Who needs a AAA budget to be a viral sensation? Bongo Cat has become a home run with its simple yet infectious premise of a cute feline pounding out rhythms on a pair of bongos as the user types. It’s a meme-fueled celebration of music and cats, and really, what else is needed at the end of a long day?
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If fans are looking to chase that same fix, there’s a surprising number of titles ready to answer the call. From indie darlings to cult oddities, this topic rounds up the best games to keep the Bongo Cat party going, whether players are a beat-matching pro or a casual tapper looking for more adorable antics.
Friday Night Funkin’
Get Ready For Musical Showdowns
Friday Night Funkin
- Released
- October 5, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Rhythm
Friday Night Funkin’ is a breakout rhythm game that’s as much a cultural phenomenon as Bongo Cat itself. Players face off in musical battles against a parade of eccentric opponents, each with their own themed tracks and personalities. The game’s colorful vibe lands squarely in Bongo Cat territory. Its arrow-based gameplay is simple to pick up but ramps up to tricky territory in later weeks.
Although Bongo Cat thrives on charm, FNF’s encounters are a musical meme war, all backed by a catchy soundtrack. For players who get a kick out of cute characters and internet jokes, Friday Night Funkin’ is essential. The best part is that its modding scene rivals the wild creativity that birthed Bongo Cat and ensures a never-ending stream of new content.
Incredibox
Create Your Own Jams
- Platform(s): PC, Mobile, Web Browser
- Released: August 16, 2009
- Developer(s): So Far So Good
- Genre(s): Music
The premise of Incredibox is disarmingly simple in having players drag and drop adorable beatboxers to layer rhythms, melodies, and effects until they’ve built the perfect jam. Much like Bongo Cat, Incredibox is designed for a quick dopamine hit. Players can remix their tracks and watch the performers groove in sync.
The game’s whimsical art style and unavoidable earworms make every session feel like a new opportunity to scratch a creative itch, all with the same accessibility and charm that made Bongo Cat famous.
Cat Goes Fishing
Swapping Bongos For Bass
Cat Goes Fishing
- Released
- January 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Casual
At first glance, Cat Goes Fishing is less about rhythm and more about kitty cuteness, but dig a little deeper, and the connections become clear. The game puts fans in the paws of an ambitious cat whose goal is to catch every fish in a serene lake. What’s appealing to Bongo Cat fans here is the playful animation and commitment to cat-related absurdity - unlocking new rods, reeling in unlikely catches, collecting hats (hint hint!) Is infused with a low-key meme sensibility.
While it won’t challenge anyone’s sense of rhythm, it nails the oddly satisfying loop that makes Bongo Cat so addictive. There’s a surprising amount of depth for completionists, too, since players can snag rare fish and optimize their haul. If you’re someone who adores Bongo Cat’s focus on doing one thing perfectly and persistently, Cat Goes Fishing delivers that same rush.
A Dance Of Fire And Ice
Syncing Your Senses
A Dance Of Fire And Ice
- Released
- January 24, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Rhythm
For those who want a more cosmic challenge, A Dance of Fire and Ice is a must-play. Fans must guide two synchronized orbs along a winding track while tapping in precise time with the beat to keep them on course. The minimalist graphics and hypnotic music, along with the escalating difficulty, will potentially appeal to casual dabblers and rhythm prodigies. Each world introduces new visual motifs and time signatures, which keep things fresh.
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A lot of the satisfaction comes with mastering each level’s rhythmic language. The instant feedback on mistakes means players are always a split second away from jumping back in. Players who appreciate the “just one more try” compulsion will learn that A Dance of Fire and Ice has the same attraction as watching Bongo Cat endlessly pound on one’s monitor.
Melatonin
Dreamy Exploration
Melatonin
- Released
- December 15, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action, Rhythm
Melatonin takes the tapping of Bongo Cat and wraps it in a dreamy world that’s equal parts rhythm game and mood board. Each stage is themed around a facet of the main character’s life and tasks players with matching beats to trippy animations. The game shines in how it blurs the line between the expected and the surreal. Players might find themselves eating donuts one moment and unlocking buried memories the next.
It’s pretty introspective, but it never loses sight of the playfulness that makes rhythm games so hard to put down. The learning curve is forgiving, courtesy of its visual and audio cues designed to ease new players in, while hidden challenges await the perfectionists. Melatonin is best experienced late at night, preferably with headphones and a willingness to get lost in the beat.
Trombone Champ
Don’t Expect To Make Beethoven Proud…
Trombone Champ: Unflattened
- Released
- November 26, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Rhythm
Trombone Champ is the result when button-mashing is married to classical music. Players use their mouse/keyboard to slide a trombone along the note track, thereby matching pitches in time to an eclectic setlist that ranges from Beethoven to original and public domain tracks. The deliberate clumsiness of the controls is half the joke: missed notes and warbling glissando add to the experience. There’s also card collection and a hidden storyline, but the ultimate draw is the memeable hilarity of every performance.
The visual gags and relentless self-awareness make it a natural evolution of internet humor, and an easy pick for anyone looking to turn their musical skills (or lack thereof) into content gold.
Crypt Of The NecroDancer
Rhythm Meets Dungeon-Crawling
Crypt of the NecroDancer
- Released
- April 23, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence, Blood
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Rhythm
For rhythm game veterans who want something a little meatier, Crypt of the NecroDancer offers a fusion of dungeon-crawling and precise beat-matching. Movements, attacks, and spells have to be performed in time with the soundtrack. Think of it like a high-stakes dance battle against skeletons and dragons! The pixel art is charming like Bongo Cat, and the roster is full of quirky characters. Improvisation and quick reflexes are rewarded, along with procedurally generated layouts and a killer selection of remixes to keep players on their toes.
NecroDancer excels in unexpected moments, like a clutch dodge or a sudden shift in the soundtrack. The co-op and custom soundtrack options mean that players can share with their friends. For fans who want more of Bongo Cat’s charm, this game is a diamond worth unearthing.
Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector
Collect Cute Cats
Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector
- Released
- October 20, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, Casual
On the surface, Neko Atsume is worlds away from Bongo Cat’s cuddly antics…but the similar DNA is unmistakable. The game is a digital cat garden, where the player’s only objective is to entice as many adorable felines as possible with the right combination of toys and treats. It’s a mostly passive experience, although the constant drip of new cats, rare items, and random events can keep fans coming back like a ritual.
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The collection aspect checks the same boxes as unlocking new Bongo Cat hats, and the social sharing options make it a meme magnet in its own right. Players who want Bongo Cat, just with more friends, will find lots of personalities to keep them entertained.
Rhythm Doctor
Talk About Pressure…
Rhythm Doctor
- Released
- February 26, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Rhythm
In Rhythm Doctor, every tap is a life-or-death decision. Players control a hospital intern tasked with synchronizing patients’ heartbeats by tapping on the seventh beat of every measure. It sounds easy enough until the game starts throwing curveballs like polyrhythms, visual distortions, and boss fights. Subsequent levels introduce a new patient with a distinct audio/visual motif, which keeps things fresh and unpredictable.
The narrative, meanwhile, is told through tongue-in-cheek dialogue, turning what could be a dry rhythm exercise into a heartfelt story about connection and perseverance. The player who enjoys nailing a perfect run (or the comedy of spectacular failure) will find that Rhythm Doctor is a welcome shot in the arm.
Osu!
A Rhythm Game That Rarely Gets Old
Osu!
- Released
- September 16, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Musical, Action
Osu! Is one of the heavyweights of community-driven rhythm games, and is a great next step for anyone obsessed with Bongo Cat. The foundational gameplay of click, drag, and spin offers the same instant gratification. Osu! Features an unrelenting pace - the skill ceiling is almost as high as the customizability. Nevertheless, its visual style is loud, with skins and mods that let players turn their sessions into a personal meme machine.
The community is famously creative, producing everything from high-effort remixes to joke tracks that would make Bongo Cat proud. Osu! Is the older sibling to Bongo Cat’s viral simplicity, dialed up to 11 and open 24/7 for anyone looking to tap along.