Nintendo has released its final first-party game for the original Nintendo Switch: Rhythm Paradise Groove, a revival of the classic rhythm action series from the Game Boy Advance era. The game, known as Rhythm Heaven in North America, celebrates its 20th anniversary in August 2026 and marks the first new entry in 10 years. While Nintendo initially intended this to be the last internally developed title for the Switch 1, the company has hinted at possible future releases, reflecting the rising costs of high-end game development.
Minimalist Design, Maximum Challenge
Rhythm Paradise Groove features over 80 minigames, most requiring only one or two button presses. The series' Game Boy Advance origins are evident in its stripped-down visuals and chiptune music. The game offers no perks or buffs; success relies solely on keeping time with the beat. Even the first minigame—guiding circular creatures through a hoop—proves difficult until players learn to focus on the rhythm rather than the visuals. Some minigames deliberately blank the screen, forcing reliance on audio alone.
The difficulty is punishing yet fair; players are never penalized for failure, only encouraged to try again. According to the review, the game feels instructional, akin to Brain Training, helping players discover or refine their sense of rhythm by the end.
Surreal Minigames and New Modes
The minigames range from mundane (helping a dog catch a Frisbee, mopping a steel girder) to bizarre (feeding a walking plant monster, debugging a platform game, bouncing fruit off a muscle builder's biceps). This strangeness draws comparisons to WarioWare, though Rhythm Paradise demands far more skill. The game also introduces four-player co-operative games and Remix stages, where players tackle four minigames in sequence followed by a fifth that combines elements from the previous ones. These Remix stages feature licensed Japanese pop songs, unlike the basic chiptunes of standard minigames.
Technical Issues and Beatspell Mode
A notable drawback is input lag on modern TVs; while the game includes calibration tools, handheld mode offers the best experience. The Beatspell role-playing mode, promising a longer experience, feels undercooked and repetitive, lacking variety and depth.
Rhythm Paradise Groove is available for Nintendo Switch at £33.99, rated 7 by PEGI. Despite its quirks, the game earns an 8/10 score for its wonderfully surreal minigames, precise rhythm action, and engaging multiplayer and Remix modes. It may not convert the rhythmically challenged, but it stands as a fitting, if unconventional, farewell to the Switch 1 era.
