Rhythm Heaven Groove confirms release date for Nintendo Switch

Nintendo has officially announced that Rhythm Heaven Groove will launch on July 2, 2026, exclusively for Nintendo Switch. The announcement comes after a long hiatus of more than ten years for the Rhythm Heaven series. With this new entry, Nintendo returns to the popular lineup of fast-reacting, rhythm-based microgames that has been warmly received worldwide.

Background on the Rhythm Heaven series

The Rhythm Heaven franchise began in 2006 with Rhythm Tengoku, which was released only in Japan for Game Boy Advance. In the years that followed, the series expanded to other platforms, with the main entries including:

Rhythm Heaven for Nintendo DS in 2008 (2009 worldwide).
Rhythm Heaven Fever for Nintendo Wii in 2011.
Rhythm Heaven Megamix for Nintendo 3DS in 2015, a compilation of classic and new mini-games.

Each installment has received strong critical acclaim so far, with the last three all earning a Metacritic score of 83.

Details about Rhythm Heaven Groove

Rhythm Heaven Groove was originally announced during Nintendo Direct in March 2025. Since then, however, things have been quiet around the game until the recent date reveal. The game promises a new set of microgames, challenging players' rhythm and timing skills. A new trailer released by Nintendo shows one of the microgames called "Slice N Dice Kitchen," in which players must catch vegetables to the beat of the music.

During the announcement on April 9, 2026, Nintendo's official Japanese channel confirmed not only the release date but also the $40 price for the physical version of the game.

Timeline

July 2, 2026: Rhythm Heaven Groove launches for Nintendo Switch.
April 9, 2026: Nintendo's official Japanese site confirms the physical release and price for Rhythm Heaven Groove.
March 2025: Rhythm Heaven Groove is announced during a Nintendo Direct presentation.

Future of the Rhythm Heaven series

The upcoming release of Rhythm Heaven Groove marks a new phase for the series, which has been on the back burner for quite some time. It is still unclear how many microgames will be included in total, but the fact that eight have already been shown gives players plenty to look forward to. The return of this beloved franchise is drawing closer, and many fans are eager to see what innovations Nintendo will bring to this latest entry.