Beatmap tags

Not to be confused with TAG difficulties.

Beatmap tags are keywords that can be added to beatmaps to make searching for them more convenient. There are two types of tags, each with their own purpose.

Mapper tags

For rules regarding mapper tags, see: Ranking criteria/Metadata § Tags

Mapper tags are tags that describe useful background information about a beatmap or a song, e.g. the name of the album or the medium for which the song was produced for. As the name suggests, these tags are added by the beatmap host during the ranking process.

When entering a beatmap's metadata in the song setup window, the beatmap host is able to add custom keywords to the Tags field by separating them with spaces. Keywords that consist of two or more words may be written with the spaces between them replaced with an underscore (_) to allow for a more efficient beatmap search.

These keywords can then be set as a filter in song select as well as the beatmap listing via full-text search.

User tags

Note: This feature is not available in osu!(stable).

User tags are tags that describe specific characteristics of a beatmap, such as its patterns or required skill sets. After achieving at least a C grade on a beatmap, users are able to select and vote for user tags in the result screen in osu!(lazer). Upon receiving at least 10 upvotes, the respective user tag will be displayed in the beatmap information page.

To filter for beatmaps with certain user tags, click on the corresponsing tag in the beatmap information page, or type in tag="{name}" in the beatmap listing where {name} is the name of any tag listed below.

The tables below list all user tags grouped by category as well as the game modes they are applicable in.

Aim

Tag name	Description	Game mode
aim/aim control	Patterns with velocity or direction changes which strongly go against a player's natural movement pattern.
aim/flow aim	Patterns with fully continuous cursor movement, usually due to a combination of wide angles and little time between objects.
aim/jump aim	Focuses heavily on jumps, i.e. circles spaced far apart that require the player to move towards, slow down to hit, then speed up to move towards the next object.
aim/linear aim	Patterns, usually jumps, that require the player to move continuously in a straight or nearly straight line.
aim/precision	Colloquial term for maps which require fine, precise movement to aim correctly. Typically refers to maps with circle sizes above and including 6.
aim/precision	Colloquial term for maps which require fine, precise movement to catch fruits. Typically refers to maps with circle sizes above and including 6.
aim/sharp aim	Patterns with heavy use of sharp angle movement, either between circles or into sliders.
aim/spaced jumps	Focuses heavily on jumps with a lot of spacing.
aim/squares	Focuses heavily on jumps that follow square patterns.
aim/stamina	Tests a player's ability to aim spaced jumps over long periods of time.
aim/triangles	Focuses heavily on jumps that follow triangular patterns.
aim/wide aim	Patterns, usually jumps, with heavy use of wide angle movement.

Geometric

Tag name	Description	Game mode
geometric/grid snap	Objects are placed along a square grid, typically using osu!'s built-in grid snap feature.
geometric/hexgrid	Objects are placed along a hexagonal grid.

Gimmick

Tag name	Description	Game mode
gimmick/2B	Includes gameplay elements with two or more objects placed simultaneously. The term originates from a Chinese transliteration of 'idiot'.
gimmick/barlines	A map that makes use of barlines to enhance visuals or replace notes.
gimmick/circle only	Restricts object choice to circles only.
gimmick/delay	Maps that feature high snap streams based on the song's delayed sound effect.
gimmick/dodge the beat	A map where the player needs to avoid every object.
gimmick/LN inverse	Maps that feature long note holds that emphasize constant holds and releases in quick succession. Most distinct feature of Inverse is the "negative spaces" in the patterning.
gimmick/long sliders	A map that uses sliders for an extended period of time, having regular gameplay around catching juice drops and droplets instead of fruits.
gimmick/memory	A map designed around a memorization concept.
gimmick/mirrored	A map that features patterns that are mirrored on an axes in quick successions.
gimmick/no hyperdashes	A map that does not use hyperdashes even if allowed for its respective difficulty.
gimmick/playfield constraint	Restricts object placement to a certain part of the playfield.
gimmick/reversed	A map using reversed patterns in a regularly consecutive manner.
gimmick/slider only	Restricts object choice to sliders only.
gimmick/spinner-heavy	A map that features heavy usage of spinners.
gimmick/storyboard	Includes a storyboard that changes how the map is played, usually by changing a map's visuals by using storyboard elements in place of showing the map's hit objects.
gimmick/video	Employs patterning that closely references the included background video.
gimmick/yellow notes	A map featuring frequent use of extremely short sliders to simulate ghost notes.

Meta

Tag name	Description	Game mode
meta/collab	A map with two or more associated mappers.
meta/custom skin	Utilizes custom skin elements and graphics.
meta/custom song	Maps a song made specifically for the map. This includes songs created for a mapping contest which the map participated in.
meta/hitsounds	A map that makes use of non-default hitsound samplesets.
meta/keysounds	Contains hitsounds that use various pitched samples to create a melody, typically following one within the song.
meta/marathon	A map with a drain time of over 5 minutes.
meta/mega collab	A map with 8 or more associated mappers.
meta/mega marathon	A map with a drain time of over 10 minutes.
meta/multi-song	Contains multiple songs within the audio.
meta/time signatures	Audio contains many changes in time signature or uses an uncommon time signature.
meta/variable timing	Contains multiple timing points, usually required for songs not recorded to a metronome.

Reading

Tag name	Description	Game mode
reading/overlap reading	Contains patterns where overlapped objects make determining note order and/or timing difficult.
reading/visually dense	Contains patterns where the amount of visible notes makes determining note order and/or timing difficult.

Scene

Tag name	Description	Game mode
scene/aspire	Uses glitches to provide gameplay or visual effects that are otherwise impossible to achieve, originating from the annual Aspire mapping contest.
scene/mapping contest	An entry for a mapping contest.
scene/tag	Includes gameplay designed for the multiplayer tag mode, where multiple players complete a map co-operatively.
scene/tournament custom	A custom map for a playing tournament.

Skillset

Tag name	Description	Game mode
skillset/speedjack	Maps that feature shorter jack sequences, characterized by the faster timeframe between consecutive stacked notes.
skillset/wristjack	Fast and/or fairly dense chordjack maps, whose optimal playing technique involves the use of the player's wrist movements.
skillsets/alt	Colloquial term for maps which use rhythms that encourage the player to alternate notes. Typically distinct from burst or stream maps.
skillsets/reading	Tests a player's reading skill, i.e. patterns that obfuscate note order and/or timing.
skillsets/tech	Tests uncommon skills.
skillsets/tech	A map that frequently makes use of complex snaps.
skillsets/tech	A map with the focus on lots of 1/4 sliders, hypersliders and stacks.

Song representation

Tag name	Description	Game mode
song representation/chaotic	Unpredictable map design, often testing unusual skillsets.
song representation/difficulty spike	Contains a sudden and significant increase in challenge within the map's gameplay.
song representation/high contrast	Uses flashy ideas to follow changes in the music, creating stark differences between different sections of the song.
song representation/high sv	Features prominent high slider velocity usage as a key part of map design.
song representation/improvisation	Uses patterns that do not correspond to sounds in the music, often using hitsounds to add sounds in.
song representation/improvisation	A map that's based on full improvisation that works as additional layer to the song.
song representation/low sv	Features prominent low slider velocity usage as a key part of map design.
song representation/playfield usage	Includes deliberate use of the playfield within the map design.
song representation/progression	Contains a gradual advancement in difficulty or concept across the map.
song representation/repetition	Features the use of recognizable identical patterns or gameplay elements.
song representation/simple	Accessible and straightforward map design.
song representation/swing	Features a prominent use of swing rhythms.

Streams

Tag name	Description	Game mode
streams/cutstreams	Streams in which the spacing of certain notes is much larger than the rest of the stream.
streams/spaced streams	Streams with large spacing, typically ones where the notes do not overlap.

Style

Tag name	Description	Game mode
style/avant-garde	Employs boundary-pushing and experimental philosophies to map design, often foregoing gameplay and aesthetic conventions to extreme measures.
style/chordjack	Maps that feature evenly spaced chords, with several consecutive notes stacked on the same columns.
style/chordstream	Maps that make use of streams with a mix of differently-sized chords
style/clean	Visually uncluttered and organised patterns, often involving few overlaps and equal visual spacing between objects.
style/convert	A map that imitates the converted maps from osu!.
style/convert	A map that imitates the converted maps from osu!, where the structure and distances are irregular.
style/distance snapped	Uses osu's in-built distance snap feature for most/all of the map.
style/double bpm	A map that plays at double the speed than what the BPM indicates.
style/dump	Maps that use groups of objects focusing more on the extension and intensity of the sounds, in contrast with using individual notes to follow each's sound timing accurately.
style/finisher-heavy	Features finishers used in an unconventional manner or in large amounts.
style/freeform	An unrestrained and loose approach towards visual structure.
style/generic hybrid	Maps that feature the combination of both straightforward rice and Long Notes patterning.
style/geometric	Incorporates geometric shapes within the map's visual design.
style/handstream	Stream with a mix of 3-note sized chords
style/iNiS-style	A style originating from the original DS games, recognizable by its emphasis on vocal rhythm, constant slider velocity, and easily understandable grid-snapped patterns.
style/jumpstream	Stream with a mix of 2-note sized chords
style/LN coordination	Maps which require holding multiple long notes simultaneously while hitting other patterns.
style/LN density	Maps that feature dense long note streams without breaks.
style/LN mixed	Maps that make use of multiple long note patterning styles.
style/LN release	Maps that make use of different long note holds ending.
style/longjack	Maps that feature long chains of consecutive notes on the same column.
style/messy	Visually chaotic and intentionally disorganised patterns, often involving many overlaps and unequal visual spacing between objects.
style/mixed rice	Maps that make use of multiple rice patterning styles.
style/mono-heavy	Features monos used in large amounts.
style/N+1	A specific type of playstyle where the leftmost column is mapped independently from the rest of the columns, which otherwise form a standard playstyle.
style/ninja spinners	Features spinners that are very short in duration.
style/o2jam	Map that mimics traditional mapping techniques usually found in O2jam charts.
style/old-style revival	Emulates a style closely associated with early mapping, typically to pay homage or invoke nostalgia.
style/perfect stacks	Features perfectly overlapped stacked notes using low stack leniency.
style/quadstream	Stream with a mix of 4-note sized chords
style/slidershapes	Uses a large variety of slider designs.
style/symmetrical	Employs symmetry within the map design, often mirroring elements along the horizontal centreline.
style/taikosu	A map designed with both osu! and osu!taiko in mind.
style/tiebreaker	Maps that contain most of the skill sets from different categories, and are usually longer than 5 minutes.
style/tnt	A map that imitates the mapping style in Taiko No Tatsujin.
style/vocal	Patterning that focuses mainly on vocals.

Tap

Tag name	Description	Game mode
tap/bursts	Patterns requiring continuous movement and alternating, typically 9 notes or less.
tap/finger control	Uses complex applications of rhythms in order to test the player's tapping ability.
tap/stamina	Tests a player's ability to tap dense rhythms over long periods of time.
tap/streams	Patterns requiring continuous note hits, typically more than 9 notes.

Tech

Tag name	Description	Game mode
tech/accelerating bpm	Features progressively increasing tempo.
tech/accuracy	A map featuring a very high OD that tests a player's accuracy.
tech/antiflow	A map focused on strong direction or velocity changes that go against a player's natural movement pattern.
tech/complex snap	Maps that feature prominent usage of mixed or unusual snap divisors.
tech/complex sv	Changes slider velocity by large amounts in order to test the player's reading and aim ability.
tech/complex sv	Changes slider velocity by large amounts in order to test the player's reading ability.
tech/flow	A map focused on natural and intuitive movement patterns.
tech/hyperwalks	A map which makes use of hyperdashes that require the player to walk, as otherwise, you will overshoot them.
tech/jump	A map that focuses on 1/2 constant dashes or hyperdashes.
tech/slider tech	Tests uncommon skills involving sliders, such as heavy use of kicksliders or aim on complex slidershapes.
tech/speed	A map that requires constant tapping at high BPMs.
tech/technical hybrid	Maps that feature the combination of both technical rice and Long Notes patterning.
tech/wiggles	A map with a focus on quick directional changes.

Trivia

• The initial release of the user tags on 21 March 2025 was inspired from the OMDB project which had the similar goal of providing a user-curated tag system for beatmaps. Originally developed by apollodw, the project was retired on 1 March 2025 due to personal reasons.