[Review] Rhythm Paradise Groove

Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores, but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, all whilst including some lengthy gameplay, to give you, the reader, the chance to form your own impressions and views while reading and watching.

In this explanatory review, we’re covering Rhythm Paradise Groove by developer Nintendo:

Rhythm Paradise Groove (Nintendo Switch)

It’s time to play to the beat once again as Rhythm Paradise Groove has come to Nintendo Switch (Also known as Rhythm Heaven Groove in the US)! The series first began in 2006 with Rhythm Tengoku on the Game Boy Advance in Japan. It has since spawned four sequels that received international releases, including Rhythm Paradise Groove. The game is co-developed by Nintendo EDP and TNX, with the music compositions handled by Nintendo’s Masami Yome and Japanese singer Tsunku.

For those who have never played a Rhythm Paradise game, Rhythm Paradise Groove, like its predecessors, consists of many different minigames that are centered around pressing the right buttons in time with the beat. It’s like a musical-themed WarioWare with similar visuals, but the games last longer than 10 seconds.

As for the minigames themselves, Rhythm Paradise Groove has over 80 single-player minigames and 30 multiplayer minigames. It sounds like a lot of minigames for multiplayer, but the reality is that it is just 10 minigames that each have three versions, offering a variety of challenges and difficulty. Up to four players can get in on the rhythmic action, and if you do well enough in the minigames, you can receive rings that will unlock more minigames in the toybox section.

The solo mode is where players will certainly spend the most time, as it has plenty of variety in terms of minigames and a special RPG game that tasks players to perform a series of button combinations in time with the beat to cast magic spells and avoid attacks from monsters. It’s an interesting concept, but progressing through this game mode requires players to get enough medals in the solo mode to unlock the next part of the adventure. Speaking of medals, these are obtained by achieving the “Amazing!” ranking in solo mini games by making as few mistakes as possible.

Another thing about the Solo Mode is that the mini games are grouped together in waves, consisting of four minigames per wave. Upon beating all four minigames in a wave, you will unlock a remix game that bounces between the minigames you have previously beaten in a wave. Once it is completed, you will be able to move on to the next wave of minigames.

For the most part, the minigames are relatively straightforward and usually consist of pressing one or two buttons at the right time, and sometimes two buttons at once. At the beginning of a minigame, you will be treated to a tutorial that you can either play through or skip. For first-time players, I would recommend playing each tutorial as it will help you get the rhythm down before you actually play the game.

Rhythm Paradise Groove can be played in both handheld and TV mode, which is handy, but there are some things I should mention. When playing docked in TV Mode, you will need to go through a synchronization tutorial so that the game can analyse the time it takes for you to see the see/hear the prompt on the TV so it can adjust itself accordingly. It can take a good few minutes to do this, but if you play on different TVs, you will need to repeat this process at least once every time you boot the game up on a new TV.

You are also warned about the possibility of audio lag if using wireless headphones. Due to the game being heavily focused on audio cues, you are probably better off playing with wired headphones or with the volume turned up loud enough to hear comfortably. With that said, in a lot of the minigames, I actually find myself closing my eyes so I can focus solely on the audio cues, as I tend to react too soon to the visual cues. The visual distractions in the game are quite effective in throwing me off rhythm and missing my cue, so by closing my eyes, I can put all my attention into listening to the beat, and it actually works really well. In fact, I have come to realise that the majority of the minigames in Rhythm Paradise Groove are accessible enough that visually impaired people would also be able to play due to the strong focus on audio cues in the game. The read-aloud accessibility options available will not only read out the text on the screen, like menus, but they will also describe it in some detail as well.

Now, as I come to wrapping up this review, I am not afraid to admit that Rhythm Paradise Groove was not on my list of highly anticipated games for 2026. Not that I have anything against it. It is just that I have never really played any of the other games in the series, so I don’t really have any affinity for it. That said, having actually given it a chance this time around, I have really grown to enjoy Rhythm Paradise Groove. It has also become a game that I can play with my partner and friends, as it is easy enough to learn and enjoy due to the simplicity of the controls, making it very accessible.

In conclusion, Rhythm Paradise Groove has danced its way into my heart, and I am really enjoying its minigames, much more than I thought I would. They are just short and sweet enough not to overstay their welcome and addictive enough that you will want to play them again and again to get that Amazing! and Perfect rating! Do not pass on Rhythm Paradise Groove, as it is just as much fun to play alone as it is with friends!

Game Specifications:

Developers: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Switch 1|2 (Digital)
Genre: Rhythm
No. of Players: 1-4 (Single System)
Release Date: July 2, 2026
Price: $39.99
File Size: 3.2 GB
Nintendo.com Listing