It was late 2013. The Wii was dying, the Wii U was struggling to find its footing, and the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were the shiny new toys on everyone's Christmas list. Amidst that console generational handoff, Ubisoft dropped a game that, quite frankly, defined an entire era of house parties. I’m talking about the first title in the franchise to actually use a year in its name. Looking back, the Just Dance 2014 list of songs wasn't just a random collection of radio hits; it was a snapshot of a very specific, high-energy moment in pop culture that we haven't really seen since.
People still play this. Even with Just Dance 2024 and the subscription-based Just Dance+ service dominating the scene, fans go back to the 2014 disc. Why? It’s mostly because the tracklist felt curated rather than just "selected by an algorithm." It had that weird, perfect balance of Katy Perry’s peak stardom, the rise of EDM-pop, and those strange "troll" songs that Ubisoft loves so much.
The Core Tracklist: A Time Capsule of 2013 Pop
If you look at the Just Dance 2014 list of songs, the first thing that hits you is the sheer "Billboard Hot 100" energy. We’re talking about a time when "Roar" by Katy Perry was inescapable. Ubisoft knew exactly what they were doing by putting that front and center. But it wasn't just the obvious stuff. You had "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke (before it became a legal and cultural lightning rod) and "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk. These weren't just songs; they were the soundtrack to that entire year.
The game launched with over 45 tracks on the disc. It felt massive at the time. You had Gaga’s "Applause," which had a choreography that actually felt like a workout, and Ke$ha’s "C'Mon." But honestly, the real MVP of the tracklist might have been "Starships" by Nicki Minaj. It’s one of those routines that perfectly encapsulates what Just Dance is: colorful, slightly chaotic, and physically demanding if you actually try to follow the movements correctly.
Then there’s "Gentleman" by PSY. Coming off the back of the "Gangnam Style" craze from the previous game, this was the moment we realized K-Pop was going to be a permanent fixture in the series. It wasn't a fluke. Ubisoft leaned into it, and the fans ate it up.
Beyond the Radio Hits: The Weird Stuff
Every Just Dance fan knows the game is nothing without the "oddities." These are the songs that make you look at the screen and ask, "Who thought of this?"
Take "The Final Countdown" by Europe. In Just Dance 2014, the dancers are wearing what look like luchador outfits combined with retro superhero spandex. It’s ridiculous. It’s also one of the best routines for local multiplayer because it’s inherently competitive. Then you have "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. It’s a quartet routine. If you didn't spend a Friday night trying to coordinate the "vacuum" movements with three of your friends, did you even own a Wii?
✨ Don't miss: Finding Every Bubbul Gem: Why the Map of Caves TOTK Actually Matters
- "Moskau" by Dschinghis Khan: A chaotic masterpiece of Russian-inspired folk-pop.
- "Prince Ali" from Disney’s Aladdin: One of the rare times a Disney track felt like a genuine challenge rather than just a kid-friendly filler.
- "Candy" by Robbie Williams: A bright, sugary routine that hides some surprisingly tricky footwork.
The diversity here is what's missing from modern rhythm games. Nowadays, everything feels a bit too polished, too "TikTok-ready." The 2014 list had grit. It had weirdness. It had "Y.M.C.A." by Village People sitting right next to "Feel This Moment" by Pitbull. It shouldn't work. It does.
The DLC Controversy and the "Lost" Songs
Here is where things get a bit annoying for completionists. The Just Dance 2014 list of songs isn't just what’s on the disc. Ubisoft pushed the DLC (Downloadable Content) hard back then. We got tracks like "Timber" by Pitbull ft. Ke$ha and "Rock N Roll" by Avril Lavigne.
The problem? You can’t really get them anymore.
Since the Wii and Xbox 360 shops have largely shut down or become difficult to navigate, those DLC tracks have become "lost media" for the average player. If you didn't buy "Roar" (the alternate version) or "Die Young" back in 2014, you’re basically out of luck unless you’re willing to go down the rabbit hole of console modding. It’s a reminder of why physical media still matters. That disc in your drawer is a permanent record, but those digital add-ons were fleeting.
Why 2014 Had the Best Choreography
Ask any "pro" Just Dancer (yes, they exist, and they are terrifyingly good) and they’ll tell you the 2014-2015 era was the sweet spot for choreography. The routines were starting to get more complex than the "wave your hand in the air" style of the early Wii games, but they hadn't yet reached the "professional dancer only" levels seen in some of the Extreme versions today.
The "Extreme" versions in 2014 were legendary. "Where Have You Been" (Extreme) is a genuine cardio nightmare. "Fine China" by Chris Brown featured footwork that would make most people trip over their own shadows. This game forced you to actually learn to dance, rather than just shaking a remote to get a "Perfect" rating. It used the Kinect’s full-body tracking on Xbox One better than almost any other game in the launch lineup. It was precise. It was punishing. It was fun.
🔗 Read more: Playing A Link to the Past Switch: Why It Still Hits Different Today
The Full On-Disc Song List (For the Nostalgic)
Instead of a boring table, let's just run through the heavy hitters that you'll find when you boot this up today. You’ve got the upbeat openers like "Feel So Close" by Calvin Harris and "Pound The Alarm" by Nicki Minaj. For those who like a bit of retro flair, "I Will Survive" and "Careless Whisper" (yes, with a saxophone-playing avatar) are absolute staples.
You also have the international flavor. "Dançando" by Ivete Sangalo and "Limbo" by Daddy Yankee brought the Reggaeton and Latin Pop vibes that have since become a mainstay of the series. And we can't forget the "troll" or novelty tracks like "The Love Boat" or "99 Luftballons."
There’s also "Isidora" by Bog Bog Orkestar. If you’ve ever played it, you know. It’s fast, it’s Balkan brass, and it’s arguably the most tiring song on the entire disc. It represents the "World Music" niche that Just Dance used to fill so well before it became more focused on Western Top 40.
Technical Nuances: Platform Differences
Something people forget is that the Just Dance 2014 list of songs actually behaved differently depending on what you were playing on. On the Wii, it was the classic "hold the remote" experience. On the Xbox One and PS4, it was the first time we saw high-definition dancers. The visual jump was staggering.
The Xbox version used the Kinect 2.0. Love it or hate it, that sensor tracked your knees, your elbows, and even your facial expressions to some extent. It meant you couldn't cheat. You couldn't just sit on the couch and flick your wrist. The "Autodance" feature—those little highlight reels the game makes of you dancing—also became a huge part of the social experience, often resulting in embarrassing Facebook posts that we all regret now.
Comparing 2014 to the Modern "Just Dance Edition"
If you look at the current state of the franchise, it’s all about the "platform." You buy the base game and then pay a monthly fee to access the library. In 2014, you bought a disc. You owned those 45+ songs.
💡 You might also like: Plants vs Zombies Xbox One: Why Garden Warfare Still Slaps Years Later
There's a specific texture to the 2014 menus and the "On-Stage" mode where one player is the lead and two others are backup dancers. It felt like a performance. Modern versions have moved toward a more streamlined, UI-heavy interface that feels a bit more corporate. The 2014 version felt like a party in a box. It was messy, loud, and incredibly colorful.
How to Experience These Songs Today
If you’re looking to revisit the Just Dance 2014 list of songs, you have a few options, but they are getting limited.
- Dust off the old hardware: The most authentic way. Find a Wii U or an Xbox 360. The Kinect version is still the "definitive" way to play if you have the space.
- Just Dance Unlimited/Plus: Some, but not all, of these tracks have been ported to the subscription service. However, many are missing due to licensing issues. You’ll find "Get Lucky" and "Starships" are often absent because music rights are a nightmare.
- The "Fan" Community: There is a massive community on YouTube that archives these routines. If you just want the workout without the scoring, this is the easiest path.
Honestly, if you find a copy of Just Dance 2014 at a thrift store for five bucks, grab it. Even if you only play "Careless Whisper" once to laugh at the avatar's mustache, it's worth the price of admission.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to relive the 2013-2014 era of dance gaming, here is how you should approach it:
- Check your hardware: If you have an Xbox One or Series X with a Kinect adapter, the 2014 version offers the most robust tracking.
- Verify the Tracklist: Before buying a used copy, ensure you aren't looking for a specific DLC song like "Waking Up in Vegas," as those are no longer purchasable on original storefronts.
- Host a Throwback Night: The 2014 list is specifically designed for local multiplayer. It’s much more "party-friendly" than the highly technical routines of the 2020s.
- Download the "Just Dance Controller" App: If you are playing on modern consoles but want the 2014 feel, check if the specific legacy title supports phone-tracking, though for 2014, you're mostly stuck with Move controllers, Kinects, or Wii Remotes.
The Just Dance 2014 list of songs remains a high-water mark for the series. It was the point where the production value finally caught up to the ambition of the developers. It’s a loud, neon-soaked reminder of a time when pop music felt just a little bit more fun.