Throughout my 15 years of living, I’ve never gotten very interested in any games. Action, Adventure, RPG, Sports–I would download anything, but apps would soon be deleted from my phone due to overwhelming ads, unengaging gameplay, or straight-up lack of use. That was, until I found Beatstar.
From the moment I opened the app, Beatstar was welcoming. Its interface was intuitive and instantly engaging–no clutter, confusion, or ads obstructing the experience. Songs came in a wide range of difficulties, allowing beginners to play comfortably while still offering intense challenges for advanced users. There were always goals to work toward–after hitting five stars, you could aim for platinum, the highest point value of all–and progress felt natural, motivating, and rewarding.
And then there was the music selection.
Beatstar’s song list wasn’t static or predictable. It was constantly growing, expanding far beyond just mainstream hits. Yes, there were popular songs, but there were also niche artists, songs I had never heard, and genres that rhythm games often excluded. It felt like the developers genuinely cared about music, not just charts and trends.
That’s why what happened to me made no sense.
One terrible morning near the end of October, I opened the app like I always did, then I waited. For a very, very long time. The loading screen was frozen halfway, then an error message popped up. Disappointed, I assumed it was a temporary issue–after all, apps glitch sometimes. So I waited. I tried again. And again. Over the next weeks, I did everything you’re supposed to do. I closed the app. I restarted my phone. I deleted and reinstalled it. I even powered my phone off completely. Nothing worked.
Finally, I went to the App Store to check for updates–and Beatstar was gone, nowhere to be found in the search engine. Confused, I checked my homepage–it was still installed, glowing mockingly as though ready to be used. So, I searched online. Was anyone else having this problem? Was it a regional issue? A bug?
That’s when I found the truth. The game had shut down. No dramatic farewell inside the app. No proper goodbye, just a loading screen that never finished.
My heart? BROKEN. It was tragic. And it was deeply frustrating. Why would a game that was so polished, so beloved, so accessible, and so alive simply disappear? I felt a sense of withdrawal, searching the App Store for a cure to my heartache, but all I could find were cheap, ad-filled replacements that couldn’t hold a candle to the legacy Beatstar had left behind.
Beatstar proved that rhythm games could be modern, inclusive, and genuinely fun without being overwhelming or exclusive. This game didn’t deserve to vanish the way it did, and its devoted players shouldn’t have been left scrambling for an explanation.