scrambling to fill in spots to reach the mandatory number of at least 40 new tracks.
Your mileage may vary. But this year’s soundtrack doesn’t sit overly well with me as a long-time fan of the series… although Madonna’s ‘Hung Up’ is objectively a banger, so no complaints there.
‘Is this actually a good game though? How was last year’s entry?’
As with previous releases, my enthusiasm did wane a little bit after the initial release and checking out the new songs. We’re four years into this release pattern and by constantly building on the previous releases, the novelty and familiarity of this series feels more tiring each time. With that said, the old system of switching games for the songs you wanted was no better, so this is the ideal approach. I just wish we’d have fresher experiences than things like this year’s disappointing Party Mode.
Another feeling is this growing sense that Just Dance is coasting a little bit. The less exciting song list and Just Dance+ looking like it’s spinning its wheels makes it feel like this franchise doesn’t offer much more than the bare minimum anymore. It still ticks the boxes for what you’d hope from this series, but I hope for a little more ambition out of Just Dance 2027 Edition.
Oh, and a side-note, the volume of the music in the pause menu in the Switch version is insanely loud. Ubisoft, please fix this, my ears can only take so much!
‘I want to put this on and dance with my friends at parties!’
This is the ideal setting for a game like Just Dance 2026 Edition. With the right group who don’t take themselves too seriously, you could put this on and just let your friends dance the night away.
I suspect the problem would be people who take themselves too seriously, so I’d be establishing Whose Line Is It Anyway? rules early, insisting that the scores don’t matter. Also, I’d be springing some dollars for a month of Just Dance+ because I reckon your crowd will tire of the 40 songs in Just Dance 2026 Edition pretty quickly.
‘I’m only going to play Just Dance 2026 Edition in single-player.’
I don’t think single-player is the ideal way to play Just Dance 2026 Edition, but there’s certainly enough content if this is your preference.
The game is always-online, so every dance you do goes towards a leader board where you can compare your performance. Furthermore, the Challenge Mode pits you against one specific online user and it presents their growing score throughout the score as if they’re there dancing with you.
The game also features Workout Mode, which displays your calorie loss, turning your heated gamer moments into fat-burning fun.
‘Dancing with a controller in my hand sounds uncomfortable.’
Using the Just Dance Controller app on your phone means you can dance freely without having to clutch your hand into a fist the whole time.
This feature was introduced in beta in last year’s edition, but has been promoted to full release this year. It works with every song from the last two retail releases as well as some of the more recent Just Dance+ tracks.
I find it to be a much more enjoyable way to play the game and while I had connectivity issues last year, these seem to be largely resolved. However, it only works with one dancer, making it unfeasible for multiplayer.
Also, as a millennial, I don’t feel comfortable not checking my phone every five minutes, meaning I need to keep re-syncing my phone with the game. I understand that’s a me problem, but I doubt I’ll be alone.
‘I want to play Just Dance 2026 Edition with my kids.’
Look, I know I’m a Just Dance fan, but I have to be honest with you and myself… this is a series that is more aimed at children than men in their mid-30s. I can accept this.
To that point, the songlist offers many songs aimed directly at kids. Just Dance 2026 Edition even features a medley of songs from Bluey, which I understand makes this a mandatory purchase for any parent of young ones. I’m sorry, I don’t make the rules.
Furthermore, the game maintains a family-friendly rating by censoring some of the more scandalous lyrics in the game. This does leave me wondering what even is the point of including a song like the clean version of ‘Messy’ by Lola Young, which is so butchered that I could’ve started a barbecue with the song’s tenderised remains.
‘Which platform should I play Just Dance 2026 Edition on?’
The added option of using Joy-Cons as a controller means I’d recommend getting Just Dance 2026 Edition for Nintendo Switch, which is the version I’ve played. But if you don’t have a Switch, it’s also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles. There’s a demo on all platforms if you’re still deciding which you’d prefer.
‘I’m interested, but I’m also awful at dancing.’
If being bad at dancing was a problem, I’d have stopped playing these games a long time ago. Just feel the rhythm and let your insecurities go.
Quest Daily was provided early access to Just Dance 2026 Edition for the purpose of this article.
