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Rhythm Heaven Groove

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Rhythm Heaven Groove
North American game icon
DevelopersNintendo EPD
TNX
PublisherNintendo
ProducerTsunku
ArtistKo Takeuchi
SeriesRhythm Heaven
PlatformNintendo Switch
Release
  • WW: July 2, 2026
GenresRhythm, music
ModeSingle-player

Rhythm Heaven Groove, known as Rhythm Paradise Groove in PAL regions and Rhythm Heaven: Miracle Stars in Asia,[a] is an upcoming rhythm game developed by Nintendo and TNX and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the fifth installment in Nintendo's Rhythm Heaven series, following Rhythm Heaven Megamix (2015) for the Nintendo 3DS. Like previous entries in the series, Japanese musician Tsunku will compose the music in the game. The game is scheduled for release on July 2, 2026, being the first new game in the Rhythm Heaven series in over a decade.

Gameplay

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See also: Gameplay of the Rhythm Heaven series

Rhythm Heaven Groove follows the gameplay of previous Rhythm Heaven entries, where players have to complete a series of rhythm minigames in time with the music, similar to "microgames" in the WarioWare series.[1] While visual cues are present, players are encouraged to follow the beat of the music to get a sense of the rhythm.[2]

Development and release

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In 2020, series producer Tsunku expressed his hopes on a new entry in the Rhythm Heaven series for the Nintendo Switch, stating that a new game would work well on the console, advocating for fans to express their interest to Nintendo.[3] In 2025, during the initial announcement, Tsunku was revealed to return as the producer and composer, where he worked on the game without his vocal chords due to recovering from laryngeal cancer in 2014.[4][5] Ko Takeuchi also returns as the lead art designer.[6]

Announcement and release

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Rhythm Heaven Groove was first announced during a Nintendo Direct presentation on March 27, 2025,[4] showcasing a robotic narrator character and gameplay through various different rhythm-based minigames and revealing the use of various art styles instead of one unified style.[7] The game was revealed alongside Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, with both being the first new entries for their respective series in over a decade.[8] The presentation also revealed the release window of 2026, around 11 years since the original release of Rhythm Heaven Megamix (2015) in Japan,[2] and around 15 years since the last all-new entry to the series, Rhythm Heaven Fever (2011).[5]

One year later on April 9, 2026, Nintendo showcased one of the rhythm minigames, Slice N Dice Kitchen, a rhythm game about chopping vegetables, through the Nintendo Today! app and revealed that the game will release on July 2, 2026 worldwide.[9][10] Being priced lower than other Switch games at US$39.99 both physically and digitally, the game's price was welcomed by critics.[11][12]

Rhythm Heaven Groove is the first game in the series to be released in Taiwan and Hong Kong,[13] and to receive official Dutch, Portuguese, and Chinese (both Traditional and Simplified) localizations.[14][15] In Korea, the game is the first to be released under the Rhythm Cheonguk name, as previous games were released under Rhythm Sesang due to trademark issues.[16]

Notes

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  1. ^ Known in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese as Rhythm Heaven: Miracle Stars (Japanese: リズム天国 ミラクルスターズ, Hepburn: Rizumu Tengoku Mirakurusutāzu; Rhythm Tengoku: Miracle Stars). In Southeast Asia, it is still called Rhythm Heaven Groove.

References

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  1. ^ Dustin Bailey (March 27, 2025). "Rhythm Heaven Groove has one of Nintendo's longest-suffering fandoms absolutely feasting: "AFTER 10 YEARS WE FINALLY WON"". GamesRadar+. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Hannah, Zoe (March 27, 2025). "New Rhythm Heaven game announced at Nintendo Direct". Polygon. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  3. ^ Wong, Alistair (April 9, 2020). "Rhythm Heaven Composer Tsunku Wants to Make Another Game". Siliconera. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Valentine, Rebekah (March 27, 2025). "Rhythm Heaven Is Bopping Onto Nintendo Switch at Long, Long Last". IGN. Archived from the original on July 22, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Scullion, Chris (March 27, 2025). "Nintendo announces Rhythm Heaven Groove for Nintendo Switch". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 14, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  6. ^ "Nintendo announces new Rhythm Heaven Groove after ten-year wait". Spilled. March 29, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  7. ^ Cimaglio, Zachary (March 30, 2025). "New Rhythm Heaven Game Revealed for Switch". Game Rant. Archived from the original on July 24, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  8. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (March 27, 2025). "Nintendo's Final Switch Direct Shows More Metroid And Announces New Rhythm Heaven And Tomodachi Life Games". Game Informer. Archived from the original on May 23, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  9. ^ Life, Nintendo (April 9, 2026). "Rhythm Heaven Groove Drums Up Switch Release Date". Nintendo Life. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  10. ^ "Rhythm Heaven Groove Releasing July 2 - News". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  11. ^ Life, Nintendo (April 9, 2026). "Rhythm Heaven Groove's Price Is A Welcome Surprise". Nintendo Life. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  12. ^ Ratcliff, James (April 11, 2026). "Upcoming Nintendo Switch Exclusive Game Has a Budget Price". GameRant. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  13. ^ Nintendo HK官方頻道 (March 27, 2025). 《節奏天國 奇蹟之星》介紹影片（台灣）. Retrieved November 19, 2025 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ "《Tomodachi Life 朋友收集 夢想生活》、《節奏天國 奇蹟之星》、《寶可夢傳說 Z-A》及《密特羅德 究極4 穿越未知》等Nintendo Switch軟體最新資訊公開！ | TOPICS". 任天堂官方網站(台灣) (in Chinese). Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  15. ^ "Rhythm Paradise Groove - Nintendo Switch - Games - Nintendo". www.nintendo.com. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  16. ^ "『친구모아 아일랜드 두근두근 라이프』, 『리듬천국 미라클 스타즈』, 「Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A」, 『메트로이드 프라임 4 비욘드』 등 Nintendo Switch 타이틀과 서비스의 최신 정보를 전달! | News". 한국닌텐도주식회사 (in Korean). Retrieved November 19, 2025.
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