What's the oldest Just Dance

The original game that kicked off the whole Just Dance franchise? That's Just Dance (2009), a Nintendo Wii exclusive that dropped in November 2009. This was where it all began—before the series turned into this massive global thing with dozens of sequels across every platform you can think of.

Ubisoft Paris built it, Ubisoft published it. The whole idea was to show off what the Wii Remote could do with motion controls. Nothing complicated—you just copied the dancer on screen and got points for it. The tracklist had 29 songs, stuff like "I Like to Move It" by Reel 2 Real and "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward. Party music, basically.

Don't confuse it with Just Dance 2 (2010), which came out the next year. That one added multiplayer and way more songs. People say Just Dance 2 basically "saved" the franchise because it sold so well and got good reviews. But the 2009 original? That's where the DNA came from.

Here's a quick comparison between those first two games:

What is the first Just Dance game ever made?

The very first one? That's the 2009 Wii game. Ubisoft wanted a casual party game that'd show off the Wii Remote's motion stuff. Critics weren't kind—they said it felt unfinished, the song list was too short, and the scoring was too simple. But people bought it anyway. Enough to make a sequel. Funny thing: Ubisoft originally planned to call the franchise "Dance!" but switched to "Just Dance" right before launch.

How does the original Just Dance compare to modern versions?

Looking back, the original feels ancient. No online play, no progression, no DLC after release. The choreography came from a tiny team. And get this—the game only tracked your Wii Remote hand, not your whole body. Compare that to something like Just Dance 2024 Edition, which has:

• Full-body tracking through your phone or a Kinect/PS Camera
• Online multiplayer with actual matchmaking
• Seasonal content and songs that get updated regularly
• Custom avatars and unlockable stuff
• Cross-platform play on some titles

But honestly? The core idea hasn't changed. You follow the coach, you get points for timing, and you have fun with your friends. That part's still the same.

Is Just Dance 2009 still playable today?

Yeah, if you've got an original Wii, it still works. But here's the catch: the Wii Shop Channel shut down in 2019, so you can't buy it digitally if you don't already own it. Physical copies? Super cheap online, usually under $10. It'll run on a Wii U through backward compatibility too, but don't expect any fancy upgrades. No emulated version exists on Switch or anything modern. So unless you've got old hardware, you're out of luck.

What songs were in the original Just Dance tracklist?

The 2009 game had 29 songs. Here's the whole list:

• "I Like to Move It" - Reel 2 Real
• "Ring My Bell" - Anita Ward
• "Hot n Cold" - Katy Perry
• "Bebe" - Divine
• "Step by Step" - New Kids on the Block
• "Jerk It Out" - Caesars
• "U Can't Touch This" - MC Hammer
• "Eye of the Tiger" - Survivor
• "Funplex" - The B-52's
• "Mashed Potato Time" - Dee Dee Sharp
• "That's the Way (I Like It)" - KC and the Sunshine Band
• "Jungle Boogie" - Kool & the Gang
• "Jump in the Line" - Harry Belafonte
• "I Get Around" - The Beach Boys
• "Le Freak" - Chic
• "Girls & Boys" - Blur
• "Wannabe" - Spice Girls
• "The Power" - Snap!
• "Pump Up the Jam" - Technotronic
• "A Little Less Conversation" - Elvis Presley
• "Louie Louie" - Iggy Pop
• "Who Let the Dogs Out?" - Baha Men
• "Rockafeller Skank" - Fatboy Slim
• "Kids in America" - Kim Wilde
• "Surfin' Bird" - The Trashmen
• "Atomic" - Blondie
• "J-Mo" - Groove Armada
• "U Can't Touch This" (alternate version) - MC Hammer
• "Mickey" - Toni Basil

Heads up: the song list varied by region. Europe got "Sexy and I Know It" by LMFAO, but North America didn't.

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