10 Best Guitar Hero Games [2023]

Are you prepared to jam with the best of them? Consider the Guitar Hero franchise, which has been engaging gamers and music fans for over a decade. The Guitar Hero brand has become a cultural phenomenon, generating innumerable clones and even a feature film with its characteristic guitar-shaped controller and a repertoire of old and current tunes. This list will look at the Ten Best Guitar Hero games of all time, from the genre-defining original through the series’ most recent and greatest installments. Now grab your axe, crank up the music, and prepare to feel the rush of being a rock star!

Here are all our picks summed up:

Guitar Hero

Harmonix Music Systems and RedOctane released Guitar Hero on PlayStation 2 in 2005. The best Guitar hero game was a hit and encouraged a generation of gamers to rock out to classic and modern tunes using plastic guitar controllers. Rhythm game fans must play the original game, which was followed by multiple sequels, spin-offs, and imitators.

Guitar Hero’s major feature is its guitar-simulation gameplay. Gamers utilize a plastic guitar controller to play notes on-screen to the music. The game covers old and new rock, metal, pop, and independent music. Career mode lets players acquire songs and features by advancing through difficulty levels. Local multiplayer modes in Guitar Hero let players compete for the highest score.

Guitar Hero lacks replayability. Players don’t need to practice a song again. The plastic guitar controllers are pricey and breakable, particularly with heavy usage. Furthermore, compared to Rock Band, which includes drums, vocals, and other instruments, the guitar-only concentration may restrict participants. Guitar Hero is still a must-have for everyone who wants to play live music at home. The best 10 guitar hero games guide is incomplete without this game.

Pros

• Redesigned gameplay has a much more authentic feel
• Seral different types of material
• A great place to dunk in and out
• Rewards and inducements to return frequently

Cons

• Build quality is creaking and clicky
• Some of the music selections seem dubious
• The campaign part doesn’t last long
• I’m not sure how well “live” portions work in real life

Guitar Hero Aerosmith

Guitar Hero Aerosmith is a music rhythm game by Neversoft and Activision. The game was published in 2008 for PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii. Guitar Hero Aerosmith celebrates Aerosmith’s history and features many of its hit songs.

Guitar Hero Aerosmith utilizes a guitar controller to strike notes while the player scrolls down the screen, like other games in the series. Almost 40 songs, including 25 Aerosmith classics, are in the game. Career mode lets players earn instruments and clothing as they go through venues. Multiplayer mode allows players to compete. Guitar Hero Aerosmith accurately depicts Aerosmith’s history and songs. Guitar’s difficulties include playing on a moving vehicle or a city rooftop. The Aerosmith “wings“-shaped Guitar Hero controller is another standout.

Guitar Hero Aerosmith has a restricted song collection compared to other games in the series. The concentration on Aerosmith may also turn off non-fans. Moreover, even inaccessible mode, the game is demanding, which may deter casual gamers. Guitar Hero Aerosmith is exciting for rhythm game aficionados and Aerosmith fans.

Pros

• Fun and engaging gameplay
• Great soundtrack featuring Aerosmith songs
• Multiplayer mode for social play
• Develops hand-eye coordination and rhythm
• A customizable guitar controller adds to the experience

Cons

 Guitar Hero Van Halen

Guitar Hero Van Halen is Neversoft and Activision’s music rhythm game spin-off. PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii launched the game in 2009. Guitar Hero Van Halen features several of Van Halen’s popular songs and takes players through their careers.

Like previous Guitar Hero games, Guitar Hero Van Halen uses a guitar controller to hit notes while scrolling down the screen. About 25 Van Halen and other influenced songs are in the game. Career mode gives players instruments and clothes as they perform locations. Guitar Hero Van Halen accurately depicts Van Halen’s history and songs. Van Halen members narrate and play iconic and lesser-known songs. The game includes guitar difficulties like playing on a moving vehicle or a rooftop in a major city. The “Frankenstein” guitar controller is another standout.

Guitar Hero Van Halen’s limited song collection may frustrate gamers. Moreover, even in easy mode, the title is demanding, which may deter casual gamers. Guitar Hero Van Halen is great for band lovers, and rhythm game players and this game makes more terrified the best guitar hero games guide.

Pros

• Features Van Halen’s iconic music
• Fun and challenging gameplay
• Multiplayer mode for social play
• Develops hand-eye coordination and rhythm
• A customizable guitar controller adds to the experience

Cons

 Guitar Hero Smash Hits

“Guitar Hero Smash Hits” is a 2009 rhythm game by Beenox and Activision. It is a collection of the finest tunes from past Guitar Hero games. Players use a guitar-shaped controller to strike notes in sync with the music. “Killer Queen,” “Them Bones,” and “Barracuda” are among the title’s 48 tunes. Guitar Hero modes, including Career, Quickplay, and Multiplayer, let players compete. The game also has new characters and visuals.

“Guitar Hero Smash Hits” has downsides despite its outstanding features. Being a collection of prior “Guitar Hero” games, it lacks novelty and originality. The rock-heavy soundtrack may also turn off certain gamers. Some players may find the difficulty too high, making Career mode tough.

In conclusion, “Guitar Hero Smash Hits” is a fun music rhythm game featuring a lot of great tunes from prior games. It has “Guitar Hero” gameplay and modes with updated visuals and characters. Its music selection and lack of inventiveness may turn off some players. Some players may struggle with the game’s high difficulty.

Pros

• Features popular songs from previous Guitar Hero titles
• Fun and challenging gameplay
• Multiplayer mode for social play
• Develops hand-eye coordination and rhythm

Cons

• You might have already used these
• Costlier next-generation models
• You might not like every song on the album
• Lacks new gameplay features or innovations

 Guitar Hero 5

Guitar Hero 5 was published on PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 by Activision in 2009. This successor to Guitar Hero allows players to play famous songs using a guitar-shaped controller. Guitar Hero World Tour is the engine, but its interface, visuals, and audio are greater.

The music in Guitar Hero 5 is excellent. The game has over 80 songs for various musical tastes. Party Play, a game that enables participants to choose between songs, and RockFest, a multi-challenge competitive multiplayer activity, are both new. The superb audio and graphics make it enjoyable to play.

Guitar Hero 5 is imperfect. Originally, the difficulty fluctuated with each song. The instructions might bewilder novices. In addition, although the features a large number of songs, the lack of personalization possibilities may prevent some players from fully enjoying it. The best ten guitar hero games are nothing without this game.

Pros

• Party-tactic playback mode
• Problems, particularly with songs
• Competitive in RockFest setting

Cons

• Several boring guest stars
• DLC is costly
• Not a single Beatles song

Harmonix developed, and RedOctane released Guitar Hero 2. PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 were launched in 2007. Guitar Hero 2 uses the same engine as its predecessor. Players imitate the guitar and play along to tunes, collecting points for striking notes in time.

The game is simple yet addicting. The guitar-shaped controller simulates playing along with the music. The title has over 60 iconic rock, alternative, and heavy metal songs. Quick play, career mode, and two-player cooperative play are all available. Each song’s venue enhances the aesthetics.

Guitar Hero 2 is great, but it has downsides. The absence of online multiplayer makes it hard to play with out-of-town buddies. Certain songs are quite challenging to conquer, which might frustrate novice gamers. Lastly, the guitar-shaped controller is pricey and hard to locate, which may deter some gamers.

Guitar Hero World Tour

Guitar Hero World Tour is an Activision-published Neversoft rhythm game. In 2008, Guitar Hero 4 was released. The game simulates guitar, drums, and vocals. It has a broad tracklist from musicians like Van Halen, Metallica, and The Eagles and a powerful music production tool that lets gamers create and share their compositions.

Guitar Hero World Tour has a great song composition tool. Players may make and share songs. Improved gameplay mechanics make the game more demanding and fun. Drums and voices enhance the immersion. The visuals and music provide a concert-like experience.

Guitar Hero World Tour is fun but has several downsides. The lack of new gaming elements is a major concern. New instruments enhance playability, but the essential mechanics haven’t altered much. The rock-heavy soundtrack further limits its appeal. Lastly, the competitive mode might frustrate beginner players since experienced players dominate online. The Guitar Hero World Tour is still a great music rhythm game despite these drawbacks.

Pros

• Excellent guitar
•  Drum set
• Strum notes
• Slide-section notations
• Studio for recording

Cons

• Strong but challenging studio
• When someone fails, multiplayer stops
• Tiny and gimmicky for a single player

Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock

Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock is an Activision-published rhythm game by Neversoft. The game is part of various platforms such as PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii, and the title launched in 2010. The sixth major Guitar Hero game has an improved game engine and a new narrative option that changes the gameplay.

Quest mode adds a plot to Guitar Hero. To rescue the Demigod of Rock, players play as rock warriors with distinct skills. Players may also morph into strong rock avatars to improve performance. The music is great, including old rock and modern tunes.

Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock’s restricted multiplayer is a major downside. For those who wish to play with more people, the title only supports two players. Some players may find the narrative mode too complicated. Ultimately, the complexity might be tough for novices or Guitar Hero newcomers.

Guitar Hero Metallica

Neversoft and Activision created Guitar Hero Metallica, a rhythm game. It was published in 2009 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii. The Guitar Hero game is based on Metallica’s songs. Around 45 Metallica and other inspired songs are included. The principles are similar to Guitar Hero but with additional features and upgrades.

Guitar Hero Metallica’s Metallica-inspired locations and characters make it seem like an interactive Metallica performance. The game’s new Expert+ setting challenges even the most proficient gamers. The aesthetics are also amazing, with each song having a distinct background that enhances the experience.

Guitar Hero Metallica has many limitations, but it’s a terrific addition to the franchise. The restricted music selection might frustrate lovers of other genres. The difficulties may sometimes frustrate players, particularly those unfamiliar with Metallica’s music. Lastly, the guitar-shaped controller may be pricey and hard to locate.

Pros

• Bass drum double pedal
• Multiplayer meters placed correctly
• Tons and tons of Metallica

Cons

• If you’re against metal?
• Everything does not support additional DLC
• Support for Rock Band drums that is shaky

 Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

This rhythm game, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision. The title came out in 2007 for the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii. The third Guitar Hero game is an improvement visually and in terms of gameplay, thanks to a new game engine. Users are able to play guitar and sing along with songs, with bonus points awarded for hitting notes in time.

It uses the same concepts as its predecessors, but the title is harder and more rewarding to play. Participants jam along by clicking on virtual guitar frets. Almost 70% of the soundtrack consists of classic rock, alternative, and heavy metal tracks. There are also online multiplayer options, a career mode, and rapid play in this game. Excellent graphics complement the unique settings for each track.

There are some problems with Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, but the title is still fantastic. Several gamers have complained about how challenging it is. Some people may be turned off by the heavy emphasis on classic rock and metal. Last but not least, the guitar-shaped controller might be prohibitively expensive or difficult to track down, prohibiting certain players from enjoying the game. 

Pros

• Iconic and influential entry in series
• Great soundtrack featuring classic rock songs
• Challenging and engaging gameplay
• Multiplayer mode for social play
• A customizable guitar controller that adds to the experience

Cons

Summary

That wraps up our best guitar hero games guide. Before you leave this page, consider checking out our Top 20 BEST Telltale Games Of All Time, 55 Best Nintendo 3DS Games Of All Time, and 35 BEST Multiplayer n64 Games guides.

Next:

• BEST SNES Games of All Time
• Best GBA Games Of All Time
• Best PS4 Hunting Games
• BEST PS1 Games Of All Times