Rhythm is back in play at Nintendo! Rhythm Paradise Groove, the new chapter in the Rhythm Paradise rhythm-game saga, popped up during the Nintendo Direct on June 9, 2026. Set to arrive on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on July 2, 2026, this new entry marks the return of the franchise with rhythm mini-games, absurd humor, and an accessible formula after several years without a new installment.
This new opus is being developed by Nintendo, true to the wacky spirit of the Rhythm Paradise series(Rhythm Heaven in Japan), with Mitsuo Terada - also known by the pseudonym Tsunku♂ - at the musical helm, who already in 2020 expressed his desire to breathe new life into the series on Switch. The result? An announcement that thrills long-time fans, with Rhythm Paradise Groove, an episode completely unseen since Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise (2012). The 2015 3DS episode was merely a compilation: here, it's time for the real thing.
Scheduled for July 2026, Rhythm Paradise Groove will land right at the end of the first-generation Nintendo Switch lifecycle, echoing the surprise reception of Tomodachi Life: Une vie de rêve. As the Switch 2 edges closer, this title could well be one of the last fireworks from the hybrid console.
The core idea remains true to what has driven the series' success: keeping the pace and hitting the exact moment to conquer ever more unlikely challenges. Nintendo has confirmed a fresh lineup of mini-games that test players' reflexes, from weaving through hoops to catching vegetables mid-air, dodging mallets and other deliberately quirky scenarios. As ever, the soundtrack serves as the primary guide, accompanying every move.
The universe preserves its minimalist, colorful aesthetic, while Tsunku♂'s compositions continue to occupy a central place in the experience. Nintendo has also confirmed the presence of a local multiplayer mode as well as additional game modes to unlock as you progress, enriching the usual formula.
If you grew up with the first Rhythm Paradise games on DS or Wii, or if you're simply curious to discover a musical game that's off the beaten track, Rhythm Paradise Groove promises to be accessible, light-hearted and, above all, furiously addictive. Ideal for moments of relaxation, for testing your reflexes or simply for laughing at perfectly staged absurd situations.
The arrival of local multiplayer and unlockable extra content hints at a more substantial experience than in the earlier entries. The question now is how Nintendo will make the most of these additions in the long run once the game lands on Switch and Switch 2.
And for the rest of the trailers, check them out here:
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