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Rhythm Heaven Groove Tops Japan Charts With a Franchise-Best 393K First Week

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Rhythm Heaven Groove mop dancers mini-game screenshot
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Rhythm Heaven Groove has exploded onto Japan’s charts in a way the series has never seen before. The first new entry in eleven years sold 393,378 physical copies in its debut week (June 29 – July 5), according to Famitsu data published today, debuting at number one and setting a franchise sales record that more than doubles any previous entry.

Rhythm Heaven’s Biggest Japan Debut Ever

Rhythm Heaven Groove umbrella characters in a rainy street
Image courtesy of Nintendo

To put 393,378 copies in context: the previous franchise high-water mark was Rhythm Heaven: The Best Plus on 3DS in 2015, which opened with around 158,000 copies in Japan. Before that, the Wii version managed 118,173 in its debut week back in 2011. Groove blew past both of those in a single week — the eleven-year wait clearly did not cool demand.

It’s the kind of number that suggests Nintendo has a genuine mass-market hit on its hands, not just a nostalgia play for fans who grew up on the GBA original. The series’ quirky one-button rhythm gameplay has always had a dedicated following in Japan, but a chart-topper with nearly 400,000 physical copies in week one puts Rhythm Heaven in a different commercial conversation entirely.

Rhythm Heaven Groove – Launch Trailer – via Nintendo of America on YouTube

The Switch’s Unlikely Swan Song

Rhythm Heaven Groove Who's Got Rhythm quiz show mini-game with bunny characters
Image courtesy of Nintendo

There’s a poetic footnote to this launch that Nintendo fans in the know have been quick to point out. The original Rhythm Tengoku on Game Boy Advance was released in August 2006 — just as Nintendo was winding down first-party GBA support to focus on the DS. It became the last major first-party game Nintendo released for that platform, and it went out on an absolute high, selling over 1.3 million copies in Japan over its lifetime.

Rhythm Heaven Groove lands in a strikingly similar position: the original Switch is now in its twilight with the Switch 2 carrying the torch, and this is one of Nintendo’s last major first-party software pushes for the original hardware. As Nintendo Life noted in their chart coverage, it’s a fitting “low-key swansong” — a beloved franchise closing a chapter at the top of the charts.

Available Now for Singapore Fans

Rhythm Heaven Groove colorful ninja characters deflecting arrows in multiplayer
Image courtesy of Nintendo

For Singapore fans yet to pick it up: Rhythm Heaven Groove launched worldwide on 2 July and is available now on the Nintendo eShop in Singapore, playable on both the original Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2. It features over 80 brand-new solo rhythm games built around the series’ signature one-button-and-timing formula, plus a multiplayer mode supporting up to four players locally or online.

Rhythm Heaven Groove large onion character close-up in multiplayer mode
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Famitsu gave the game a 34/40, and critical reception has been broadly enthusiastic — OpenCritic reports 91% of critics recommend it. The Japan charts tell the same story: this is the best-received Rhythm Heaven in a very long time, and Singapore players riding the wave are in good company. Check out our Game News archive for more of this week’s biggest gaming stories.

Game News

Rhythm Heaven Groove Is Out on Switch — and Japan’s Cats Are Obsessed

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The first new Rhythm Heaven Groove in over a decade has landed on Nintendo Switch — and it’s already proving irresistible to an unlikely audience: house cats in Japan.

A Long-Awaited Return for the Rhythm Heaven Series

Nintendo’s beloved rhythm mini-game series made its Switch debut on 2 July 2026, marking the franchise’s first new entry since Rhythm Heaven Megamix arrived in 2015–2016. If you’ve been waiting a decade for the next one, that wait is finally over.

Rhythm Heaven Groove packs more than 80 single-player mini-games alongside 30+ multiplayer games for up to four players sharing a single Switch. Each mini-game tasks you with timing button presses to the beat — but don’t trust your eyes. The game’s animations are deliberately built to mislead you, so the only reliable guide is the music itself. That includes original compositions by Tsunku♂, the Japanese musician who has crafted the series’ memorable soundtracks since the very first game.

Rhythm Heaven Groove - Hoop Trundling mini-game with round characters rolling through colourful rings
Image courtesy of Nintendo

As you progress, you’ll unlock Beatspell — a dedicated single-player mode where you cast rhythm-based spells to battle monsters. It adds a bit of progression structure to the usual rapid-fire collection. A free demo is live on the Nintendo eShop right now, so there’s no reason not to test your timing before committing.

Rhythm Heaven Groove – Launch Trailer – via Nintendo of America on YouTube

The Viral Rhythm Heaven Groove Cat Trend Taking Over Japanese Social Media

The twist nobody saw coming: within days of launch, clips of cats completely hypnotised by Rhythm Heaven Groove gameplay flooded Japanese X. Dozens of posts surfaced from 3 July onwards showing cats pawing at screens, tracking flying vegetables, and refusing to let their owners play in peace. As reported by Automaton, one player summed it up: “Rhythm Heaven is a god-tier game — because cats can play it too.”

It makes a certain kind of sense. The animations in Rhythm Heaven Groove are looping, rhythmically predictable, and packed with motion — precisely the kind of stimulus that fires up a cat’s hunting instincts. The game leans into feline cameos too: the Slice N Dice Kitchen stage features a white cat sitting on the kitchen counter and a black-and-white cat rescuing dropped ingredients, while Hop Stop N Roll fills the screen with Maneki-Neko (lucky cat figurines) hopping to the beat.

Rhythm Heaven Groove Slice N Dice Kitchen stage - a girl prepares food while a white cat sits on the kitchen counter
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Available Now on Switch — Free Demo on the eShop

Rhythm Heaven Groove is available now on the Nintendo eShop for Singapore Switch owners. Nintendo Switch 2 is fully supported, and the game runs identically on both hardware generations. The free demo is available worldwide, letting you try a selection of mini-games before you commit.

Rhythm Heaven Groove mini-game - stickman character sweeping cans off a conveyor belt with a hammer
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Multiplayer supports up to four players on one Switch with no extra hardware needed, making it a natural pick for casual sessions at home. For Singapore households with a cat already on the sofa, that might be five players. Check out more Nintendo game news for more Switch and Switch 2 picks.

Rhythm Heaven Groove bird formation mini-game - a white bird leads a formation of grey birds across a blue sky
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Game News, Singapore Gaming Scene

Rhythm Heaven Groove Drops July 2 on Nintendo Switch

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The wait is finally over. Rhythm Heaven Groove — the first brand-new mainline entry in Nintendo’s beloved rhythm series in over a decade — launches on Nintendo Switch tomorrow, 2 July 2026. If you’ve never played a Rhythm Heaven game before, it is also the best possible time to start.

Rhythm Heaven Groove – Overview Trailer – Nintendo Switch — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

A Decade in the Making

The last mainline Rhythm Heaven title — known as Rhythm Paradise Megamix in Europe — came out in 2015 in Japan and 2016 in the West. Nearly ten years of silence from one of Nintendo’s quirkiest and most charming franchises, broken at last by Groove.

This is not a remake or a compilation. Rhythm Heaven Groove is a completely original game built on the same formula that made the series famous: deceptively simple button-press gameplay, relentlessly catchy original music, and art styles that shift wildly from one stage to the next. One moment you are rolling a hoop down a street; the next you are a stick figure wrestling milk cartons off a conveyor belt. The joy is how quickly each new minigame’s rhythm clicks.

Rhythm Heaven Groove hoop-rolling minigame featuring round characters
Image courtesy of Nintendo

80+ Minigames, One Brand-New Mode

Groove packs more than 80 single-player rhythm minigames and 30 multiplayer games (supporting up to four players), making it the deepest entry in the series by count alone. The breadth of art styles is wider than ever too — ranging from hand-drawn cartoon characters to quasi-realistic cooking scenes.

The headline addition exclusive to this entry is Beatspell, an RPG-inspired mode that is a first for the franchise. Rather than simply clearing stages in sequence, Beatspell sends players into monster-battling scenarios where rhythm is the weapon. It is an ambitious layer on top of an already rich package, and early previews have praised it warmly — TechRadar called Groove “on track to become my favourite Nintendo Switch release of 2026.”

Rhythm Heaven Groove conveyor belt minigame with stick-figure character
Image courtesy of Nintendo

A Beat With Soul: The Tsunku♂ Story

Rhythm Heaven has always been defined by its music, and Groove is no different. Legendary Japanese music producer Tsunku♂ — the creative force behind the series’ entire soundtrack — returns for this new entry. What makes his involvement remarkable is the context: Tsunku♂ was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer around 2014 and subsequently lost his vocal cords. He can no longer sing, yet he has composed the entire soundtrack for Groove without them. The music is as infectious as ever.

Rhythm Heaven Groove kitchen cooking minigame with character chopping vegetables
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Try It Free Right Now

Nintendo released a free demo for Groove on the Nintendo eShop on 22 June, and the best part is that any save progress from the demo carries over to the full game when you buy it. The demo includes five single-player stages and one multiplayer game (Rhythm Tweezers). If you have not tried it yet, it is sitting on the Singapore eShop right now waiting for you — and there is no better way to judge whether you want to pick up the full release tomorrow.

Rhythm Heaven Groove bird formation flying minigame
Image courtesy of Nintendo

How to Get Rhythm Heaven Groove in Singapore

Rhythm Heaven Groove is available on the Nintendo eShop Singapore from 2 July. The US eShop price is USD 39.99 for the digital version and USD 49.99 physical; check the Singapore eShop directly for local SGD pricing. The game is also compatible with Nintendo Switch 2 via backward compatibility, so there is no need to wait for a dedicated Switch 2 version.

For a rhythm game fan, or anyone who remembers losing hours to Rhythm Tengoku on a Game Boy Advance SP, tomorrow is a good day. Keep an eye on our game news for more on what is landing on Switch and Switch 2 this month.

Game News

Rhythm Heaven Groove Demo Is Live on Switch — Grab It Free Before the 2 July Launch

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Nintendo quietly pushed the Rhythm Heaven Groove: Starter Demo to the Switch eShop today — and Singapore players can grab it for free right now. With the full game landing on 2 July 2026, this is your chance to try before you buy.

Rhythm Heaven Groove – Overview Trailer – via Nintendo of America on YouTube

Two Minigames to Try Right Now

The Starter Demo includes two playable minigames from the full game. Hoop Trundling is a single-player challenge where you roll a hoop in time with the beat, while Rhythm Tweezers opens up local multiplayer fun for up to four players. Neither is the most complex minigame in the series, but they nail the essential Rhythm Heaven feel — simple controls, deceptively tight timing, a smile on your face when you nail it.

To grab it: open the Nintendo Switch eShop, search for “Rhythm Heaven Groove,” and download the free Starter Demo. Note that save data does not carry over to the full game.

Rhythm Heaven Groove Hoop Trundling minigame screenshot
Image courtesy of Nintendo

What the Full Rhythm Heaven Groove Contains

When the full game arrives on 2 July, it packs over 80 single-player rhythm minigames and 30 cooperative multiplayer minigames — a bigger scope than any previous entry. There is also a brand-new mode called Beatspell, a rhythm RPG that marks the first time the franchise has ventured into story-driven territory. The original soundtrack is composed by Tsunku♪, who returns to the series after more than a decade.

Rhythm Heaven Groove gameplay
Image courtesy of Nintendo

The Story Behind the Soundtrack

Rhythm Heaven Groove is scored entirely by Tsunku♪ — and that fact carries more weight than it might seem. In 2014, he was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer; by 2015, he had lost his vocal cords. He composed the soundtrack for this game completely without his voice, channelling his sense of rhythm and melody into every track. It is, by any measure, a remarkable creative return.

Price and Availability for Singapore

Rhythm Heaven Groove is priced at US$39.99, comfortably below the US$59.99 many first-party Nintendo titles command — the same price surprise that drew attention when it was revealed in April. Both digital and physical copies launch at the same price. SGD pricing on the Singapore eShop is yet to be confirmed; based on typical regional conversion, expect somewhere around S$55–60. We will update when official SGD pricing appears.

The game is compatible with both the original Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 via backwards compatibility. Check out our latest game news for more on what is landing on Switch this July.

Last words

This is one of the cleanest “try before you buy” setups Nintendo has done in a while. The demo is short, free, and gives a real feel for whether the rhythm click works for you. If you have a Switch, there is no reason not to download it this evening — and if it does click, the full game at that price point on 2 July is one of the better-value Nintendo launches of 2026.

Game News

Rhythm Heaven Groove Arrives on Nintendo Switch, 2 July

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After more than a decade without a new mainline entry, Rhythm Heaven Groove is tapping its way onto Nintendo Switch on 2 July 2026. In Singapore and across Asia, the game launches under the title Rhythm Heaven: Miracle Stars — and pre-orders are live right now on the Nintendo eShop.

Rhythm Heaven Groove – Overview Trailer – Nintendo Switch — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

Over 80 Brand-New Rhythm Games to Master

Every one of the 80-plus minigames in Rhythm Heaven Groove is completely original — no recycled stages from earlier entries. Each game comes with its own distinct art style, giving the whole package a colourful, unpredictable energy that keeps things fresh from the first tap to the last. The core mechanic stays true to the series: hit the beat, keep your timing perfect, and ride the groove.

Rhythm Heaven Groove rhythm minigame in action
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Beatspell — A Series-First RPG Mode

The most intriguing addition is Beatspell, a brand-new mode where you play as a wizard battling monsters by casting rhythm-powered spells. It’s unlocked as you progress through the single-player stages, and it’s the first time the franchise has ventured into RPG territory. Early previews describe it as a genuinely fun wrinkle on the formula — one that rewards players who have already sharpened their timing on the main game.

Multiplayer for Up to Four Players

More than 30 stages are designed for co-op or competitive play with up to four friends using Joy-Con controllers. Whether you’re gathered on a sofa or playing in tabletop mode, the multiplayer suite is one of the broadest in any Rhythm Heaven game to date. Critics who have previewed the game have flagged it as one of the Switch’s standout party titles this year.

Rhythm Heaven Groove multiplayer party mode
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Tsunku♂ Returns — and It Means a Lot

Series composer Tsunku♂ is back on the soundtrack, a return that carries real emotional weight for longtime fans. Tsunku♂ — the legendary musician behind every previous entry — has faced serious health challenges in recent years, making his involvement here all the more meaningful. The music is, as ever, central to the whole experience.

The game was co-developed by Nintendo EPD and TNX. It supports English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Korean, making it a well-localised release for the Singapore and broader Asian market. It’s also backward-compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.

Last Words

Ten years is a long time to wait for a rhythm game, and Rhythm Heaven Groove looks like it was worth every minute of the wait — 80-plus original games, a fresh RPG mode, strong multiplayer, and Tsunku♂ back on the keys. Singapore Switch owners: pre-orders are open at the Nintendo Singapore eShop right now. Check our game news for more Nintendo updates.

Rhythm Heaven Groove key art showing the game logo and characters on a yellow background
Game News, Singapore Gaming Scene

Rhythm Heaven Groove: What Singapore Players Need to Know

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The previews are in, and they are glowing. Nintendo’s beloved rhythm series returns on 2 July 2026 for Nintendo Switch after an eleven-year absence — and the early word from media who played it suggests the long wait was absolutely worth it.

Rhythm Heaven Groove – Overview Trailer – Nintendo Switch — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

Eleven years later, Rhythm Heaven is back

The last mainline entry — known as Rhythm Paradise in Asia and Europe — was Rhythm Heaven Megamix in 2015 on the Nintendo 3DS. Rhythm Heaven Groove is the first brand-new game since then: no compilation, no remake — a fresh collection of over 80 single-player rhythm mini-games and more than 30 multiplayer games for co-op and competitive play. It launches globally on 2 July 2026 for Nintendo Switch and is backwards compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.

The concept has always been beautifully straightforward — press buttons in time with the music — but what makes the series special is how every mini-game uses its unique audio-visual pairing to make that simple input feel satisfying in a completely different way each time. Nintendo Life’s Alex Olney, who played a preview build, wrote that despite the simplicity, “yet I had difficulty getting bored with most of them,” capturing the series’ mysterious pull. TechRadar went further, calling it “on track to become my favourite Nintendo Switch release of 2026.”

Rhythm Heaven Groove ball character rhythm mini-game screenshot
Image courtesy of Nintendo

What’s new: Beatspell, multiplayer, and 80+ mini-games

Groove introduces a brand-new mode called Beatspell: an RPG-style campaign where players become wizards and cast rhythm-powered spells to fight monsters. Damage dealt is based on your timing accuracy, layering light RPG progression on top of the series’ core mechanic. It unlocks as you progress through the single-player game. Reviewers found it “strangely engaging” — PC Mag compared it to “freestyling” — though some noted it feels like a self-contained experience rather than a natural extension of the mini-game flow. Either way, for a series that has stuck to the same structure since the GBA, this is an ambitious addition.

The multiplayer suite looks genuinely strong for a party game. Nintendo Life highlighted Ninja Bodyguard, a co-op mode where two players time button presses to protect a king from incoming arrows, and Cake Grab, a competitive game where players press A as close to 3 PM (in-game time) as possible to claim a slice of cake — the winner’s hair grows with each victory. Metro’s preview of the multiplayer, as reported in the Nintendo Life preview roundup, called it “a boon for the Switch’s multiplayer arsenal.”

Rhythm Heaven Groove kitchen cooking rhythm mini-game
Image courtesy of Nintendo

The music is by Tsunku♂ — and that story is worth knowing

Every Rhythm Heaven soundtrack has been composed by Tsunku♂, the Japanese music producer who created Hello! Project and Morning Musume. In 2014 he was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer, and in 2015 surgery removed his larynx, ending his singing voice permanently. He composed Rhythm Heaven Groove‘s entire original soundtrack after that surgery, as noted by Nintendo Inquirer — a fact that adds a quiet weight to every earworm the game produces.

The soundtrack spans the full Rhythm Heaven tonal spectrum: absurd, bouncy, strangely emotional. Each of the 80-plus mini-games is paired to an original track purpose-built to function as a timing guide while also being a song worth listening to on its own. That dual-purpose design is the series’ signature magic, and previews confirm it is intact here.

Rhythm Heaven Groove jump rope mini-game screenshot
Image courtesy of Nintendo

Last words: Singapore pre-orders and what to expect

Nintendo Singapore has an official page for Rhythm Heaven Groove, confirming it for the region. Physical copies are available for pre-order now at ToyOrGame.com.sg (S$10 deposit, full price to be confirmed), and the game will be stocked on Shopee and Lazada at launch. The US price is USD$39.99 — when it was confirmed, Nintendo Life called it a “welcome surprise” given that most Nintendo first-party titles launch at USD$59.99 or higher. The local SGD price has not been officially announced, but that US pricing bodes well for Singapore fans.

If you played the DS or Wii entries and still remember the staccato satisfaction of a perfect frog leap or a well-timed wrestling pose, Groove is the one to mark on your calendar. It launches 2 July on Nintendo Switch — and the Switch 2 plays it natively too. Keep an eye on our Game News section for a full impressions piece closer to launch.