Guitar Hero: Smash Hits vs Rock Band
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Guitar Hero: Smash Hits brings together the most memorable tracks from the early Guitar Hero titles, letting players strum, drum, and sing along with iconic songs from Nirvana to Queen. The game supports full‑band play on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 2, offering both single‑player and split‑screen multiplayer modes. Featuring a curated setlist from Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero: Rock the 80's, and Guitar Hero III, the title delivers a party‑ready experience for music lovers and gamers alike, with an ESRB rating of T and a PEGI rating of 12.
Rock Band is a music video game that lets up to four players perform popular rock songs using guitar, drum, bass and vocal controllers. The game captures the feel of a live concert, letting players hit notes in time with the music. Released in 2007 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2, Rock Band offers a party-friendly experience with both single‑player and co‑operative modes, and supports a growing library of downloadable tracks.
- Huge selection of classic Guitar Hero tracks
- Full‑band support with guitar, drums, and vocals
- Split‑screen multiplayer for up to four players
- Available on three major consoles
- Engaging multiplayer experience
- Large and expandable song library
- Intuitive instrument controllers
- Supports both solo and co‑op play
- Critic score is low (43/100) indicating mixed reviews
- Limited to songs from earlier titles, no new tracks
- Requires multiple peripherals for full band experience
- Requires purchase of additional hardware
- Limited to older console generations
- Online DLC may no longer be supported
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Guitar Hero: Smash Hits
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Rock out with epic tracks and battle mode in Guitar Hero III.
Play the full band experience with guitar, bass, drums, and vocals in one game
Rock out as Aerosmith from garage to stardom in this guitar‑hero adventure.
Alternatives to Rock Band
View all →Play the full band experience with guitar, bass, drums, and vocals in one game
Rock out as Aerosmith from garage to stardom in this guitar‑hero adventure.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataRock Band offers a larger, expandable song library and higher critic scores, making it the safer default; Guitar Hero: Smash Hits trades breadth for classic track focus and broader console support.
Key differences
- •Song library: Rock Band includes 50+ built‑in tracks plus weekly DLC, while Smash Hits only recycles older titles.
- •Critical reception: Rock Band scored 82/100 versus Smash Hits 43/100.
- •Console availability: Smash Hits runs on PS3, Xbox 360 and PS2; Rock Band is limited to older console generations.
- •Multiplayer style: Rock Band uses cooperative band play; Smash Hits uses split‑screen up to four players.
- •Hardware needs: Both require extra controllers, but Rock Band’s hardware is tied to older consoles, whereas Smash Hits works with newer peripherals.
Gameplay & fun factor
Higher critic score (82) and career mode suggest more engaging, polished experience.
Platform availability
Supports PS3, Xbox 360 and PS2, while Rock Band is limited to older consoles.
Price & value
Both priced at $59.99 with one‑time purchase; value depends on song library preference.
Multiplayer / co‑op
Rock Band offers full band cooperative play with shared lead/rhythm parts.
Content & replayability
Built‑in 50+ tracks plus ongoing DLC versus static classic set in Smash Hits.
Difficulty & accessibility
Smash Hits uses familiar Guitar Hero mechanics; Rock Band adds multiple instrument types which may raise entry barrier.
Graphics & performance
Smash Hits runs on newer hardware generations, likely offering better visual fidelity.
Choose Guitar Hero: Smash Hits if…
Players who need modern console support and want a nostalgic set of classic Guitar Hero tracks.
Choose Rock Band if…
Players who prioritize a larger, evolving song list and higher critical acclaim, and have compatible older consoles.
Common questions
Do either game require extra hardware?
Both need instrument controllers; Rock Band’s are tied to older consoles, while Smash Hits works with newer peripherals.
Can I add new songs after purchase?
Rock Band offers downloadable content packs; Smash Hits does not add new tracks beyond its curated set.
Which game works on my PlayStation 3?
Guitar Hero: Smash Hits is compatible with PS3; Rock Band is limited to older console generations.