This guide covers Just Dance 2017, Ubisoft’s dance rhythm game for Wii, Wii U, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. It focuses on the practical habits that make the game better for new players: choosing songs, setting up controllers, understanding star goals, using fitness and challenge modes, and keeping party sessions moving.
Just Dance 2017 is approachable because the main task is simple: follow the on-screen coach, move in time with the pictograms and music, and let the game score your motion. The harder part is stamina, confidence, and picking a setup that does not interrupt the room every two minutes. The game is rated E10+ with Mild Lyrics, so keep song choice in mind when playing with younger dancers or mixed groups.
Essential Tips
1. Start With Familiar Songs Before Chasing Difficulty
Pick songs your group recognizes first. A familiar beat makes it easier to anticipate motion, recover after missed steps, and stay relaxed through the whole routine. Just Dance 2017 includes pop hits, older classics, and novelty picks, so do not treat the menu like a test of taste. The best first song is the one that gets people moving.
Once the room is comfortable, branch out. Songs like “PoPiPo” or faster pop routines can be fun, but they are easier to enjoy after players understand how the coach, pictograms, and scoring rhythm work. Use the first few dances as warm-ups instead of judging the night by the first star result.
2. Set Up Controllers Before Everyone Is Watching
Controller friction kills party momentum. Before starting a group session, confirm which input your platform uses: Wii Remote, PlayStation Camera, PlayStation Move, Kinect, Joy-Con, smartphone app, or PC controls. Pair everything, check batteries, and make sure each player knows which device represents them.
On supported versions, the smartphone app can be a useful fallback when you do not have enough motion controllers. For Switch, Joy-Con controls are straightforward, but phones can help expand the player count. Keep everyone on the same Wi-Fi network when using phones, and avoid last-second pairing while a room full of players waits.
3. Dance Fully Even When Tracking Is Hand-Based
Many versions mainly read the controller or camera setup rather than every foot placement. That does not mean you should play like a wrist-flicking score machine. Full-body movement helps you learn the choreography, keeps timing natural, and makes multiplayer more enjoyable.
Treat the on-screen coach as a dancer, not just a signal for your controller hand. Even if the hardware cannot perfectly judge hips, feet, or style, those movements help you remember transitions and keep stamina balanced. The game is most fun when players actually dance.
4. Use Star Ratings as Direction, Not Judgment
Early runs are for learning. If you earn only a few stars, look for one fix: were you late, too stiff, holding the wrong hand, or missing the repeated move before each chorus? One clear adjustment is better than replaying the same song while frustrated.
When you can finish a routine comfortably, start aiming higher. Try to clean up repeated sections first because they appear multiple times and give the biggest improvement for the least practice. If a routine has a tricky bridge, accept a few misses there and protect the sections you can control.
5. Use Just Dance Machine for Short Bursts
Just Dance Machine is a good mode when you want variety without picking individual songs. It throws short dance styles at you in a themed sequence, with each session built around charging an alien spaceship. Because each run uses several compact routines, it works well as a warm-up or a silly break between full songs.
Do not expect it to teach one complete pop routine the way the main mode does. Its value is energy, novelty, and quick style changes. If a group is overthinking scores, switch to Just Dance Machine and let the room reset.
6. Make Sweat Mode Practical
Sweat + Playlists is useful when you want Just Dance 2017 to double as light exercise. Build a playlist that alternates intensity instead of stacking every exhausting routine together. Three-to-four-minute songs add up quickly, especially if players are actually following the choreography instead of only moving the controller hand.
Use the calorie and time tracking as rough session structure, not a medical measurement. A simple plan works: warm up with an easy song, play several medium-energy routines, rest when breathing gets sloppy, then finish with a favorite. For groups, let players rotate out rather than forcing everyone through every track.
7. Keep Local Multiplayer Loose
Just Dance is strongest when the room stays social. Let new players join for one song, sit out the next, and return without making the score screen feel like a public ranking of talent. Competitive players can still chase stars, but the group should agree whether the session is casual or score-focused.
For big rooms, put the screen high enough for everyone to see pictograms and coach movement. Give each dancer enough space to swing an arm without hitting furniture. If you are using the Switch in tabletop mode, keep the player count small; a tiny screen gets hard to read once several people are dancing.
8. Treat Online Modes as Legacy Extras
Just Dance 2017 launched with online-facing features such as World Dance Floor, Just Dance TV, Video Challenge, Autodance sharing, Community Remix, and Just Dance Unlimited on supported platforms. Those features were part of the original appeal, but they should not be the foundation of a current play plan.
If your copy shows connected menus, check them from the title screen before promising a group session around them. For most players today, the dependable experience is the base game, local play, unlocked items that still exist on the disc or install, and whatever your specific platform can still access. Plan the party around what works locally.
9. Use Unlocks as Motivation, Not Homework
Just Dance 2017 can reward regular play with profile items and some additional content depending on version and mode. Let those rewards happen naturally. If you turn a dance game into a grind checklist, the room will feel it.
For solo players, pick a small goal per session: improve one favorite song, try one unfamiliar routine, or fill a short workout playlist. For families or parties, let people vote on the next song after each result screen. That keeps unlock progress attached to actual dancing rather than menu management.
10. Know Your Version Before Planning Features
This game spans eight platforms, and not every feature behaves the same way. Switch uses Joy-Con and has no camera input. Older camera-equipped consoles can have camera-dependent features, but connected sharing and service behavior may no longer match the launch-era menus. Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 versions can also differ from the newer console versions.
Before hosting, do a five-minute test: pair controllers, start one song, check the mode list, and see whether any connected feature you want actually opens. That small check prevents awkward surprises and lets you steer the session toward songs, Sweat, Just Dance Machine, or local multiplayer.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Do not start with the hardest-looking routine - Open with songs people can follow so the group builds rhythm and confidence.
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Do not pair controllers in front of a waiting room - Test devices, batteries, phones, and Wi-Fi before the first song.
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Do not play with only your wrist - Full movement makes routines easier to learn and much more fun to share.
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Do not treat a low star rating like failure - Use each result to identify one timing or movement habit to improve.
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Do not ignore Just Dance Machine - Use it when the room needs quick variety instead of another full routine.
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Do not make Sweat mode an endurance contest - Alternate intensity, rest between songs, and rotate players when needed.
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Do not crowd the play space - Give every dancer enough room to move safely and see the coach.
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Do not build a party around connected menus - Check what your platform can access today before relying on online-facing modes.
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Do not grind unlocks at the expense of fun - Let rewards support regular play instead of turning songs into chores.
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Do not assume every platform has the same features - Check your version’s controllers, camera options, mode list, and local player setup.
Summary
| Category | Top Tip |
|---|---|
| First Songs | Start with familiar tracks before faster or stranger routines |
| Controllers | Pair and test inputs before group play begins |
| Movement | Dance fully even when the scoring device is hand-based |
| Scoring | Use star ratings to pick one improvement at a time |
| Just Dance Machine | Use it for short, silly bursts of variety |
| Sweat Mode | Build practical playlists with rest and intensity changes |
| Multiplayer | Keep the room social, visible, and spacious |
| Legacy Features | Plan around local play unless connected menus work on your setup |
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6 checked for this guideEvery factual claim in this guide was checked against at least two independent sources before publication. These are the references used for Just Dance 2017.
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