Just Dance: Decades of Hits How To Play: Starter Guide

Just Dance: Decades of Hits how to play: Start Here

Your first dance doesn’t have to be perfect to be fun. This Just Dance: Decades of Hits how to play guide helps you get comfortable with the controls, read the choreography, and choose a mode that keeps you moving. Once you understand those basics, you can spend more time enjoying the music and less time trying to follow every movement at once.

The core loop is straightforward: choose a song, follow the on-screen dancer, and copy the routine in time with the music. Accurate movements and timing earn points. Scrolling indicators give you a preview of upcoming moves, while the dancer shows how those movements fit together.

You can play alone or dance with up to six players. The music spans the 1970s through the 2020s, with routines ranging from easy to more challenging.

Start your first session with these steps:

1. Choose a song you can access. The library also displays music tied to other purchases or Just Dance+.
2. Check the routine’s difficulty and effort labels. These describe different aspects of the dance.
3. Follow your selected on-screen dancer. Keep watching that character when several dancers share the screen.
4. Use the scrolling indicators to anticipate transitions. Combine them with the dancer’s movements.
5. Finish the song, then replay it. Use another attempt to work on the sections that caught you off guard.

On-screen element	What it tells you	How to use it
Dancer	The choreography you are following	Watch the movement’s shape and rhythm
Scrolling indicators	Upcoming dance moves	Glance ahead to prepare for changes
Score feedback	How your performance is being scored	Compare attempts while practicing
Difficulty label	The routine’s difficulty	Start with an Easy routine
Effort label	The routine’s physical effort	Choose Chill when you want a gentler start

Missing moves won’t end the song. The routine continues, giving you another chance to catch the rhythm. If you lose track, pick up the next recognizable movement instead of trying to squeeze in everything you missed.

Set Up Your Controller and Keep Track of Your Dancer

On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, a compatible smartphone running the free Just Dance Controller app is required to track your movements. You don’t need additional tracking accessories on those platforms.

The phone acts as your controller for the console game. Downloading the controller app is part of getting ready to dance; it doesn’t replace the console game itself.

Just Dance: Decades of Hits is also available for Nintendo Switch. If you bought the Switch code-in-box edition, redeem the included download code before playing. That package provides a digital game code.

For Just Dance: Decades of Hits how to play on PS5 or Xbox, prepare the required controller app before choosing your opening song. Then use the game’s controller setup instructions to get ready for the routine.

Keep your attention on the screen once the dance begins. The on-screen character supplies the choreography, while your controller tracks your movements.

Follow One Coach Through the Routine

Songs can feature multiple playable coaches. Duets, trios, and quartets put several dancers on screen, so remembering which character you selected matters.

Watch your coach’s appearance before the routine gets busy. When characters change positions, continue following the same character rather than automatically switching to whoever occupies the center.

This becomes especially useful during group sessions. Players can be following different coaches within the same song, and those coaches don’t necessarily perform identical movements throughout the routine.

Separate Learning the Dance From Chasing Points

As you learn Just Dance: Decades of Hits how to play, use your opening attempt to understand the dance’s structure. Focus on the main arm movements, repeated gestures, and changes between sections.

On your next attempt, pay closer attention to timing. The scoring rewards accurate dancing in time with the music, so work on matching when a movement happens as well as what it looks like.

Keep practicing the whole routine. A difficult opening doesn’t prevent you from learning the chorus or finishing with a stronger performance.

Choose Between Adventure, Party, and Workout Modes

Learning Just Dance: Decades of Hits how to play also means choosing how you want to spend the session. You can follow a story, switch up the rules with friends, or use dancing as an active break.

Mode or activity	What it includes
Adventure Mode	A journey with Lyra through six decade-themed worlds
Party Mode	Rules that change between rounds
Workout Mode	Calorie tracking after dances
Song selection	Individual routines from your accessible library
Playlists	Custom playlists and playlists created by the Just Dance team

Adventure Mode: Dance Through Six Eras

Adventure Mode follows Lyra on a time-traveling journey to rescue Dr. Gigavolt. You explore six worlds inspired by different decades, dance to songs, take part in mini-activities, and unlock exclusive rewards.

Trivia activities break up the dancing and introduce information about the decade you’re exploring. That gives the adventure a different rhythm from selecting song after song in the library.

Choose Adventure Mode when you want to follow its story and activities. Let the decade theme introduce you to music you might otherwise scroll past.

Keep the dance basics in mind during the adventure: watch your coach, anticipate the next move, and recover when you miss a sequence. The story gives the session structure, but following the choreography remains central to playing.

Party Mode: Follow the Changing Rules

Party Mode changes the rules between rounds. Read the instructions for each round before jumping into the dance.

Let everyone get comfortable with a regular routine before introducing those twists. Practice following the dancers together, then move into Party Mode once the group understands the basic controls.

Up to six players can dance together with a single copy of the game. Give everyone a chance to select music, especially when your group includes people who recognize different decades.

Workout Mode: Use the Effort Labels

Workout Mode tracks calories burned after each dance. The song library’s effort labels also help you distinguish between lighter and more active routines.

Start with a Chill routine, then select a Moderate routine when you want to increase the effort. Keep difficulty separate from exertion: a routine can have approachable choreography while still asking you to move more.

Use playlists to arrange songs for an active session. Mix familiar routines with dances you want to learn so you can keep practicing while moving.

Pick Songs by Difficulty, Effort, and Decade

Song choice makes a big difference when you’re figuring out Just Dance: Decades of Hits how to play. A familiar track helps you anticipate the music, while the routine’s labels tell you more about the choreography and effort involved.

The game includes 35 songs across its decade-spanning selection. It also features alternate routines, so recognize that another entry for a familiar title can represent a different dance.

Use difficulty and effort together when browsing:

• Difficulty describes how challenging the choreography is.
• Effort describes the physical intensity of the routine.
• Coach selection matters when different dancers have different difficulty labels.

For example, “ABC” is an Easy, Chill trio, and “Bye Bye Bye” is also an Easy, Chill trio. “Around the World” is a Medium, Chill quartet. In “Across All Time,” the difficulty is Medium for P1 and Easy for P2, with Moderate effort.

Start with an Easy routine before working on a Medium one. For a lighter session, look for Chill effort rather than relying on difficulty alone.

Decade	Featured song	Artist
1970s	“Mamma Mia”	ABBA
1980s	“It’s Tricky”	Run DMC
1990s	“Wannabe”	The Spice Girls
2000s	“Bye Bye Bye”	*NSYNC
2010s	“Turn Down for What”	DJ Snake & Lil Jon
2020s	“NUEVAYoL”	Bad Bunny

Choose a decade you enjoy, then check the individual routine. Knowing a song’s chorus doesn’t automatically mean you know its dance.

For a family session, take turns choosing tracks from different eras. Follow a nostalgic selection with a modern song to give different players a familiar starting point.

For solo practice, repeat the same routine before switching songs. Work on recognizing its transitions, then use another track to practice reading unfamiliar choreography.

Improve Your Timing and Understand the Song Library

Once you’ve learned Just Dance: Decades of Hits how to play, focus on consistency. Trying to fix every movement simultaneously can make a routine harder to follow.

Pick one thing to improve on each replay. Work on the chorus timing, a repeated arm gesture, or keeping track of your coach during a crowded section.

Use the Dancer and Indicators Together

The scrolling icons preview movements, but the on-screen dancer gives them context. Watch how the coach connects one gesture to the next.

Keep most of your attention on the dancer and glance at the indicators ahead of transitions. If an icon is hard to interpret, use the character’s full movement to understand it.

When you fall behind, rejoin the current choreography. Chasing an earlier move can leave you out of time with the next one too.

Browse Before Building a Playlist

The library supports searching, sorting, and filtering. Search by song title or artist when you know what you want, or browse to discover routines from another decade.

You can create your own playlists or use selections made by the Just Dance team. Build a practice playlist around accessible songs you want to repeat, then rearrange it as you learn them.

Check access before planning your session. The library displays music beyond the songs included with your purchase.

Content type	How access works
Decades of Hits songs	Included with this game
Earlier edition songs	Available through the corresponding editions you own on the same console
Music Pack songs	Tied to the relevant pack purchase
Just Dance+ songs	Available through the paid streaming service

Just Dance+ provides additional streamed songs. It requires a Ubisoft Account, console account, persistent internet access, and a fee or ongoing subscription, with age and territorial restrictions.

Practice with the included songs before deciding whether you want additional music. Explore the different decades, try the available routines, and build a playlist around tracks you enjoy replaying.

For game purchases and platform information, visit the Just Dance: Decades of Hits website.

FAQ

What is the basic Just Dance: Decades of Hits how to play method?

Choose an accessible song, follow your on-screen dancer, and copy the choreography in time with the music. Use the scrolling indicators to anticipate upcoming moves. Accurate timing and movements earn points, and the song continues even when you miss steps.

Do I need a smartphone to play on PS5 or Xbox Series X|S?

Yes. Those versions require a compatible smartphone with the free Just Dance Controller app to track your movements. No additional tracking accessories are required.

How many people can dance together?

Up to six players can dance together with a single copy of the game. During routines with multiple coaches, keep following the character you selected as the dancers move around the screen.

Do I need Just Dance+ to play the included songs?

No. Just Dance+ is a paid streaming service for additional songs. Start with the music included in Decades of Hits, then consider the subscription if you want to expand your selection.