Review: Just Dance 2023 explained to parents

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What parents need to know

Just Dance is a series of dance and rhythm games, where players must respect as much as possible the choreographies of the characters on screen while dancing. These are well-known and generally trendy songs. It is therefore not possible to add custom music.

Principle of the game

Get a controller or your phone, play the song you want and dance to the beat alone or with friends!

On Xbox Series, or Playstation 5, players must install an application on a smartphone (smartphone) to then be able to use it as a controller that detects movement.

Details

Release date: 22 November 2022

Developed by: Ubisoft Paris

Published by:Ubisoft

Available on: Playstation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series

Type of game: Dance game, rhythm

Average length of a game: 5 minutes, depending on the song and the mode chosen

Estimated total game time: Infinite

Themes: Dance, fun, party, flashy

Business model: Buying the game once gives access to about forty songs. For additional content, you must take the Just Dance + subscription giving access to the best songs from previous games and exclusive content to this subscription for 12 months.

Number of players: 1 – 6 players locally and online !

Available in digital format (download).

In stores, there are game boxes, however they do not contain a cartridge or disc, they just contain a code that must be entered in the console’s online stores (PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop or Microsoft Store). We recommend buying the game directly online from the Internet. No need to buy an empty box, especially from an ecological point of view.

The game was provided by the publisher for review. This does not influence our opinion. Tested on Nintendo Switch.

Possible Nintendo Switch configurations

Nintendo Switch TableTop ModeNintendo Switch TV Mode
Technically, the game is playable in handheld mode when the joycons are removed. However, I don’t recommend this mode at all , as the screen is far too small to track movements.

Not enough joy-cons? Use your phone!

Don’t have enough joy-cons ? No problem! Connect your smartphone to the same wifi network as the console. You will just have to download the Just Dance 2023 application and enter the right code!

Players3+ 7+ 12+16+18+
Beginners
Intermediate
Experienced
Everyone can have fun dancing, whatever their level and age!
Difficulty
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This edition looks more difficult and athletic than the previous ones. Nevertheless, the songs have their level of difficulty and with perseverance, we can get there and improve!

Seated and non-jump dances also exist with the Just Dance + subscription.

Violence, fear, nudity
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Some dancers during the songs, are in leotards, nothing too shocking.

Level of language used
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Keep in mind that the songs used are trendy and well-known songs . Some lyrics may contain slightly inappropriate words or phrases, but this is a small minority. Two pieces of music are dedicated to children directly.

Some songs contain the English words “damn” and “hell.”

There are also sometimes references to alcohol such as:

  • “And I’m sippin’ on that bub”;
  • “Exhale now I look like a smoker”;

Some songs talk about being sexy or becoming sexy.

In one sequence, an animal is shown sitting on a toilet seat reading a news newspaper.

There are also special children’s playlists where no foul words will appear with the Just Dance+ subscription.

Positive message
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The game encourages you to dance and even do cardio for your health with personalized playlists, but a lot of encouragement to subscribe to the Just Dance + subscription.

Minimum reading level required
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In this edition there are a lot of animations and special effects in the menu and dances. It can still be complicated to follow with a lot of color and information at once. The camera moves for certain dances that can disorient its balance.

It is possible in the parameters to remove the score rating, lyrics or pictograms but nothing more.

Additional costs ?
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Unlike previous Just Dance, Just Dance 2023 songs will only be found in this game and in its Just Dance+ subscription.

Just Dance Demo – $0.00Just Dance® 2023 Edition – $79.99Just Dance® 2023 Deluxe Edition – $89.99Just Dance® 2023 Ultimate Edition – $109.99
– Play 2 songs from the game.– Access to all Just Dance 2023 songs.
– Access to 1 month of Just Dance +.
– Free 7-day access to Nintendo Switch Online auto-renewal to be turned off.
– Access to all Just Dance 2023 songs.
– Access to 4 months of Just Dance +.
– Free 7-day access to Nintendo Switch Online auto-renewal to be turned off.
– Access to all Just Dance 2023 songs.
– Access to 13 months of Just Dance +.
– Free 7-day access to Nintendo Switch Online auto-renewal to be turned off.
Conditions reported for Nintendo Switch

The Just Dance + subscription allows you to have the best dances from previous games and content promised for 12 months after the release of the game exclusively. Be careful to remove automatic renewal if you do not want to!

Attention, on the game menu, the formulas are displayed in minutes. These are not cumulative minutes, but a subscription for 1 month, 90 days or 1 year from the purchase top time.

1 month of Just Dance +90 days of Just Dance +1 year of Just Dance +
$4.99$12.99$29.99

On top of that, online multiplayer is available! You can play with other people outside your home. However, you will have to pay the necessary internet subscription in addition, depending on your console.

Minimum level of execution on the controller required

Very easy. Just menus to browse. Reflexes are required to follow the dance steps indicated. Nothing complicated at the controller. It’s the whole body that plays

Playlists offered by the game

  • At the extreme : 8 songs for 28’7 minutes of continuous play.
  • Fitness 2023 edition : 6 songs for 22’13 minutes continuously.
  • K-pop Just Dance 2023 edition: 5 K-pop songs for 18’5 minutes continuously.
  • Turn up the sound : 8 songs for 26’40 minutes continuously.
  • Bewitching sounds : 5 songs for 16 minutes continuously.
  • Have you just arrived?: 5 songs for 19’52 minutes continuously.
  • Always more : 5 songs for 19’16 minutes continuously.
  • Ballroom dancing : 6 songs for 19’38 minutes continuously.
  • It’s the party : 6 songs for 18’55 minutes continuously.
  • Shine again and again : 6 songs for 21’58 minutes continuously.
  • Explore Just Dance 2023 Edition : 8 songs for 28’5 minutes continuously.
  • Enter the Danceverses : 7 songs for 28’12 minutes continuously.

Songs from these playlists can be in other playlists.

For playlists “hits for children”, “relaxation as a couple” or “express training”, it will be necessary to subscribe to the Just Dance + subscription.

Online gaming modes

It is necessary to have the Just Dance + subscription AND a subscription to the online service of your console to play this mode:

To play on Just Dance + songs you must be connected to the Internet to be able to see the previews of the songs and download them each time.

Conclusion

Being a Just Dance player myself since I was 10 years old, the game has become very focused on additional content.

It is a Good deductible with functional mechanics and fun At parties with friends or family, I even admit to having been excited by the Online Multiplayer, but we are Encourages continuously at subscribe to the Just Dance + subscription, feeling like they didn’t pay for a finished game for all its content.

These special Just Dance+ songs are displayed in your menu as if they were accessible. We can only notice the small + at the top right, which can be confusing and give frustration if not noticed.

The menu leaves us Choose dances for the gender musical, the style of choreography, themood, by the decade or even by accessibility (no jumping, sitting dances or for children) but the music of Just Dance + are well displayed to make us understand that we must subscribe to it to have access to all this.

The graphics, animations and UI are very overwhelming. During the dances, or even the menu, there are many special effects that can distract or make you nauseous in the face of so many colors and movements.

If you have a previous Just Dance and the Just Dance Unlimited subscription and you want the songs of Just Dance 2023, you will have to subscribe to the Just Dance + subscription again in addition to the internet subscription of your console. Attention, Just Dance + does not give access to ALL the dances of the previous games but for a selection of best dances of the previous games.

In conclusion, I do not particularly recommend this edition for young children, having only two dances suitable for them, so no playlist without Just Dance + subscription. On the other hand, I recommend it to ardent fans of this franchise wanting to play online with their friends.

More information about the game: Official website of the game

About Sharon Ribeiro

Game Designer diplômée et dans l'industrie, j'ai su que je voulais faire des jeux vidéo mon métier depuis l'âge de 14 ans. En plus d'avoir cette passion pour la conceptualisation de jeux, j'aime apprendre à tous ce domaine passionnant.

View all posts by Sharon Ribeiro