There’s always been one big problem with Ubisoft’s flagship dance party series since it made the jump to modern platforms. Without the motion sensing capabilities of the Kinect, Wii Remote, or PlayStation Move controller, it’s just been a pain to control.
Review infoPlatform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Nintendo Switch
Release date: October 14, 2025
Sure, those playing on Nintendo Switch have benefitted from the option to use a single Joy-Con in one hand, but if you were on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X and Series S you’d have to rely on awkwardly waving your phone around with the Just Dance Controller mobile app open on screen. The results weren’t particularly accurate or reliable, making chasing high scores far more awkward than it ever should’ve been.
With Just Dance 2026 Edition, however, it feels like the series has once again found its footing. This annual expansion introduces camera scoring letting you simply prop up your phone to record your actions and it’s something of a revelation.
Pair this brilliant feature with a fantastically varied song selection that contains some of the most visually stunning music videos yet, heaps of content, and a neat new mode, and you have by far the best instalment in years.
Break it down(Image credit: Ubisoft)If you’ve played a Just Dance game before, then you know the basic thrust here.
You pick a song from a selection and a stylized music video begins on screen. Your goal is simple, match the moves of the on-screen dancers as closely as possible - racking up points for every successful move as you go. Your score is then added to a leaderboard, measured against your previous attempts, or those of other players if you prefer. It’s a simple but effective formula, especially when you factor in the countless cosmetic unlocks awarded for hitting various goals and used to decorate your online profile.
Well-implemented local co-op makes it a great pick for livening up parties for up to four friends, while solo players can use an on-screen calorie counter to turn their dance into a workout. These aren’t entirely new features as Just Dance 2026 Edition is the fourth entry since the series made the transition to more a live service model, releasing as song packs alongside meaty updates rather than entirely new games, but there’s still a lot that’s new and exciting here for returning fans to enjoy.
The big new inclusion is the camera scoring system, which has been added to the existing Just Dance Controller mobile app. Whenever you start a compatible song you’re asked whether you want to play with the old motion scoring, or camera scoring. If you select camera scoring you’re instructed to prop up your phone on a surface a few meters away from your play space and line yourself up with an on-screen silhouette.
(Image credit: Ubisoft)I normally play in the very compact area around my desk, so I was a little sceptical that I would have enough room but I was thankfully proven wrong. Propping the phone up on my bookshelf, it detected me immediately and never lost track of where I was. Playing without the weight of a phone in your hand is liberating and makes it so much easier to follow the choreography. Worrying about accidentally catapulting your pricey device out the nearest window every time a move has you swing your arms is finally a thing of the past.
Better still, if you already own Just Dance 2025 Edition you’ll be able to play all of those songs with this new control mode, giving you a fantastic excuse to revisit them. The only minor letdown here is that you can only use camera scoring when you’re playing alone. This is presumably some technical limitation and not a huge dealbreaker, but is worth bearing in mind if you were planning to pick up the game just for co-op play.
It can also be a little bit tricky to keep your phone stable. I reliably managed it with some books, but you might want to invest in a cheap phone stand if you intend to set it up directly in front of your screen.
Backing track(Image credit: Ubisoft)It wouldn’t be a new Just Dance edition without a heap of fresh songs to play, and this year's entry doesn’t disappoint. Your enjoyment of any line-up is always going to come down to personal preference, but I found the 40 or so tracks this year to be fantastically varied.
Where previous years have been dominated by one or two big artists or themes, 2026 Edition has everything from recent hits like Chappell Roan’s ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ and Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Feather’ to long-awaited party titans like Smash Mouth’s ‘All Star’.
K-pop fans can feast on Babymonster’s ‘Drip’ while TikTok addicts will have plenty of fun with viral sensations like Doechii’s ‘Anxiety’. Just Dance titles also offer their own original songs which for the last few installments have basically boiled down to generic pop with slightly cringeworthy lyrics. One of this year’s however, the cutesy ‘Sokusu’, is genuinely very catchy with an easy to learn but hard to master dance that has you hopping across the screen.
Best bit(Image credit: Ubisoft)It’s hard to pin down a favorite aesthetic in Just Dance 2026 Edition’s strong selection of music videos, but the especially bright primary colors of ‘Sokusu’ look absolutely sublime on a big screen.
Each track is accompanied by a gorgeous music video which all stand apart as some of the most attractive and complex that the series has had yet. They look stunning with a wide range of colorful visuals and themes. Some also break away from the conventional Just Dance aesthetic in innovative and interesting ways. Take this year’s inevitable kids song inclusion, a Bluey-inspired medley that’s animated exactly like the hit children’s TV show or the spooky claymation style of ‘Born to Be Alive (Reborn Version)’.
A few songs have engaging alternate versions too, whether that’s relaxed drag show performances or intense sports routines designed to test your fitness.
If all of this somehow isn’t enough, you can add to your library by picking up previous Edition releases (which are available pretty cheaply now) or subscribing to Just Dance Plus to stream hundreds and hundreds of songs taken from across the series.
All versions of Just Dance 2026 Edition include memberships of varying length (which you can activate at any time from an in-game menu) and it only costs $24.99 / £19.99 to add on a whole year - a very reasonable price for what you get.
Personal highlights for me include the energetic ‘Love Ward’ from Just Dance 2018 and the utterly ridiculous Angry Birds ‘Balkan Blast Remix’. The only thing that could possibly make it better would be if some of the best tracks from the more obscure entries came over.
Where’s Koda Kumi’s ‘Cutie Honey’ from the Japan-exclusive Just Dance Wii, Ubisoft?
Lab rats(Image credit: Ubisoft)Just Dance games rarely ship without some kind of new mode, and Just Dance 2026 Edition is no exception. This year you get a new co-op Party Mode themed around a mad scientist’s lab. It lets you play any of your owned songs in short bursts with weird visual effects overlayed on top.
This could involve an animated dinosaur appearing on screen and blocking your dancer from view to being forced to clap for points.
The effects themselves are amusing but not particularly game changing, though the fact that the mode can draw from your entire song library is great. If you’re playing with a Just Dance Plus subscription then there’s a strong chance that you haven't played whatever comes up before, forcing you to adapt not only to the special challenges but an unfamiliar routine.
It’s a great way to find new songs to play, and I've picked up a few new favorites that would have otherwise been completely overlooked given the sheer size of the roster.
It also helps avoid the struggle to pick which song to play when you’re joined by friends, leading to a much more frictionless experience and helping everyone get straight to the dancing rather than faffing around in menus.
I can't think what else you could possibly want from a dance party game.
Should I play Just Dance 2026 Edition?Play it if…You’re after a brilliant party game
Just Dance has always been a lot of fun at social gatherings, but the quality of this new entry makes it one of the most enjoyable yet. Pick it up if you’re after something to whip out at your next party.
You’re sick of holding your phone
If the awkward mobile phone motion controls of recent Just Dance games have been a big turn off, then you need to pick up Just Dance 2026 Edition. Camera controls are fantastic and make for the easiest to control entry in years.
You're not big on the track list
There’s no point picking up a Just Dance game if the song list just doesn’t appeal to you. I personally love it and think that it will have pretty broad appeal, but still remember to check out what it includes via the Ubisoft website before you buy.
There is unfortunately no dedicated accessibility menu in Just Dance 2026 Edition. The game supports scoring via both holding your phone in your hands or using its camera but each method requires a substantial range of motion across your whole body. The user interface can be tweaked somewhat, for example disabling visual score feedback or song lyrics.
How I reviewed Just Dance 2026 EditionI played almost 10 hours of Just Dance 2026 Edition on PlayStation 5. For the controls, I relied on my Porsche Design Honor Magic 7 RSR Android phone using the official Just Dance Controller mobile app.
During that time I played the songs that appealed to me from the overall line-up, chasing high-scores in both motion control and camera control modes. I compared my experience to my hands-on testing of previous Just Dance games on a wide range of platforms including Just Dance VR.
First reviewed October 2025
The Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W Built-In Retractable USB-C Cable (don’t worry, I’ll shorten it from here on out), is exactly what it sounds like. It's a small-sized portable charger with a built-in cable for on-the-go charging, and boasts a 10,000mAh capacity and 45W maximum power output.
The real draw of the Anker 10K 45W is its convenience. Firstly, that integrated charging wire is a massive plus. Simply pull it out, and it auto locks to the length that suits you best. To unwind, all you’ve got to do is pull and release – easy as you like. In addition, this model is pretty compact, meaning it can easily slot into a pocket or small bag.
Is its charging performance as efficient as its build? Well, it would be hard to answer that question with a one-word answer. First of all, there are some restrictions worth noting. A 45W maximum power output means that it can’t charge more demanding devices, like laptops, at peak levels – something that a lot of the best power banks are capable of. Its 10,000mAh capacity isn’t the largest either, though it will be plenty to charge most phones and a pair of wireless earbuds a couple of times.
Anyway, I tried charging my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE – which has a 4,700mAh battery capacity – and fast charging was activated, enabling my device to go from 0-100% in around 80 minutes. That’s as fast as I’d expect, so no complaints there.
After a while, though, I wanted to recharge the portable charger, and performance could’ve been a bit better. After about 10 minutes, I realized it was only charging at 19W. This is because the model throttles charging input to keep temperature in check. Still, I got a full charge after approximately two hours, which is still fairly decent.
And let’s go back to that temperature control note. Sure, the charger can get a little warm, especially if you’re also making use of its additional USB-A and USB-C ports and edging towards maximum power use. But it never felt overly hot. You can also check the battery temperature and health of the model using its inbuilt display.
The display itself is behind a translucent exterior, and can also update you on the power output from the integrated cable and additional ports – pretty handy. It's not the brightest display I’ve ever used, but it’s certainly a nice-to-have.
(Image credit: Future)Something I really like about this model is its well-designed cord, which you can adjust to fit onto a backpack or a belt loop, for instance. The exterior itself also has an attractive metallic, glossy finish, as well as a textured surface, which enhances grip. It can be yours in a range of colors too, specifically: Aurora White; Phantom Black, which is the variant I tested; or Sprout Green.
For the power and build quality on offer, I’d also say that this model is priced pretty well. It has a list price of $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.95. We’ve tested cheaper rivals – like the Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack – but that model has a considerably lower wattage.
Combine that with the integrated table and the fact that this model is regularly on sale already, and I’d say the Anker 10K 45W is a strong value pick worth checking out. If you need to charge a laptop or power hungry phone like the the OnePlus 13, for example, something mightier will suit you better. Otherwise, I’m generally a fan of what Anker has to offer here.
Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W Built-In Retractable USB-C Cable review: price & specsPrice
$59.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.95
Total power output
45W
Number of ports
2 (excluding 1x inbuilt retractable USB-C cable)
Port type(s)
1x USB-C; 1x USB-A
Dimensions
3.2 x 2 x 1.4 inches / 81 x 50 x 36mm
Should I buy the Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W Built-In Retractable USB-C Cable?Buy it if...You only need to charge your phone
For a lot of modern iPhones and Samsung phones, for instance, this is a powerful enough pick. 45W means you’ll be able to access fast charging, with the 10,000mAh capable of supplying multiple full charges.
You don’t already own a USB-C cable
One of the best things about this power bank is that you don’t need to buy a separate USB-C cable to make use of it. Simply connect your device to the integrated cable, and you’re good to go. Also, Anker says that the cable can survive more than 20,000 bends and retractions, so it should last for quite some time.
You want to charge your laptop
Unfortunately, this model doesn’t have the firepower to charge more demanding devices like laptops or certain phones at maximum capacity. That’s due to its fairly modest 45W power output. I’d recommend a model with around 100W if you want to charge one of the best MacBooks, for example.
You’re looking for a super-cheap option
I’d argue that this model is pretty solid value for money, but there are certainly cheaper options out there if you’re looking to spend a little less. Having said that, you can often find the Anker Nano 10K 45W for less than its $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.95 list price, so keep your eyes peeled for a sale.
Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank
Yep, I’ve got another Anker model for you, and this one’s really special. I used this one personally for a couple of weeks, mainly to extend the battery life of my Nintendo Switch 2. However, its 87W power output also means it can charge a lot of the most power-hungry phones at maximum capacity, and even juice up a good portion of laptops. With an integrated cable, additional USB slots, and a handy display, this power bank really has it all. Read our full Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank review.
Millions of Americans use weed to treat chronic pain, but there's little high quality research on whether it works. New findings suggest it can be effective for low back pain, on par with opioids.
(Image credit: Tinnakorn Jorruang/iStockphoto)