StepManiaX delivers several references, usually in the form of the songs, song artists, step artists, backgrounds, pad backgrounds, etc. Here are a couple of examples:
- The name itself reflects StepMania. Just add the X.
- The return of Dance Mania licenses pays homage to old school DanceDanceRevolution era. It doesn't end there because...
- Paula Terry returned with a song, featuring KaW, called Magical Mystery Tour.
- Naoki Maeda, who was the main composer for the original classoc DDR songs, return. Certain songs were featured in Naoki's game SEVEN's CODE, such as MAX SBY -428- (renamed as MAX428 and listed as Omega), Twelve sung by Riyu Kosaka, a former member of the BeForU group formed by Naoki. After that, he became releasing genuine original songs for the game with BU-44 and The Judgment Day.
- Songs like Mexi Mexi and Ba Be Loo Be Ra returning to this game is a homage to the Pump It Up Exceed era.
- Taken even further that Csikos Post, a Pump original, returns in this game, remixed by none other than former Banya member Yahpp. Beethoven's Virus and Winter also return as 2021 updated versions, with stepcharts that pays homage to the original game, including the infamous spins.
- The step artist for Winter shows the artist V.Winters. The V' is a reference to DDR's V and Winters is Exactly What It Says on the Tin for Pump It Up.
- Taken even further that Csikos Post, a Pump original, returns in this game, remixed by none other than former Banya member Yahpp. Beethoven's Virus and Winter also return as 2021 updated versions, with stepcharts that pays homage to the original game, including the infamous spins.
- A version of the noteskin from Mungyodance is present in the game, as well as one (also originally created by one of the game's developers for the Fan Remake of In the Groove 3) modeled upon the appearance of the older Pump it Up noteskin.
- Auvic's Show Me Your Moves takes small samples from Brick House.
- Fracus and Darwin's Hard Fast Disco takes small samples from Get The Party Started.
- The song Surf by Hyper Potions was also featured in NeonFM
. It is debated as to whether or not which game had it first. - The portrait of the song Night of Fright by Justin Corza and 420 has a guy wearing a Goku outfit.
- Perfect Sphere's Arcade Run contains a few:
- The song itself uses a small sample of the level complete sound from Super Mario Bros.
- The pad's lighting themselves display PacMan's Red Ghost and falling Tetris blocks during gameplay. Observe.
- The logo for the song is a reference to the Nintendo Power Magazine.
- There is a stepchart artist named B.Robbins.
- Spaceman's stepchart artist is named Zurg. Not to be mistaken with Zerg.
- Megalovania is a song from the same game by Toby Fox.
- Temple of Love's Full Chart has the end mines that spell FNF, alongside the 69 mines and 3"69" combo in response to their openness to such content.
- Cartoon Heroes references Step Artists out of cartoons: Sideshow Bob and Hulk.
- Melancholy Vision has Step Artists named H.Iruha and Eye Scream. Not to accidentally misspell it as Eyes Cream.
- Everybody 2 The Sun (Scorccio Hot Edit) samples Ice Ice Baby and Just Can't Get Enough. Considering white rappers, step artists include V. Ice, J. Sina, and M.Two.
- Kalinka has a block ton of Tetris references. See stepchart, stepchart artists, background, and pad lights.
- The Naughty Song, to no surprise, has rather funny names. Dual's difficulty level has C.Hansen watching you carefully. Full has E.Rex. Team's O.Fans chart rightfully defines it.
- C.Hansen returns to do stepcharts with Sing It Again.
- Update Number 24 contains songs from Monstercat productions: Outbreak and Shiawase.
- The Shrimps step artist names E.Bi and I.Ka are a reference to the Japanese invader of the sea and her favorite food.
- The Call to Wilderness has a lot of references used, most notably with the background animation and cover:
- The cover is a straight reference to the original PlayStation physical disc. When played multiple times, it changes to "Greatest Hits". Even the animation is based off of how a PlayStation 1 gameplay would run. The music itself uses MIDI references to how most 90s Role Playing Games would sound.
- The cover logo "Synthwave" is fonted in a style of SquareSoft.
- The star on the cover is shown on where the ESRB rating is shown.
- Final Fantasy VII appears a lot here. The cover uses 3 discs, the animation style and menus in the animation is a nod to it.
- To no surprise, an arcade machine appears during battle.
- The arcade machine mentions With Intensity, a nod to the simulation game before StepMania was created.
- Dark Fenix has plenty:
- The track was composed by Naoki Maeda himself. The Dark Fenix name is likely reviving song elements from his previous works such as Trip Machine, Paranoia, songs from his Re-Veng alias, healing D-Vision, and the Max series.
- The song cover jacket is loosely based off of the original paranoia cover.
- The BGA contains works from previous dance games: "WHY DO YOU NEED SMX ORIGINAL SONGS????? NoteBECOME REBORN, AGAIN, DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR NAME ????????? RISE FROM THE ASHES. CAN WE DESTROY THE PAST????????? YOU THOUGHT US DEAD? WE ARE ONLY BEGINNING!!!!!!!!! EMBRACE DESTINY ... GAZE UPON ... THE MONOLITH"
