Guitar Hero: On Tour - Decades vs Guitar Hero: On Tour - Modern Hits
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

Guitar Hero: On Tour – Decades expands the handheld guitar‑hero experience by letting players jam to iconic hits from four musical eras. Each decade features its own characters, venues, and visual style, taking you on a nostalgic tour of rock history. The game supports single‑player, competitive multiplayer, and cooperative play, making it a perfect party title for music lovers of all ages. Developed by Vicarious Visions and published by Activision, it brings the console‑style rhythm action to the portable platform.
Guitar Hero: On Tour – Modern Hits brings a modern rock twist to the handheld experience, letting players shred 28 master tracks using the DS Guitar Grip peripheral. The new Fan Request mode adds non‑linear gameplay where you fulfill fan challenges across venues to earn fame and fans.
- Engaging decade‑themed song selection
- Portable and easy to pick up
- Multiplayer via local wireless
- Adjustable difficulty levels
- Portable guitar experience
- Varied fan request challenges add replay value
- Solid song selection of modern hits
- Local multiplayer for social play
- Limited song library compared to console versions
- DS hardware constraints affect audio quality
- No online leaderboards
- Limited to DS hardware
- No online multiplayer
- Song list may feel dated to newer players
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Guitar Hero: On Tour - Decades
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Rock through the 70s, 80s, 90s and today with decade‑themed stages
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth titles cost the same, but Guitar Hero: On Tour – Modern Hits scores higher with critics and offers a more focused modern song list, making it the better default choice unless you prefer decade variety or co‑op play.
Key differences
- •Song library focus: Decades spans 1970‑present; Modern Hits features only modern rock tracks.
- •Peripheral use: Modern Hits requires the DS Guitar Grip; Decades uses the built‑in strum bar.
- •Critic reception: Decades 60/100 vs Modern Hits 70/100.
- •Multiplayer modes: Decades includes cooperative play; Modern Hits offers only competitive multiplayer.
- •Release timing: Decades released 2008‑11‑14; Modern Hits released 2009‑06‑09.
Gameplay & fun factor
Decades adds cooperative modes and decade‑themed venues, expanding play styles beyond competitive only.
Platform availability
Both are DS‑only titles; no difference in platform.
Price & value
Both list MSRP $39.99, so cost is identical.
Multiplayer / co‑op
Decades supports single‑player, competitive, and co‑operative modes; Modern Hits lacks co‑op.
Content & replayability
Modern Hits has a higher critic score (70 vs 60) and fan‑request challenges, indicating stronger replay value.
Difficulty & accessibility
Both offer adjustable difficulty from beginner to expert.
Graphics & performance
Both run on DS hardware with the same technical constraints.
Choose Guitar Hero: On Tour - Decades if…
Players who want decade variety, co‑op play, or prefer no extra peripheral.
Choose Guitar Hero: On Tour - Modern Hits if…
Players who prioritize modern tracks, higher critical reception, and like fan‑request challenges.
Common questions
Do I need any extra accessories for either game?
Modern Hits requires the DS Guitar Grip; Decades uses the DS’s built‑in strum bar only.
Which game has better critical reviews?
Modern Hits received a critic score of 70/100, while Decades received 60/100.
Can I play cooperatively with friends?
Only Decades offers cooperative multiplayer; Modern Hits supports only competitive local multiplayer.

