I originally took an interest in Steel Century Groove as I enjoy rhythm games. All I knew about it was that it would have some of these mechanics, and that the main gameplay loop featured giant robot dance battles. Well, that was all that was needed to consider myself intrigued in this groovy indie title. However, upon picking up the game and playing, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a few mechanics that pay homage to one of my forever gaming obsessions – Pokemon.
Don’t let that fool you, though. Steel Century Groove is not a monster-catcher in any sense. You don’t go around looking for wild creatures. Instead, you collect various parts and upgrades for your robots as you progress through the story, and use them to customize the abilities you use in dance battles. The similarities appear from the very start, in battle screens/intros, VFX, and other subtle little touches, but don’t feel like a bad taste imitation of the iconic IP. Instead, these little touches add a touch of charm to the experience.
Gameplay – Dance, Robot, Dance!
I quite literally cannot put into words how absolutely addicted I am to the main gameplay loop. I was hooked on these dance battles from the tutorial. With a rhythm-based blend that would feel like a familiar mix to gamers who enjoy OSU or Guitar Hero, Steel Century Groove nails the one thing the whole game is based on – the dancing!
Different buttons are assigned to different abilities, letting you create your own combos during battle. This adds a layer of quick thinking to things, as the timing isn’t the only thing that matters. The abilities you use and when you play a big part in defeating enemies, especially when it comes to the likes of blocks, or special abilities that are only unlocked after you utilize others first.
When I’m in the middle of one of these dance battles, I’m so locked in. Literally, I could not tear my eyes from the screen. I’m far too focused on hitting those perfect notes. Much to my surprise, the dance battles were such a fun thrill that I always ended up running ‘just one more battle’, and playing for much, much longer than I had anticipated in each session.
Music & Soundtrack – Maximum Groove!
I didn’t expect to find any songs I’d recognize in Steel Century Groove, but that doesn’t stop the soundtrack from being made up of absolute bangers. I had a genuine blast tapping along to each song and looked forward to seeing which song would be selected whenever I enter a battle. Each track works perfectly for the rhythm-based gameplay and makes battles feel all that much more lively.
However, where Steel Century Groove absolutely shines is in the ability to import your own custom music library and boogie to your favorite songs. Each track is synced into the game with very solid accuracy, keeping the inputs on beat. This worked perfectly even on my ROG Ally, letting me dance battle to some bbno$ bops, and even a Black Sabbath remix.
Art Style & Visuals – Endearing & Quirky
Visually, Steel Century Groove embraces a quirky art style that really does fit the game nicely. There’s something about it that reminds me slightly of Nintendo Miis; they have that simple, funky appearance, yet are full of personality. The robots are interesting and fun in terms of design, looking like something that has stepped right out of a mecha anime. It’s always fun to see the different parts and designs that appear with each battle you head into.
Story – Less is More
Steel Century Groove’s story is simple, but that isn’t a downside at all. You travel around town and various locations to complete objects, learning more about the robots/dancers as you go.
The narrative itself is nothing too thrilling or overwhelming, but it really doesn’t need to be. Instead, this acts as the bridge between each dance battle, so you’re not hurled into fast-paced dance-offs in too much repetition. There’s just enough context and downtime to balance out these high-energy moments, which made the game feel very easy to play and progress through.
Final Thoughts
There are very few games that manage to keep me as consistently engaged as Steel Century Groove does. Once a dance battle is initiated, my entire focus is locked onto winning the darn thing, nailing the timing, and getting my ability combos down.
This is an absolutely amazing little gem to kick off my 2026 gaming library additions, and I can see myself easily coming back to it time and time again. Whether I want to just vibe to my music in an interactive way or just look to kill some time, Steel Century Groove is my new go-to. If you enjoy rhythm games, groovy soundtracks, or big ol’ robots, this one is well worth your time.
Steel Century Groove: There are very few games that manage to keep me as consistently engaged as Steel Century Groove does. Each track works perfectly for the rhythm-based gameplay and makes battles feel all that much more lively. With a rhythm-based blend that would feel like a familiar mix to gamers who enjoy OSU or Guitar Hero, Steel Century Groove nails the one thing the whole game is based on – the dancing! With Steel Century Groove, I always find myself seeking just one more fight, and am thrilled to have it as a nice little addition to the start of my 2026 gaming library. – Grace Black