Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero is a 2005 rhythm game developed by Harmonix and published by RedOctane, and it ignited a massive wave of music-game popularity. Players use a guitar-shaped controller to play along with a setlist of rock songs.
Colored note markers scroll down a fretboard on screen, and you press the matching fret buttons while flicking the strum bar in time, building combos and accumulating "star power" that can be unleashed for bonus points by tilting the guitar upward. The tactile plastic guitar peripheral made performing feel genuinely thrilling and accessible to people who had never touched a real instrument. It became a full-blown cultural sensation, spawning numerous sequels, band-focused spin-offs, and a booming market for plastic instruments.
The franchise expanded rapidly across many entries and platforms before the genre cooled, and its influence carried directly into band-based music games like Rock Band and later rhythm titles.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Guitar Hero, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clone Hero Indie | Free | Not on Steam | PC, Mac, Linux |
| Fret Smasher Indie | € 14,99 | Steam Deck Untested | PC |
Clone Hero Indie
FreeA free fan-made rhythm game compatible with guitar controllers and custom charts.
Clone Hero runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Fret Smasher Indie
€ 14,99An indie guitar-controller rhythm game built for classic fret-button play.
Fret Smasher runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
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