What instruments and multiplayer modes does YARG support?

Updated

YARG (Yet Another Rhythm Game) supports Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keys, and Vocals, with more instruments described as coming. It offers local multiplayer for up to 32 players. Online multiplayer and online features such as competitive leaderboards are not available yet; the site says they are planned for future updates.

Instruments

YARG is built to support most instruments from classic rhythm games. According to the official site, the current list is:

  • Guitar
  • Bass
  • Drums
  • Keys
  • Vocals

The site adds that more instruments are "coming on the way," but it does not name them or give a release date. If your setup depends on a specific instrument outside this list, treat it as unconfirmed rather than announced.

Multiplayer modes

Local multiplayer

Local multiplayer is available now and supports up to 32 players at the same time. That is the mode to plan around if you want a full friend group playing together in one place.

Online multiplayer and leaderboards

Online multiplayer is not part of the current feature set. The site lists it, along with other online features like competitive leaderboards, as coming in future updates. No timeline is given, so anyone choosing YARG specifically for online play should check the project's Discord server for the latest news before committing.

What else comes with the game

The official setlist includes over 100 licensed songs, with artists named on the site including Nine Inch Nails, Good Kid, Last Dinosaurs, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and Glass Beach, plus independent creators such as Jamie Paige, raphaelgoulart, NyxTheShield, bitbreaker, and JubyPhonic. Full albums are also downloadable through the YARC Launcher, including "Summertide" by Alohaii, "Wanderkid" by JW Francis, "Abyss of Time" by James Paddock, and "FX4" by Jake "virt" Kaufman.

YARG is free and open-source, and the site states there will never be any kind of payment or in-app transaction. It is downloaded through the YARC Launcher.

Quick reference

Feature Status
Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keys, Vocals Supported
Additional instruments Described as coming, not specified
Local multiplayer Supported, up to 32 players
Online multiplayer Planned for future updates
Competitive leaderboards Planned for future updates
Cost Free, no in-app transactions

If you are deciding whether to try it

  • Choose YARG now if you want a free, open-source rhythm game for the listed instruments and you mainly play locally with a group.
  • Wait or follow development if online multiplayer or competitive leaderboards are your main reason for playing.
  • Check the Discord server for the latest news, since the site points there for updates and for ways to contribute as a developer, artist, or charter.