PaRappa the Rapper
PaRappa the Rapper is a rhythm video game developed by NanaOn-Sha and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It was originally released in Japan in 1996 and worldwide in 1997. Created by music producer Masaya Matsuura in collaboration with artist Rodney Greenblat, the game features unique visual design and rap-based gameplay and is considered to be the first true rhythm game. It was ported to the PlayStation Portable in 2006 in celebration of its 10-year anniversary. A remastered version of the original PlayStation game was released for PlayStation 4 in 2017 for the game's twentieth anniversary.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA, read 5 September 2026.
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- Released
- 1996
- Developer
- NanaOn-Sha
- Platforms
- 1 systems
- Critics
- Not scored
- Steam Deck
- Unknown
- Download
- Not stated
The record
| First released | 6 December 1996 |
|---|---|
| Developer | NanaOn-Sha |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Platforms | PlayStation |
| Genres | music video game, rhythm game |
Source. Catalogue facts from Wikidata Q1340462, seeded 30 August 2026.
How long is PaRappa the Rapper? How long to beat it
Total play time for PaRappa the Rapper is about 4.1 hours to do everything, and around 1.6 hours to reach the end of the main story. These are player-submitted times from HowLongToBeat, not our own, shown with the number of players behind each.
| How you play | Hours | Players logged |
|---|---|---|
| Just the main story: straight through the critical path | 1.6h | 179 |
| Main + the extras: story plus the side content most people do | 2.4h | 33 |
| Completionist: everything: 100% the game | 4.1h | 27 |
Source: HowLongToBeat community submissions, read 2026-10-19.
Where PaRappa the Rapper sits on the grid
The grid places every game in the catalogue on measured axes rather than on an opinion. This is where PaRappa the Rapper lands on each map it has the data for, with the share of the catalogue it beats on each axis.
- Year
- 53ahead of 9% of the catalogue
- Reach
- 34ahead of 75% of the catalogue
Percentiles are against the games that carry a reading on that axis, not the whole catalogue: counting a game with no figure as a zero would flatter everything that has one. How the grid works.
What readers say about PaRappa the Rapper
Reviews written by people who have played it. These are separate from the GamingPickz Score and are never averaged into it: that score comes from thousands of Steam reviews with a sample-size correction, and a handful of unverified ratings would distort it rather than improve it.
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Common questions about PaRappa the Rapper
What platforms is PaRappa the Rapper on?
PaRappa the Rapper is available on PlayStation. It first released in 1996.
Who made PaRappa the Rapper?
PaRappa the Rapper was developed by NanaOn-Sha and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
How long does it take to beat PaRappa the Rapper?
about 1.6 hours for the main story, 2.4 hours with the main extras, 4.1 hours to complete everything, from HowLongToBeat's player-submitted times. These are community medians, so your own run may be shorter or longer.