Rhythm Heaven Groove marks the return of the popular beat-synced, button-focused gameplay after nearly a decade of absence. It is a game built around music and timed button presses, but somehow it becomes so addictive that it is hard to put down. In a group, the fun factor is almost unlimited, with both kids and adults having a great time.
Rhythm Heaven Groove was my first introduction to the series, so I was not familiar with its gameplay loop. Narrative-wise, however, there is not really much to talk about. The single-player portion of the game is essentially a self-contained series of minigames played one after another. These sequences usually feature a recurring mascot from the series that longtime fans will likely recognise. Each minigame offers a small narrative twist, but for the most part, the tasks are simple and repetitive.
The main gameplay loop is all about pressing buttons in time with the beat and repeating those inputs in a sequence. Most minigames use a single button, though some occasionally require additional inputs. The best part of the game is easily its visuals and art style, which are among the most vibrant and creative I have seen in a Nintendo game. While rhythm games generally follow the same formula, Rhythm Heaven Groove stands out through its presentation. There are no musical notes to follow. Instead, players must rely on both visual and audio cues to press buttons in perfect sync.
The best part of Rhythm Heaven Groove is its four-player minigames. These can be played with two to four players. Each player is usually assigned a colour based on their selection. These games are locked at first but gradually unlock as you meet certain requirements, mainly by completing the different challenges. Some minigames keep things fresh by introducing distractions, such as blocking part of the player’s view, shifting the backgrounds, or randomly adding new elements to throw players off.
One aspect of the game that can be a little frustrating is that some minigames require secondary inputs, and these are assigned to the directional buttons. In my case, my little girl had a lot of trouble remembering which button to press, so those minigames were a bit harder for her. It was not because they were especially challenging, but because the controls were more complicated than the others. She much preferred the single-button games, especially the cake party one, where four friends have to time their button presses to grab a slice of cake. Whoever times it perfectly gets the slice.
As a rhythm game, the sound is naturally one of its most important elements, and the developers have done an excellent job here. There is a wide variety of musical styles and tempos across the different minigames, and they are so catchy that it is easy to get completely absorbed in the rhythm and button-focused gameplay. The replay value is incredibly high, making it feel almost unlimited. These are not the kind of minigames that become boring over time. The colourful visuals, excellent soundtrack, and simple but addictive gameplay loop make Rhythm Heaven Groove one of the best party games to play on Switch and Switch 2.
Overall, I came away very impressed with Rhythm Heaven Groove’s collection of minigames and its exceptional soundtrack. From the trailers, I expected something similar to a WarioWare-style minigame collection, but after playing it myself, it feels different enough to stand on its own as a unique take on the rhythm genre.
That said, while the game offers plenty of fun, it does have a few issues. One is the input and audio lag that can occur when playing in docked mode. For a game that relies on precise timing, even a small amount of lag can make a big difference and may affect the experience for some players. The new RPG-style mode is enjoyable at first, but it does not quite stick the landing and eventually becomes repetitive, failing to do justice to the main game.
If you are a fan of rhythm games or simply looking for a highly addictive and replayable party game, Rhythm Heaven Groove is well worth keeping an eye on. It plays well on both Switch and Switch 2.
Rhythm Heaven Groove Game Information
- Price: $39.99
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Nintendo EPD / TNX / Intelligent Systems
- Platform: Switch 2 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
