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Performous
What it is
Performous is a free music game that brings karaoke, band play, and dancing together on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its modes cover vocals, lead, rhythm and bass guitar, drums, and dancing, with multiplayer support. In scored singing mode, it displays pitch so players can adjust their performance and work on singing skills; karaoke mode shows lyrics without notes or scoring. The project says pitch detection works with laptop or webcam microphones. Controllers are autodetected, and play can use a keyboard, microphones, USB guitars and drums, or dance pads. Supported song formats include Frets on Fire, UltraStar, SingStar XML, and StepMania. The game also includes Composer, an editor for editing and converting music-game notes, with pitch analysis, zoomable timing, note synthesis, and format import and export. Free karaoke song packages are available under libre and restricted license terms, though the project says its free-song page does not yet include band-game or dancing songs. Performous is free software under GNU GPL version 2 or later. Documentation, Discord, and a GitHub feedback page are available for support and community contact.
For and against
For
- Combines karaoke, band modes, and dancing
- Shows pitch in scored singing mode
- Supports multiplayer
- Autodetects controllers
- Free software under GNU GPL version 2 or later
Against
- Free-song page lacks band-game and dancing songs
- Downloads are limited to desktop systems
The verdict
Performous brings several music-game modes together and includes tools for both scored singing and lyrics-only karaoke. Its free song page currently covers karaoke packages, not band-game or dancing songs.
Who it suits
Performous suits people looking to sing, play music-game instruments, dance, or practice musical skills. It also offers multiplayer play and a Composer editor for working with music-game notes.
Plans and prices
Performous
Free software · desktop game · requires a computer capable of running 3D games · microphones/controllers optional
Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
On the record
- API and SDKs
- The reviewed project pages describe a C++ codebase, build instructions and a webserver feature, but do not publish a separate public API or SDK.github.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Composer editor
- Composer edits and converts notes for music games, with pitch analysis, zoomable timing, note synthesis, and format import and export.performous.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Composer formats
- Composer lists SingStar XML, UltraStar TXT, and Frets on Fire MIDI among its import and export formats.performous.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Controller detection
- Controllers are autodetected instead of requiring manual key configuration.performous.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Controllers
- Controllers are autodetected, and the game can use a keyboard, microphones, USB guitars and drums, and dance pads.performous.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Developer documentation
- The website links to GitHub documentation, a wiki, Discord support and GitHub feedback/issues.performous.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Feature expansion
- Version 1.3.0 added a Windows webserver, WebM video support, multitrack drums and Opus audio support.performous.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Free songs
- The site offers free karaoke song packages and identifies different license terms for its libre and restricted packages.performous.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Game modes
- It supports vocals, lead, rhythm and bass guitar, drums, and dancing, with multiplayer support.performous.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Gameplay intelligence
- Its engine tries to infer intended guitar actions and suppresses accidental hammer-ons and pull-offs.performous.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Hardware compatibility
- The project lists SingStar microphones, Guitar Hero and Rock Band instruments, USB microphones, USB guitars, USB drums and dance pads.performous.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Independent listing
- AlternativeTo classifies Performous as a free, open-source music game and lists eight alternatives across desktop, web and Android platforms.alternativeto.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Instruments
- The game supports lead, rhythm and bass guitar parts, drums and dance play with multiplayer support.performous.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The site describes Performous as a game for people who want to perform songs, improve musical skills, or have fun.performous.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Karaoke mode
- A karaoke mode shows lyrics without note targets or scoring.performous.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Latest release
- GitHub lists Performous 1.3.1 as the latest release, with Windows, Debian and Fedora assets plus source archives.github.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- License
- Performous is open source under GNU GPL version 2 or later.performous.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: documentation support
- SourceForge says the project has not indicated a best way to get help and points users toward project admins or third-party channels.sourceforge.net · read 14 Oct 2026
