Guitar Hero. The name itself conjures up images of living room rockstars, plastic guitars, and epic song battles. This revolutionary rhythm game series didn’t just redefine a genre; it created a cultural phenomenon. From living rooms to parties, Guitar Hero brought the thrill of rock stardom to everyone. But with so many titles released, from main installments to band-specific expansions, which Guitar Hero game truly reigns supreme as the best?
This list dives deep into the Guitar Hero discography, ranking each title to crown the ultimate champion. We’ll explore what made each game unique, its tracklist, and its contribution to the series’ legacy, all to determine which deserves the title of the Best Guitar Hero Game.
13. Guitar Hero: Van Halen
‘Jump’ Into Van Halen’s World, But Maybe Don’t Linger Too Long
Guitar Hero: Van Halen, one of the band-centric expansions, promised a deep dive into the legendary band’s catalog. While it delivered on the Van Halen front with 25 of their tracks, including classics like “Eruption” and “You Really Got Me,” the overall package felt somewhat lacking compared to other titles. The inclusion of 19 songs from other artists like Billy Idol and Tenacious D felt a bit like filler, and the game didn’t quite capture the same magic as other band-focused games. For die-hard Van Halen fans, it’s a decent offering, but as a standalone Guitar Hero experience, it falls short of being the best.
12. Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks The 80s
‘I Wanna Rock’… in the 80s, But Maybe With a More Robust Setlist
Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s aimed to capitalize on the nostalgia for the decade of big hair and even bigger rock anthems. While the ’80s theme was strong and packed with iconic artists like Iron Maiden, Twisted Sister, and Poison, the game felt more like an expansion pack than a full sequel. Its smaller setlist and lack of significant gameplay innovations placed it lower in the rankings. However, for fans of ’80s rock, shredding through classics like “I Wanna Rock” is undeniably fun, even if the overall experience is a bit lightweight compared to other Guitar Hero titles.
11. Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades
Guitar Hero Goes Portable, Through Time
Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades took the Guitar Hero experience to the Nintendo DS, a bold move that showcased the series’ reach. Using a unique guitar grip attachment, players could rock out on the go. Decades focused on a chronological journey through rock history, featuring five songs from each decade starting from the ’70s. While technically impressive for the DS, the smaller screen and simplified gameplay couldn’t fully replicate the console experience. Despite a solid tracklist featuring artists like Queen and Red Hot Chili Peppers, the limitations of the platform prevent it from being considered one of the best Guitar Hero games overall, but it was a commendable portable effort.
10. Guitar Hero: Smash Hits
A ‘Smashing’ Collection, But Mostly Recycled Content
Guitar Hero: Smash Hits, later rebranded as Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits, was a compilation that brought together fan-favorite songs from the first five main games. Replaying these hits with full band support was undeniably enjoyable, especially in newly designed venues inspired by world wonders. However, at its core, Smash Hits was primarily a repackaging of existing content. While it was a fun trip down memory lane and a good entry point for newcomers, the lack of entirely new content prevents it from reaching the upper echelons of the best Guitar Hero games.
9. Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
‘Dream On’ With Aerosmith, But Some Hits Are Missing
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith was another band-focused title, this time celebrating the “Bad Boys from Boston.” It arguably fared better than the Van Halen installment, offering a chronological journey through Aerosmith’s career with 29 of their songs and additional tracks from bands that influenced or toured with them. While the game was well-received, a common criticism was the omission of some of Aerosmith’s biggest hits, leaving some fans wanting more. Despite this, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith provides a solid and enjoyable experience for fans of the band and the series.
8. Guitar Hero: Live
A ‘Live’ Performance, A Bold but Divisive Reboot
Guitar Hero: Live attempted to reboot the series with a significant visual and gameplay overhaul. The first-person perspective using live-action FMV for crowds and bandmates was a unique and immersive approach. It also introduced a new 6-button guitar controller. GHTV, a mode that streamed playable music videos, was an innovative concept. However, the drastic changes proved divisive among fans. While Guitar Hero: Live was a bold experiment and offered a fresh take, it didn’t fully recapture the magic of the classic titles, and the GHTV mode’s reliance on microtransactions proved unpopular in the long run.
7. Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock
Become a ‘Warrior of Rock’ in an Epic Quest
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock tried to inject a narrative element into the series with a dedicated story mode focused on recruiting rock warriors to defeat “The Beast.” The game boasted a large and diverse 93-song soundtrack, aiming to stand out in a market increasingly crowded by rhythm games, particularly the Rock Band franchise. While the story mode was a novel addition, it didn’t fundamentally change the core Guitar Hero experience. Warriors of Rock is a solid entry with a strong tracklist, but it didn’t quite reach the heights of the series’ most beloved titles.
6. Guitar Hero: Metallica
A ‘Heavy Metal’ Masterpiece Dedicated to Metallica
Guitar Hero: Metallica is widely considered one of the best band-focused Guitar Hero games and a standout title in the entire series. Dedicated to the metal legends, it featured 28 Metallica tracks alongside songs from bands that influenced them or shared the stage. The motion capture of the band members added authenticity, and the ability to play all instruments on every song was a welcome addition. Guitar Hero: Metallica resonated with both metal fans and Guitar Hero enthusiasts alike, delivering a polished and immersive experience that truly felt like stepping into the world of Metallica.
5. Guitar Hero: World Tour
Take Your ‘World Tour’ With the Full Band Experience
Guitar Hero: World Tour (Guitar Hero 4) marked a significant evolution for the series by introducing drums and vocals, completing the full band experience and directly competing with Rock Band. This expansion brought microphones and drum kits into the Guitar Hero world alongside the familiar guitar controllers. World Tour featured a robust 86-song soundtrack, Band Career Mode, a music studio for creating songs, and extensive character customization. It was a comprehensive package that broadened the appeal of Guitar Hero and delivered a more collaborative and immersive gameplay experience.
4. Guitar Hero 3: Legends Of Rock
Become a ‘Legend of Rock’, But Beware ‘Through the Fire and Flames’
Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock is a cornerstone of the series and often cited as one of the best. It built upon the foundation of its predecessors with an incredible soundtrack, refined gameplay, and iconic guitar battles against Slash and Tom Morello. The introduction of playable characters like Slash and Morello added to the “legend” aspect. Guitar Hero 3 also holds the infamous distinction of featuring “Through the Fire and Flames” by DragonForce, widely considered one of the most challenging songs in rhythm game history. Its overall package of great songs, engaging gameplay, and memorable moments solidified its place as a top-tier Guitar Hero game.
3. Guitar Hero 5
‘Rock Out’ With Legends, Your Way
Guitar Hero 5 innovated the series with features focused on player freedom and flexibility. It allowed players to drop in and out of songs, play with any combination of instruments, and featured a Party Play mode for seamless multiplayer sessions. The inclusion of playable legends like Kurt Cobain, Johnny Cash, and Carlos Santana was a major draw. With an 85-song soundtrack spanning classic and modern rock, Guitar Hero 5 offered a refined and highly customizable gameplay experience that catered to both solo players and groups. Its innovative features and strong song list make it a strong contender for the best Guitar Hero game title.
2. Guitar Hero
The ‘Original’ Rockstar Revolution
The game that started it all, the original Guitar Hero, deserves immense credit for launching the rhythm game craze of the mid-2000s. Its simple yet addictive gameplay of hitting scrolling notes on a guitar-shaped controller was revolutionary. Guitar Hero’s career mode, featuring a fictional band progressing through venues, was engaging, and its 47-song soundtrack was packed with rock anthems. While later games surpassed it in features and tracklists, the original Guitar Hero’s impact and pure, unadulterated rockstar fantasy make it an undeniable classic and a very close second for the title of best game.
1. Guitar Hero 2
The Definitive Guitar Hero Experience: Refined and Expanded
Guitar Hero 2 is often hailed as the best Guitar Hero game, and for good reason. Building upon the success of the original, it refined the gameplay, expanded the tracklist with even bigger names and iconic songs, and introduced new features like Practice Mode. The soundtrack was legendary, featuring “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “War Pigs,” and “Free Bird,” among many others. Guitar Hero 2 perfected the core Guitar Hero formula, delivering a challenging, rewarding, and endlessly fun experience that set the gold standard for the series and rhythm games in general. For its combination of iconic songs, polished gameplay, and lasting legacy, Guitar Hero 2 earns the crown as the best Guitar Hero game.
