Smash Drums Brings Loud, Physical Rhythm Action to PSVR 2

Smash Drums isn’t trying to be subtle. It’s a rhythm game where you smash floating drums with virtual sticks in time with loud rock tracks, and it makes no effort to dial it down. After stints on Quest and PC VR, it’s now on PlayStation VR2, where haptics and headset feedback add another layer of intensity.

While the core gameplay hasn’t changed much, the PSVR 2 version feels more grounded and physical. It’s still arcade-style rhythm action, but with some welcome refinements that make the experience more immersive on Sony’s headset.

Gameplay Is Simple, But Effective

At its core, Smash Drums is about hitting the right drum at the right time. You stand in place, drums fly toward you, and your job is to whack them with decent timing. Each drum has its own placement and function — red for left, blue for right, green for both — and some tracks toss in extra mechanics like explosive traps or obstacles you need to duck under.

What sets this apart from other VR rhythm games like Beat Saber or Drums Rock is its reliance on physicality over precision slicing. It’s less about finesse and more about impact. This makes for a workout-heavy experience that feels less clinical and more like playing actual drums in a very loud garage band.

Difficulty scaling is fair, but higher levels get chaotic fast. It’s easy to lose rhythm when dodging environmental hazards while trying to maintain a combo. It’s demanding in a way that rewards focus more than memorization.

PSVR 2 Adds Immersion Without Changing the Formula

On PSVR 2, the game leans heavily into the hardware’s strengths. The Sense controllers do a solid job simulating the hit of a drum strike, and the headset’s haptics buzz in response to big impacts or obstacles, which makes misses feel more consequential. Visually, it’s not aiming for realism. Instead, it goes with a stylized, slightly cartoonish look that emphasizes color and motion. It fits the tone well and runs smoothly on PS5 hardware.

The environments shift based on the track, ranging from abstract arenas to themed stages like burning buildings or floating islands.

There’s no major rework in terms of how the game plays on PSVR 2 versus other platforms, but the extra feedback and polish give it a better sense of physical presence. The experience feels louder, tighter, and more tactile — even if it’s essentially the same game underneath.

Solo Play Is the Focus, But Multiplayer Exists

Smash Drums is mostly built for solo sessions. There’s a progression system with unlocks and difficulty levels, but no overarching story or campaign structure. You pick songs, chase high scores, and climb global leaderboards. There is a multiplayer mode, but it feels secondary. It’s asynchronous, more about score comparisons than real-time interaction. It doesn’t redefine the experience, but it’s there for competitive players who want to track progress against others.

The heart of the game is still solo rhythm action. Whether that’s enough depends on what you’re looking for in a VR music title. This isn’t a performance sim, and it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s a loud, fast, slightly chaotic game that values fun over fidelity.

A Niche Game That Knows What It’s Doing

There’s nothing subtle or innovative about Smash Drums, but that’s not the point. It’s a specific type of rhythm game — one that values noise, energy, and motion over style or depth. It’s not going to appeal to everyone, and that’s fine.

For VR players looking for a physical rhythm game that doesn’t involve sabers or dance moves, it fills a gap. It’s a narrower experience than Beat Saber or Synth Riders, but also more focused. It knows exactly what kind of game it wants to be and delivers that with a decent level of polish on PSVR 2.

It’s not groundbreaking, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s loud, it’s physical, and it’s surprisingly satisfying in short bursts.