The concept of Vocaloids, virtual vocal synthesizers, has been around since 2000, but the product did not gain wider recognition until the creation of Hatsune Miku in 2007. Miku became a phenomenon and carried other Vocaloid characters like Kaito, Meiko, Luka and the Kagamine twins into the spotlight with her.
Related:Hatsune Miku Project Diva Megamix+: Every Character, Ranked
With Vocaloids and Vocaloid music gaining so much attention, this has led to a range of products being created surrounding the virtual singers. However, none of these products have been as consistently successful as Vocaloid games. Miku and friends have starred in a wide variety of games, and plenty of these are available globally. So, which Vocaloid games are the best?
8Project Diva X
When it comes to Vocaloid games, a name you will see preceding most titles is Project Diva. While most Project Diva games have been wildly successful and beloved by Vocaloid fans, the one which still remains slightly overlooked is Project Diva X from 2016. This entry in the series was looking to shake things up and try plenty of new things, like adding a lengthy story mode, and plenty of new mechanics for the rhythm game.
The new mechanics that were added by X received a mixed reception. While some fans loved the extra content with the story, some thought a rhythm game like this did not need a story. But, if you are a fan of your rhythm games having a narrative, and love the core Project Diva gameplay, then this will be a great choice!
7Hatsune Miku Colorful Stage
The rhythm game genre has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, and part of the reason for this is the rise inmobile rhythm games. However, this does not come without any downsides. An example of this is the massively popular Hatsune Miku Colorful Stage that launched in 2020.
The game features a massive selection of tracks compared to some more restrictive games in the series, and has a playstyle adapted to the touch screen of a mobile. However, the game is free to play, and while that makes it one of the more accessible options, it also means that a lot of quality of life features and a clear sense of progression are hidden behind various paywalls. If you want a simple Vocaloid experience (with an almost excessive amount of story included) then Colorful Stage is a good starting point.
6IA/VT Colorful
In Vocaloid games, you can expect to see the same cast of characters for most appearances, being Miku, Rin, Len, Luka, Kaito, Meiko, and maybe Gumi if you are lucky, and this is because they are all (with the exception of Gumi) owned by the same company that has the partnership with Sega.
However, IA/VT, aPS Vita original, was created to feature IA, a different Vocaloid who does not feature in the Project Diva games. This makes this game particularly attractive if you are a fan of songs from IA; however, if you are expecting the same characters from other Vocaloid games, then this could be a skip. The different control scheme for this game does shake up the usual Project Diva formula.
5Project Diva F
Project Diva F is the first mainstream Miku game to have gotten an international launch, coming out in 2012 for the PS3 and the PS Vita. This is a great starting point for the Project Diva series if you still use either of these consoles, with a great, if not slightly restricted, set of tracks to play with.
Related:Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Megamix Plus - 7 Best Tracks
This was the first Project Diva game that was available for international fans of Vocaloids, and introduced these fans to the simple but challenging gameplay of the series. The Project Diva series also features plenty of customization options, with F especially having plenty of different costumes and accessories, not just for Miku, but for the other members of the cast as well.
4Project Diva Future Tone
For one of the most customizable Vocaloid experiences available, and the best option for modern PlayStation fans, Project Diva Future Tone is the best choice. Future Tone is available as a free download that features just a small handful of tracks, with the rest available in DLC packs.
There are two main packs to get that will get you an impressive number of songs to choose from, but there are also some additional smaller packs to this as well. Considering the price of the two main packs adding up to the price of a standard game, then this is a pretty great option; however, it’s a shame you’re able to’t just buy the game as a complete package from the get go.
3Project Diva F2nd
When it comes to the basic standalone Project Diva titles, then Project Diva F2nd, manages to outdo its predecessor. The sequel to Project Diva F launched in 2014, and built upon the foundations of the game that came before it to make a more refined experience.
Related:Hatsune Miku Project Diva MegaMix Plus: 12 Hardest Songs To 100 Percent Complete
Of course, the quality of the selection of tracks available is subjective, but the extra options and features to increase gameplay depth help it stands out. This is one of the few games in the Project Diva series to add specific missions for each song to add challenge but also unlock features and cosmetics gives a more tangible reason to keep on playing.
2Project Diva MegaMix
The Project Diva series was completely inaccessible to Nintendo-only gamers until 2020 when Project Diva MegaMix was launched. The title is incredibly similar to Project Diva Future Tone, only with a slightly cut-down selection of tracks, but compensated with some new ones, and a change in animation style to suit the Switch.
On top of this, the title is only available as a full package, so you do not have to worry about buying extra DLC packs to feel like you are getting the full experience. If some of your favourite tracks from Future Tone are missing, then MegaMix could be a disappointment, but having a good selection available on the go with the Switch is a great deal.
1Project Mirai DX
While having Project Diva available on the Switch is great, completing the package with a modern port of Project Mirai would be the perfect other half to complete the puzzle. The only international launch of the chibi alternative to Project Diva, Project Mirai, was Project Mirai DX in 2015, which is the definitive version of the short series.
The series features a slightly simplified version of the standard gameplay, which is perfectly suited to the 3DS. The selection of tracks in Project Mirai gives the game a great sense of variety, and it also features some simple but fun distractions from the main rhythm game with some fun mini-games and interactions with the characters.
