Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX is an expansion on Project Mirai 2, which itself was an upgraded version of the original Project Mirai, this series brings our beloved J-popstar Hatsune Miku and her VOCALOID friends to life by transforming them in Nendoroids, y'know, those chibi big headed figures from Good Smile Company. Unlike the more «realistic» Project DIVA series, Mirai goes full on cute with bobble headed characters, pastel colors and a super playful vibe. The game features over 40 songs, ranging from Miku classics like World is Mine and Senbonzakura to deeper cuts for hardcore VOCALOID fans. You tap, slide and hold notes to the beat across different difficulty levels, and there’s also a Tap Mode that turns the game into a tap heavy, Rhythm Heaven-style experience, but it's not just about rhythm gameplay: there's a ton of side content, like dressing up the characters, decorating a virtual room, and even taking them on wholesome «dates».

Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX

Base game

The core rhythm gameplay is solid, with two main control schemes: Button Mode (using the D-pad and face buttons) and Tap Mode (using the touchscreen). Button Mode feels tight and responsive, tho some patterns get tricky on higher difficulties. Tap Mode is fun but less precise, great for casual play but not ideal if you're chasing high scores. The note charts are well designed, syncing perfectly with the music, tho some songs feel easier or harder than they should be based on their star rating.

The chibi artstyle is adorable, way different from Project DIVA's more animesque look, and it gives the game its own identity. The nendos are super expressive and the stages are colorful and full of little details. The song selection is a great mix of bangers and niche tracks, the PVs (music videos) are simplified compared to Project DIVA, but they're still fun to watch, especially with all the cute choreography.

This game is packed with extras. You can customize Miku and the gang with different outfits, decorate their rooms and even interact with them in silly little scenarios. The Hang Out mode is a fun distraction, letting you take a character out to different places for short interactions. The replay value is high if you're a completionist, since there are tons of unlockables, but casual players might drop it after clearing the main songs, so let's talk mods now.

Mods

Project Mirai DX+

The DX+ mod adds 45 new songs with full button charts (Normal & Hard) and 9 Tap Mode charts, effectively doubling the game's tracklist! The selection is a killer mix of classics and deep cuts, with bangers like Caramel Heaven, PaIII.SENSATION and I Nandesu. There’s even TRASH and TRASH! and Mozaik Role for fans of the weirder VOCALOID side. If you've rinsed the base game dry, this mod is essential.   

Extras

The extras mod finally brings Kasane Teto, Akita Neru, Yowane Haku, and Sakine Meiko into the game with full Nendoroid models! Teto's twintrills actually move (kinda), Neru's based on her Petite figure, Haku's… well, still depressing but slightly less so and Sakine Meiko is a fun nod to her younger self. But heads up, this extras mod ain't magic, it's gotta replace some existing characters to work and you’ll have to choose which default VOCALOID gets swapped out for the new additions. I totally get that everyone has their favorites, so I’ll leave it up to you to decide who gets replaced, so you pick who gets the boot, Teto over Miku? Neru over Rin? Your call. Best part? The mod's super lightweight, only 9MB, so you ain't gotta stress: download, drag & drop and bam, new faces in your game. Easy, right? A future update promises Gakupo and Guests Mode, so fingers crossed for more extras!   

Unused Stars

Ever wondered what Project Mirai cut from the final game? This mod revives scrapped models, including MikuDayo, the Mii Costume, Color Your Original Miku, and even Leia Luka (yes, a Star Wars design ). It also brings back unused room items and the VOCALOID2 Miku poster from the first Mirai game. The mod requires Luma3DS for patching, so I can't bring a CIA or QR for it, sorry, but for collectors and lore nerds, it’s a must-have.

Mesmerizer Modules

Finally, the Mesmerizer Modules mod brings the hauntingly stylish designs into Project Mirai DX, replacing default Miku and Rin with their looks from the iconic Teto and Miku duet, and no, unfortunately it doesn't add the song, just the models.  Anyway, Miku got her signature black choker too. Since this replaces base models I ain't dropping a QR or CIA again, so grab the files and slot 'em in yourself if you don't wanna play with OGs designs anymore.