Content Update #83 for StepManiaX was released on September 23rd, 2026, adding two new songs to the game. This pair of tunes arrived right before Redshift: Encore kicked off and is described in the in-app news detail as being timed for the show floor at IAAPA Europe this year.
Bounce - Cleo Mars
- Song Title: Bounce
- Artist: Cleo Mars
- Genre: Pop
- BPM: 128
- Licensor: Position Music
Bounce is the latest inclusion from Position Music in StepManiaX, continuing the record label’s series of varied additions to the game.
- Most of the charts for Bounce are fairly straightforward. The Wild 20 and Full+ 20 are standard fare for their difficulty ratings. I enjoyed the Wild chart’s couple of flourishes - including a triplet synced up to the opening vocals and various little bits of syncopation. The Full chart trades some rhythmic complexity from the Wild for basic doubles mode movement.
- The Dual+ 21 is my personal favorite chart for the song. Lots of upper-level Dual charts released this year have been leaning into bursts of challenging movement, and this Dual+ chart tones that back just enough that it plays great without feeling like there are difficulty spikes (a sentiment I have felt quite a bit over the last year or so). In particular, I find a longer 16th note run near the back half is well placed.
Happy Trails - Mameyudoufu
- Song Title: Happy Trails
- Artist: Mameyudoufu
- Genre: Bass House
- BPM: 129
- Licensor: Chompo
Happy Trails is the second song by Japanese music producer Mameyudoufu added to StepManiaX, following up Ancient Tech from Content Update #73 earlier this year. Previously contributing to other arcade rhythm game releases - most notably to me Konami’s own dance game series Dance Dance Revolution - Mameyudoufu’s inclusions in StepManiaX have come courtesy of Chompo, the independent record label and publisher founded by another SMX alumnus Tokyo Machine. SMX has enjoyed a great working relationship with Chompo, having been present for a number of updates in 2026.
- The Wild 22 chart is a great addition. It’s very syncopated and incorporates a number of 32nd note bursts in the second half, making it a good place to test those particular chops in context.
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- Players with a mind for technically oriented content will need to be mindful of some syncopated jump patterns accented with mine pits near the end - the visual is reminiscent of the bracket pattern present throughout RAD (Wild 24), but it resolves best as jumps and not bracket patterns. I know quite a few players who have remarked on being tripped up on those phrases.
- I also found the Full+ 20 to be a good take on the song, less dense overall and incorporating some crossover patterns into the mix that are distinct from the Wild chart.
- The lower level Hard charts are good practice charts for syncopated patterns.