52 Games Challenge 2026!!!

[realpoketendonl]

8. Just Dance 2023 Edition - Enter the Danceverses Story mode

Yes, you read that right. Story mode. Just Dance 2023 Edition, for some reason, has a story mode. I play a lot of Just Dance, and I mostly consider it an endless game and thus ineligible for this challenge under how I'm counting it. But this is an official story mode, and if that's the case, I'm gonna treat it as such.

There isn't that much to it. It's a set of seven songs with routines that, when played in order, tell a simple story. You're a player joining the dancer Wanderlust to recruit other dancers and defeat the evil Night Swan. Specifically, the seven songs covering this story are:

• Can't Stop the Feeling! by Justin Timberlake
• Witch by Apashe feat. Alina Pash
• Physical by Dua Lipa
• Rather Be by Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne
• Locked Out of Heaven by Bruno Mars
• Majesty by Apashe
• If You Wanna Party - a Just Dance original song

I like these songs, and the routines and visuals are well done and fun to dance to. And Night Swan, admittedly, is serving. But does this story mode add much to Just Dance as a whole? Not really.

I do really love Just Dance as a whole. I've been playing it actively for months now. It's really fun! I love many of the songs in it, with the subscription service Just Dance+ you have hundreds to choose from, most of them with fantastic visuals supporting dance routines performed by real talented dancers. The routines are varied and great fun. It's not easy either: many songs take quite a bit of practice and skill to master, and it feels great to hit that Megastar rank. Many songs will really make you work up a sweat too. As someone who struggles with exercising regularly and who does not feel comfortable at the gym, this has been a great way for me to get more moving and exercise in.

However, the story mode, while harmless, is also superfluous. I'm mostly just wondering whose brilliant idea it was to say: "You know what Just Dance needs? A story mode!" Just Dance 2024 Edition had one too, and it's mostly just a tad distracting when you select a song in the regular game mode that you don't realise is part of the story mode and you're suddenly thrown into the middle of a plot. I had that with Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) by Kelly Clarkson, which is a part of 2024 Edition's story mode.

I still love Just Dance tho. I feel like many gamers tend to look down on it, but it's a series that has a lot of love put into it, and that's great fun alone and an absolute blast in a group. I doubt I'll specifically come back to the story mode often, but I'll definitely be playing a lot more Just Dance in the future.

[kashell]

23. Resident Evil 3 Remake

I would say this was short and sweet, but there isn't much "sweet" about it. The blueprint is there, but it feels like there's more bad than good in Jill's/Carlos' campaign. I like both of these characters, and both seem like seasoned warriors. And yet, I'm having to once again backtrack often to make space for inventory. The Nemesis thing has the same flaws as other games with "stalkers" in them. It's a bit jarring at first, but then it turns into irritation. Needless to say, this was a one and done campaign that feels good but not great. Kudos for the trophy that referenced Power Stone, though.