It’s that time of year again, when all our favorite annual franchises start making their grand return. We’ve already had the usual sports games at the end of summer, and a new Call of Duty is just a couple of weeks away. But there’s one annual release that’s more physically demanding than any NHL or Madden, and guaranteed to leave you sweatier than even the most intense Call of Duty session shouting at trolls an ocean away from you.

That’s right, it’s time for another Just Dance, and this year’s installment, unlike other generically named yearly entries, is Just Dance: Decade of Hits. So grab your brand new joycons, or fire up your smartphone, and get ready to dance your heart out to a fresh selection of songs, including popular hits dating all the way back to the ’70s.

It’s time for an adventure!

So, what’s new in Just Dance: Decade of Hits, besides the obvious addition of a brand new songlist? Well, this time around, we’re getting an entirely new adventure mode. Lyra takes you on a narrative-driven journey through time, featuring, believe it or not, hit songs from various decades of dance music. Who could have seen that coming?

Just Dance has also taken a page out of Call of Duty’s playbook (or Guitar Hero, if you bothered to pay for library transfers back in the day) by introducing a unified game hub. Every installment from 2023 onward now sits under one banner, allowing you to dance along to previously purchased songs without constantly switching between games.

Decade of Hits also marks the long-awaited return of individual profiles, finally allowing everyone to customize their own profile to suit their personality. It seems the period Reddit users have dubbed the “dark era” of Just Dance might finally be coming to an end!

Groovin’ to the movin’

So, what are the negatives? Well, that depends on how you look at it. At the end of the day, this is still Just Dance. Sure, there’s a new narrative adventure with a bit of a Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock vibe, but once that’s over, you’re back to dancing along to your favorite songs, just like in every previous installment. It isn’t attempting to reinvent the wheel, despite the inclusion of one or two new modes.

The core gameplay remains largely unchanged, although the smartphone connection seems to work better than ever. Personally, I still prefer playing with joycons. There’s just something a little weird about having my phone staring back at me while I’m dancing (he says, while writing this very review on his phone). There’s a reason why Just Dance versions featuring motion-based controllers have always been the most popular versions.

Still, it’s great to have options, and using smartphones can actually be more convenient when playing with a group. This is especially true on the original Nintendo Switch, where motion tracking doesn’t always work as reliably when something gets in the way, such as another person enthusiastically flailing their arms around. Then again, it works well on the Switch 2’s controllers.

We all need a little TLC!

To make a long story short, it’s Just Dance, this time celebrating pop and dance hits from the ’70s all the way to the 2020s. Whether you’re into ABBA, *NSYNC, or Bad Bunny, there’s bound to be something here to get you moving. And if you’re looking to discover some new pop artists, there are 35 songs to choose from, not even counting the additional tracks available through the game’s music subscription service.

It’s a great workout, a ton of fun whether you’re playing solo or with a group, and an easy way to get everyone off the couch. At the end of the day, it’s pretty hard not to have a good time with Just Dance: Decade of Hits, provided you’re willing to let loose, embrace the silliness, and dance like nobody’s watching.

Just Dance: Decades of Hits is available now on PS5, Xbox Series S/X, PC, Switch and Switch 2.

Reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2.

A Copy of Just Dance: Decades of Hits was provided by the publisher.