With over 700,000 beatmaps ranked and loved on Osu!, finding the highest quality maps tailored to your skill level can be daunting. As a long-time rhythm game player and analyst, I‘ve curated this definitive list of the top 20 beatmaps that will help novice and experienced players alike improve core skills.
The Value of Playing Beatmaps
Osu! is a free-to-play rhythm game that has accumulated over 6 million registered players since its release in 2007. The goal is simple – click circles and follow sliders in time to the beat of your chosen song. This relies on reaction time, reading ability, consistency, and rhythm sense.
Playing beatmaps – customized levels created by other players – is the best way to develop these skills. Each beatmap provides a unique experience based on factors like BPM, note placement, rhythm, and more. With beatmaps ranging from 1-9 stars difficulty, you can find maps tailored to your current ability.
As 3-time Osu! World Cup champion and renowned speed player Vaxei says:
"Playing a wide variety of beatmaps is critical for improving different skills. You want to play maps of all difficulties, genres, and mapping styles to increase your overall rhythmic ability and reading."
Let‘s now dive into the 20 best beatmaps for quickly developing core rhythm game skills.
1. Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari (TV Size)
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/1062440#osu/2225683
Featured as the opening of popular anime Bakemonogatari, this energetic J-pop song is one of the most played beatmaps. The upbeat guitars, emotive vocals by supercell, and catchy melody create an enjoyable playing experience.
With constant 1/4 rhythms and comfortable 5.5 stars difficulty, it helps train finger control and reading ability. The satisfying hitsounds timed with drum beats and guitar riffs make nailing the rhythms enjoyable. As top player WhiteCat says, "Maps like these keep you engaged the whole way through."
2. Yoru Naku Usagi wa Yume wo Miru
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/58951#osu/178645
Composed by renowned Japanese band Zuntata, this atmospheric electronic song provides a soothing beatmap. The layered melodies and steady groove creates a mesmerizing background.
Spacing variations and off-beat hits challenge your sense of rhythm. Top player Emilia recommends it as "a great map for practicing rhythm interpretation and syncopation." With lower 5 star difficulty, it also trains finger control through swift jumps and bursts.
3. Harebare Fanfare
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/739376#osu/1561407
As the cheerful opening song of popular anime Hibike! Euphonium, this beatmap delivers lively rhythms through marching band influenced drum patterns and trumpets.
Created by Elite Mapper Sotarks, it focuses on 1/4 rhythms that will push your tapping speed and consistency. The constant beats with intuitive patterns make it a great training map for newer players looking to gain confidence in basics.
4. Neuronecia
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/45069#osu/140450
This electro house song combines pounding beats and energetic synth melodies to get your adrenaline pumping. Known as one of the best beatmaps for improving raw speed and finger control, the highest 5 star difficulty features continuous 1/6 rhythms and swift directional changes.
Renowned speed player Aireu states that "Neuronecia forces you to sight read complex patterns at high BPM to sharpen reflexes and reading." Mastering this map will enhance your technical skills.
5. Guess Who Is Back
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/488355#osu/1037635
As one of the fastest ranked beatmaps, Guess Who Is Back by DJ S3RL pushes your mechanical abilities to the limit with its 280 BPM speedcore tempo.
The highest 6 star difficulty contains relentless 1/6 streams that will annihilate your stamina and demand tight rhythm sense. Top player WhiteCat recommends it "to improve reaction time and finger speed needed to excel in high BPM maps."
6. Flower Dance
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/1140 stubs/326330
Flower Dance provides a refreshing piano and violin duet by DJ Okawari in stark contrast to the intense speedcore maps. The classically inspired harmonies combined with cute anime visuals make for a charming beatmap.
With lower 3 star difficulty, it‘s perfect for beginners to learn rhythm fundamentals on. The well-paced sliders and strings of blue circles allow you to sync movements to sound. Vaxei says "maps like these train how to integrate audio and visual cues."
7. Kotori no Etude
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/149377#osu/370927
Composed by Osu!‘s creator Dean Herbert, this peaceful piano etude provides a soothing training experience. The highest 5 star version focuses on continuous 1/4 streaming atswift tempos to build finger dexterity.
As top player RyuK says, "Mastering control on maps like Kotori teaches you to maintain form and consistency when your hands get tired." The charming song stays calming even during intense streams, keeping you relaxed.
8. Renard – Rainbow Dash Likes Girls (Stay Gay Pony Girl)
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/57255#osu/172852
Infused with layers of bright melodies and steady grooves, this electronic song provides an enjoyable beatmap. It incorporates creative rhythmic variations like gallops, syncopation, and rhythm displacements that challenge your sense of flow.
The highest 6 star difficulty also has complex stacked slider forms that demand quick thinking. As experienced player BeasttrollMC says, "the map keeps you engaged with unpredictable patterns." It‘s fantastic for training quick reading.
9. Sommerlatte
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/1192851#osu/2483637
Composed by prominent artist Camellia, this energetic drumstep track will get your head banging with its driving beats and neuro basslines. It has creative mapping that transforms sliders into both objects to aim and rhythms to follow.
As top speed player aetrna describes, "the map constantly challenges your reading ability with layers of overlapping visuals and rhythms." Play this to push your reading skills and rhythm analysis.
10. Yoshiwara Lament
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/4773#osu/24313
As one of the most iconic beatmaps, Yoshiwara Lament provides a hauntingly beautiful Japanese folk song by Asa-Chang & Junray. Known as the "Aim Map", it develops precision through swift angle changes and tiny spaced streams.
The constant snaps demand flawless finger control. As former #1 player Cookiezi says, "maps like Yoshiwara Lament train how to make micro adjustments and develop muscle memory." It‘s perfect for honing raw aim ability.
11. Infinity Heaven
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/11923#osu/76809
This peaceful new-age track provides a meditative mapping experience, filled with sweeping orchestral melodies. With lower 3 star difficulty, it trains fundamentals like curve tracing and reading unfamiliar rhythms.
Vaxei recommends it as "a great map for beginners to learn how to integrate music cues into gameplay." The memorable piano motif segments also make it super enjoyable.
12. Honesty
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/3049#osu/24371
Boasting over 17 million plays, this beatmap has gained massive popularity due to its uplifting trance melodies and satisfying hitsounds. Bright synthpads and emotional arpeggios create a euphoric mood.
The highest 5 star difficulty focuses on 1/4 rhythms that emphasize finger consistency and control rather than speed. As RyuK states, "Honesty trains tabs, streaming style, and keeping composure on longer maps." It‘s excellent for building fundamentals.
13. Granat
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/1285483#osu/4511265
Composed by Araki, this intricate electronic song has meticulously programmed micro-rhythms and textures. The technical mapping provides continuous 1/8 rhythms that develop reading skills for high subdivision counts.
Top player Merami says, "the map keeps pushing your rhythm sense and judgment ability through unpredictable syncopation and subdivisions." Play this to expand your sense of rhythmic complexity.
14. O‘er the Flood
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/51972#osu/181253
This cinematic orchestral piece by renowned composer Yuzo Koshiro creates an immersive gaming atmosphere. With lower 3 star difficulty, it uses rhythmic swells and captivating melodies to emphasize music listening skills.
As RyuK advises, "playing maps like these trains how to get in sync with the music itself beyond just clicking circles." Moving to grand melodies expands your connection between sound and response.
15. Songs Compilation
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/139525#osu/348410
Offering 12 iconic Japanese songs in succession, this marathon compilation pushes consistency and control over 25 minutes. With simple rhythms but high HP drain, each track trains snapping to various tempos from slow ballads to fast pop songs.
Cookiezi recommends it "for building control and focus over longer durations, testing adaptation skills." The diverse song styles also keeps you engaged.
16. 77+1=110% pretty!
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/138488#osu/339815
As the opening song for lo-fi hip hop influenced anime Mecha-Ude, this beatmap emulates chill urban vibes with creative flows and beats. The highest 5 star difficulty focuses on aim through wide angle swings and smooth drags.
It also challenges quick reaction times with sudden bursts. As Vaxei says, "Maps like these help develop reading unfamiliar patterns quickly." Play it to sharpen adaptability and judgment skills.
17. Lunatic Princess
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/207846#osu/491408
Featured as a final boss theme in the fighting game series Touhou, this beatmap brings intense danmaku shooting action to life. It satisfies with punchy hitsounds and energetic piano melody.
The highest 6 star difficulty drives chaotic streams and tricky angular patterns to challenge speed and aim dexterity when overwhelmed. As Aireu advises, "playing this map pushes your limits under pressure when low on HP."
18. Drop Pop Candy
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/89528#osu/267938
This bubbly electropop song by vocaloid superstars Reol & GigaP features rapid 16th note rhythms and cute vocals that create an energizing beatmap. The snappy patterns mixed with sliders demand quick thinking and reflexes.
According top player BeasttrollMC, "the map keeps you on your toes with loads of variety and dense rhythms to process." It‘s fantastic for training the ability to read complex patterns at high speeds.
19. Maware! Setsugetsuka
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/774503#osu/1627087
As the opening song for groundbreaking visual novel Kara no Shoujo, this iconic beatmap delivers dark beauty through haunting vocals, swelling strings, and moving piano passages.
Known for its emotive hitsounds and storytelling structure, it recreates the nostalgic feeling of the series. Vaxei describes it as "a gorgeous map that focuses on creating an immersive world for the player to get absorbed into."
20. Flowering Night Fever
Download Link: https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmapsets/19397#osu/64710
This euphoric trance track by artist DJ Command combines pounding beats and sweeping melodies that create a jubilant mapping sensation. The highest 5 star difficulty delivers continuous flowing streams that demand endurance and form consistency.
As RyuK states, "keeping composure on marathon maps like these improves streaming technique and teaches self-control." It also develops finger dexterity through swift rhythmic variations.
Conclusion
Mastering these 20 beatmaps will refine your rhythm sense, reaction time, reading skills, consistency, finger control, and composure. Training on maps of different styles, tempos, and difficulties boosts overall rhythmic ability. Stay motivated by playing songs you find engaging and exciting. With over 700,000 beatmaps to choose from, the possibilities are endless. Use this list as a reference when looking for quality beatmaps at your skill level. Your rhythm game skills will improve before you know it. Thanks for reading!
