Just Dance 2025

Critical Evaluation:

Just Dance is one of those franchises that I've played for over a decade, and while the platform has changed a lot over the years, it's always been a fun experience. Just Dance 2025 features a great lineup of new songs and I had a lot of fun trying out the new routines, especially some of the throwback tracks and the more visually creative ones.  I also really appreciated that they're trying to be more inclusive and added a song for neurodivergent people. The Just Dance franchise has always been diverse in including songs from other countries and cultures, so it was cool seeing that being included.

All that said, the way the songs are now organized feels clunky and overly tied to the subscription model. It’s frustrating how hard the game pushes Just Dance+, and honestly, it makes the base game feel a little hollow without it. I don’t mind having extra content behind a paywall, but when so many songs are locked and everything is sorted together so it's hard to find the songs you actually have access to, it starts to feel more like a platform trying to sell you something than a game you already paid for. It's additionally frustrating because I ended up trying their subscription as a free trial to better evaluate the game, and even then, it'll still have locked songs from Just Dance 2023 and Just Dance 2024 that mix in with the ones you have access to, so you're still not able to easily select any song unless you own the previous three games and subscribe. It's a frustrating business model for sure, but there's still lots of hours of game play despite the frustrating platform.

Speed Round Book Talk:

If you're looking for a game that gets you moving, laughing, and maybe a little out of breath, Just Dance 2025 is it. With a mix of current hits, throwback bops, and colorful visuals, each song feels like its own performance. Whether you're dancing solo, teaming up with friends, or battling it out online, it's all about having fun getting up off the couch!

Reason for Inclusion:

I chose to include Just Dance 2025 because it’s a fun, energetic game that encourages movement, social interaction, and creativity, especially among teens. It’s one of those rare games that’s easy to pick up, doesn’t require prior experience, and can instantly turn into a group activity, making it a great fit for library programming. It encourages physical activity, self expression, and community building, all of which are valuable in a library setting. Plus, with its wide song selection and accessibility options, many teens are already playing it and it has the potential to reach more within the library setting.