Just Dance 2021

Put on your dancing shoes ’cause Just Dance 2021 is here to show you how to move. With superb visuals and varied choreography, it’s only a lack of online play and a limited core song list that hold it back.

Just Dance 2021 is not a revolution but a confirmation, like every year. But, like every year, he also reiterates that his is a winning formula, which shows no sign of fading.

Just Dance 2021 is back: few innovations, but many new songs.

Just Dance 2021 just keeps doing the good things that the previous titles of the series were doing, without offering many innovations.

Just Dance 2021 follows the classical formula of Ubisoft's successful series and while it doesn't tread outside of its usual conventions, it proves once again that this is one of the best designed party games out there. It misses, however, in one crucial aspect - despite the possibility to pair up with players around the world for tournament play, it lacks an online component that would put friends playing against each other. With that in mind, Ubisoft's subscription service widely expands the catalogue of songs and the fitness option, as well as kid-friendly mode, are two very welcome components.

Just Dance 2021 works fine with solid choreography, but with very few base game changes, Just Dance Unlimited feels like a much better option.

Whether Just Dance 2021 is worth purchasing will depend entirely on how players felt about the previous title. Those who love the series will find plenty of little improvements and a great library of new songs and dance routines. More casual players might find it isn’t worth splashing out on the latest release when they can happily stick with the older game, especially with Just Dance Unlimited providing such a wide array of extra tracks. However, anyone who has been looking for the perfect opportunity to jump in and try out the series will find no better time than now.

Same old same old, but at least Just Dance 2021 remains as fun as all previous instalments. In other words, if you wanted something new in terms of modes, mechanics, or whatever, you won't find it here. This is just more Just Dance. Sure, whether you love most of the tracks that are on offer is a matter of personal taste, but the soundtrack is, for the most part, a very good bundle of tunes that will please most people.

Just Dance 2021 is a solid entry in the franchise, though it might get stale next year if things don’t change. However, its improved performance and bombastically entertaining song list will still get you on the dance floor this time around.

Refined but not innovated, Just Dance 2021 represents the series in stagnation. It still entertains, but the past few entries have seen little in the way of positive change. A couple of the prior editions on Switch are arguably better.

With obvious criticisms aside, a game such as Just Dance 2021 could very well be the medicine we need to help provide some form of normality to this year’s holiday season. Having the under-appreciated privilege of joyfully dancing and laughing next to a Christmas tree within the isolated bubble of our loved ones not only boosts morale, but it also opens up to the realisation of how incredibly fortunate some of us are to have others to share that little bubble with.

Just Dance 2021 fails to ever feel like a fully fleshed-out game, especially for the £50 price tag. Although the new tracks and the World Dance Floor mode are fun enough, it's hard to justify spending so much on a game that adds so little, and expects you to purchase more with thinly-veiled in-game advertising and upselling. If you love the series then you'll be investing no matter what we say, but we can't help but feel that Just Dance as a franchise has been resting on its laurels for far too long now.