Prefer watching over reading? The video above is an embedded VOD from my CheckpointVibes YouTube channel, featuring gameplay from one of my livestreams. It’s included as a companion to this review so you can see the game in action while reading—or simply enjoy the gameplay on its own.
| Developer | SUSUSOFT |
| Publisher | CeREELs, Rising Tide |
| Released Date | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Genre | Rhythm |
| Price | 4.99 |
| Platform | PC |
| Where to Buy (Wishlist) | Steam |
First off, I’d like to thank the developer and publisher for providing us here at TheDailyGamePad.net with a free copy of Ella Stars. It also gave me the chance to feature the game during one of my livestreams, so thank you for the opportunity!
I actually played Ella Stars a couple of times on stream before finally sitting down to write this article. Coming back to it after some time away gave me a different perspective on the game, and honestly, I had just as much fun jumping back in as I did the first time.
If I had to describe Ella Stars in one sentence, I’d say it’s kind of like PaRappa the Rapper mixed with a traditional rhythm game. It’s colorful, the music is catchy, and it definitely scratches that “just one more song” itch.
That said…there are a couple of things I think could make it even better.
The game supports both keyboard and controller, which is always nice to see. I personally played with a controller, and while there are a few preset control layouts to choose from, I wish the game let you fully customize your buttons.
For me, I would’ve preferred using different button combinations than the presets offered. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, but rhythm games are all about comfort and muscle memory. Everyone has their own preferred way to play, so having full button remapping would’ve gone a long way.
One thing I also noticed is that some parts of the options menu still require using a mouse. It would’ve been nice to navigate everything with just the controller.
This is easily my biggest criticism of Ella Stars.
As someone who’s played rhythm games for years, one feature I’ve always appreciated is input calibration.
Whether it was Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, or countless other rhythm games, being able to fine-tune the timing to match your TV, monitor, or controller makes a huge difference. If you’re using a wireless controller like I was, even the slightest input delay can throw your timing off.
Because Ella Stars doesn’t include a calibration option, there were several moments where I found myself wondering if I missed the note…or if my timing was just slightly off.
Another thing that completely surprised me happened while I was replaying songs.
When I originally played on Easy Mode, I actually struggled quite a bit. Out of curiosity, I switched over to Normal Mode…and somehow I started doing better.
At first, I honestly thought Easy and Normal had accidentally been swapped.
After testing more songs, though, I realized it wasn’t quite that simple. Some songs actually felt easier for me on Normal because they moved a little faster, and that speed matched my natural rhythm better. Other songs were still challenging regardless of the difficulty.
It was interesting to see how much the speed affected my performance. Slower wasn’t always easier—it sometimes threw off my timing more than it helped.
Another feature I’d love to see is the ability to replay the tutorial whenever you want.
I believe the game has one when you first start, but after taking a break from playing, I couldn’t find a way to go through it again.
Let’s be honest—we all have backlogs these days. Sometimes you don’t touch a game for weeks or even months before coming back to it. Having a simple “Replay Tutorial” option in the settings would be a great quality-of-life addition and would make it much easier for returning players to refresh themselves.
One thing I consistently enjoyed was the soundtrack.
I found myself really enjoying it. The songs fit the gameplay well, and there were several times where I’d finish a track and immediately queue up another one just because I wanted to hear more.
Overall, I had a good time with Ella Stars.
Most of my criticisms aren’t about the gameplay itself—they’re quality-of-life improvements I’d like to see. Input calibration, full button remapping, and the option to replay the tutorial would make an already enjoyable rhythm game even better.
The core gameplay is fun, the soundtrack is enjoyable, and once you get into the groove, it’s easy to lose track of time playing “just one more song.”
At around $4.99, I think it’s an easy recommendation for rhythm game fans who don’t mind spending a little time getting used to the controls. Just be prepared to work within the preset button layouts and keep in mind that there isn’t a calibration option if you’re playing with a wireless controller.
Once again, I’d like to thank the developer and publisher for providing us here at TheDailyGamePad.net with a review copy of Ella Stars. If you’re a fan of rhythm games and are looking for something new to add to your library, this is definitely one worth checking out. Be sure to watch our gameplay video alongside this review to see it in action!
