Nintendo’s weirdest and most wonderful rhythm series is back with Rhythm Paradise Groove, and it’s a beat that both long-time fans and newcomers will find hard to resist. One of the most impressive technical feats this time around is the seamless transition between hardware; whether you are playing on the original Nintendo Switch or stepping up to the extra polish of the Nintendo Switch 2, the timing remains frame-perfect across both generations.
It is worth noting that I am a Nintendo noob and this is my first time playing one of the Rhythm series games. It is fair to say that this game has charmed me and won me over very easily with its massive collection of mini-games, engaging local co-op that has me wanting to invite people over just so we can play, and I can conquer some of the more challenging mini-games.
There are plenty of hours packed into this title that work across both Nintendo Switch systems. If you are looking for a Mario Party-style game that has some incredibly catchy and memorable music tracks, a remix mode that lets you put several mini-games into one epic round that will really test your skills, Rhythm Paradise Groove is the perfect game for you.
The Good, The Bad, and The Beat
The core of Rhythm Paradise Groove remains its collection of bite-sized, eccentric mini-games. While the series has always been known for its solo play, this entry really leans into the “Groove” title by making the multiplayer formats just as compelling. Tapping along with friends brings a chaotic energy that elevates the experience from a simple rhythm test to a genuine party highlight.
As I played along, I could hear myself counting out loud, tapping my foot to keep track of the beat and figuring out the best groove to get into. If you want to combine some mini-games in a big round, you can select the Mini Remix, which combines four mini-games into an action-packed showdown that gets increasingly more difficult with each round.
When you finish the level, you will get notes from the Rhythm League on your performance and a score of Really Good, Good, Bad, or Really Bad.
However, not every new addition hits the high notes. The much-hyped rhythmic RPG mini-game feels significantly undercooked compared to the rest of the package. It’s an interesting concept, but it feels like it “needs a bit more rehearsal”, the loop is incredibly short and, unfortunately, it gets old very quickly.
It lacks the depth needed to make it a mainstay of the experience. Beatspell is the brand new mode here that is being sold as an RPG dance battle. The basic idea is that you are in a dungeon, and your character, the hero, dances to the beat by pressing B, building up their power and then you release it with A to defeat the monsters.
You do this a few times, clear out the dungeon and rinse and repeat. I was kind of hoping for something a bit more than what was on offer here. You fight a few monsters as “stages” and then progress to a boss battle. It’s the same thing on repeat, and while I can see the bones of something good here, it wasn’t something that I found endearing about this game.
You can collect medals and level up your powers as you progress through the stages, but it all just felt very surface-level; nothing really stood out to me, making me want to keep playing.
Standout Tracks
When Rhythm Paradise Groove sticks to its classic formula, it absolutely shines. A few personal favourites that had me coming back for “just one more go” include a few memorable mini-games.
Disc Dog is a charming test of mental math and timing that is quintessential Rhythm Paradise. An owner throws a frisbee from one part of the screen, and you have to count to 7 and instruct the dog to jump and catch it. When the physical counter stops and you have to rely on your own counting, it gets more complicated as multiple frisbees are thrown
Brolly Good Show is A beautifully simple exercise in opening and closing to the beat that feels incredibly satisfying when you find the flow. The characters all make an incredibly satisfying sound as you open and close your parasol. It’s ridiculously addictive and looks and sounds incredibly beautiful.
Ninja Bodyguards is where the multiplayer truly excels. Coordinating your strikes with a partner, or even three or four others via local co-op, is a frantic, hilarious blast. It does take a few times to get it right, so don’t give up; definitely persist to find your groove and get past it.
Cake Wait is Simple, addictive, and arguably the most “one-more-try” game in the entire collection. Each player must hit their buzzer at the exact stroke of 3 o’clock to claim a slice of cake. It is relatively simple, and it always plays down to the wire, but it is incredibly fun every single time you play it.
Outside of the game, there are a ton of collectibles and moments from the game to revisit. In the main menu, you can select the Rhythm Reference, which houses all of your how-to guides, like how to play and different modes. You can also unlock Game Comies, Remix-Rewards Comics, Insider Game Stories, Fun Facts and Beatspell Stories.
If you are an avid collector, then this will be sure to keep you entertained for many hours. One of my favourite areas of the menu is the Sound Studio, where you can find your favourite songs and music tracks from all of the mini-games and play them on repeat. They are divided into Songs with Vocals, Song Games that are music only from your favourites like Brolly Good Show, Disc Dog and all your favourites.
Remix 1 is my personal favourite. You can make this a “favourite track” and then select your Favourites as a playlist inside the menu. A lot of detail and attention have been given here, and it’s great to see a rhythm game make the original music tracks a massive feature. You can also unlock the Beatspell audio in its own section; there is even a “Various” section with the Title Screen and Main Menu tracks. Everything has been catalogued beautifully and is well worth the exploration (trust me, when you hear how great the music is, you will understand).
Elsewhere in the menu, there are video examples of each mini-game you unlock if you need a quick refresher or a friend comes over and you want to quickly show them how to play before jumping into a mini-game; all of these are very accessible and on-demand.
There are TV delay settings if you are playing in docked mode that will sync your controllers up to the TV, so there are no accusations of lag for your poor rhythm. It is worth noting that if you are using Bluetooth or wireless headphones, there will be a natural delay that doesn’t sync up using the TV option, so if you must use headphones, wired is the only way to go for this game (although you could consider it a REALLY difficult mode by doing this).
Final Thoughts
Rhythm Paradise Groove is a fantastic addition to the library for anyone who loves their gaming with a bit of quirk. While the RPG mode misses the mark, the strength of the core mini-games and the excellent multiplayer make this a solid recommendation to add to your collection. It’s perfect for any age and lets you build up your difficulty level so it never feels overwhelming.
With an amazing soundtrack with MANY tracks that will live rent-free in your head for days after you have played, it all makes for a solid entry from the team at Nintendo. Hopefully, it’s a blueprint for what the future could be for this series, with a more in-depth narrative and some varied moves and spells, this could really be a massive feature for the Rhythm series in the future.
That being said, Rhythm Paradise Groove puts its best foot forward with its mini-games and local co-op that will keep you and your friends coming back for more.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Various mini games that all have a different feature; Co-op that keeps you coming back for more; Incredible original songs and soundtrack
Lowlights: Beatspell feels undercooked; No delay settings for Bluetooth and wireless headphones to sync.
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Available: July 2nd
Review conducted on Nintendo Switch 2 with a code provided by the publisher.
Featured header image also provided by the publisher.
