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Synth Riders review: the rhythm game that feels like dancing

Item: Synth Riders
Rating: 8.5

An AI-written assessment of Synth Riders from official game details and published reviews: flowing, dance-like rhythm play, a strong synthwave-heavy soundtrack, deep modifiers, multiplayer and wide platform support, but heavy reliance on paid music packs, limited stage variety and little recent in-depth coverage.

Synth RidersApp-Details 8.5AusgezeichnetDas Fazit

Von vrBlogs

Veröffentlicht 30. Oktober 2026 · 3 Min. Lesezeit

Das Fazit

Synth Riders is one of VR's best rhythm games, with smooth, dance-like movement, a strong soundtrack and enough modifiers for every skill level. Expect to pay extra for much of the best-known music, but the core game alone is a joyful workout.

Bewertung nach Kriterien

Komfort9.0

Gameplay9.0

Grafik7.5

Inhaltsbibliothek8.5

Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis8.0

Stärken

Flowing, dance-like gameplay
Strong synthwave-heavy soundtrack
Huge range of modifiers and difficulties
Cross-platform multiplayer
Available on almost every headset
Still updated in 2026

Schwächen

Many headline songs are paid DLC
Limited stage variety
Base track list may feel small
Studio halved its staff in 2026
Few recent in-depth reviews

Trailer & Screenshots

Trailer

Screenshots

Fotos: 6

This review is an AI-written assessment. It is based on official game details and on what published reviews broadly agree on, not on hands-on play.

What it is

Synth Riders is a rhythm game from Kluge Interactive where you hold glowing orbs and follow notes and long rails to the beat, while ducking and dodging walls. The moves are designed to feel more like dancing than chopping. It entered Steam Early Access in July 2018, then left Early Access on PC VR and launched on Quest on November 1, 2019. It later reached PlayStation VR, a Remastered Edition on PlayStation VR2, and Apple Vision Pro through Apple Arcade with hand tracking. In October 2026 MIXED reported a patch fixing leaderboard scores for players on Valve's Steam Frame.

The official site lists 78 songs in the base game, with paid music packs that cover synthwave, electro swing, 80s and 90s hits, and artists such as Muse, Gorillaz and Lindsey Stirling. Road to VR reported a Lady Gaga pack in December 2025 and a 13-track Linkin Park pack in June 2026, the game's largest DLC to date. Modes include standard rhythm play, Spin and Spiral variants, cross-platform multiplayer and custom songs made with a free beatmap editor. It is sold on the Meta Horizon Store, SteamVR, the PlayStation Store and other stores; MIXED lists it at $24.99 on Steam.

Strengths

Dance-like flow. GamingTrend (95/100) said it "feels more like dancing" than swinging your arms. Hey Poor Player (4.5/5) praised gameplay that is easy to grasp and hard to master.
Strong soundtrack. Both reviews singled out the music. Hey Poor Player called the synthwave-heavy tracklist outstanding.
Highly adjustable. Push Square highlighted an "almost overwhelming number of modifiers and settings". Difficulty spans from beginner-friendly Easy to very demanding top levels.
Smooth on PS VR2. GamingTrend found tracking and frame rate "rock solid" in the Remastered Edition.
Good workout. The Guardian included it among top VR fitness apps and called it "joyful, even if you look ridiculous".
Long-term support. New music packs and patches were still arriving in 2026, more than seven years after launch.

Weaknesses

DLC adds up. Hey Poor Player noted extra music packs cost $7.99 each, and much of the best-known music sits in paid packs.
Limited stage variety. Hey Poor Player wanted more variety in backgrounds.
Base track count. Even GamingTrend's near-perfect review wished more tracks were included.
Smaller studio. Road to VR reported in April 2026 that Kluge cut half its staff. The studio said Synth Riders "remains steady", but the pace of updates may change.
Thin recent coverage. Most in-depth reviews date from 2021-2023, so newer modes and packs have had little critical attention.

Who it suits

Synth Riders suits anyone who likes rhythm games but prefers flowing, dance-like movement to precise slashing, and players who want a fun cardio session. Its wide difficulty range and modifiers make it welcoming for beginners and families as well as experts. Because it is played standing in place, it is comfortable for most people; the main demand is physical. Fans of synthwave and electronic music get the most from the base game.

How it compares

Beat Saber is the obvious comparison. Hey Poor Player summed up Synth Riders as Beat Saber "for the VHS generation". Beat Saber is about sharp, directional cuts, while Synth Riders rewards smooth, continuous arm movement along rails. Pistol Whip mixes rhythm with shooting and has more cinematic levels. Synth Riders sits between them as the most dance-like and accessible of the three, with the broadest platform support.

Published reviews are consistently positive, and Wikipedia notes that Metacritic rates its reception as "generally favorable". Reviewers praise the flow, music and customization, while the main reservations are the reliance on paid DLC and limited stage variety.