Rhythm Heaven Groove Review: An Addictive Mix of Music and Mini-Games

Ever since the launch of the original Switch back in 2017, there's been a fascinating thing happening with Nintendo and their software efforts. Though it wasn't that long ago, the age of the DS and its successor, the 3DS, feels like a previous lifetime when I think about it now. That makes Nintendo's concerted efforts to call back to that time in such a distinct way even more strange sometimes.

A lot of DS-era games have been getting love lately, and it feels like Nintendo has developed a sort of nostalgia for that time. The latest evidence to support that is Rhythm Heaven Groove, the newest iteration in a series that first started on the Game Boy Advance, but truly found its voice on the DS and 3DS.

Built around letting even the most witless musicians amongst us, myself included, feel like they actually have what it takes, Rhythm Heaven Groove is a funny, clever game with a lot of charm to it. It may not the big flagship summer game for the Switch 2 you're hoping for, but if you happen to own one and are looking for a fun little diversion, Rhythm Heaven Groove is going to fill the void until something like Splatoon Raiders comes along.

Nintendo, Circa 2007

Every part of Rhythm Heaven Groove seems like it could come from a DS game released back in the late 2000s. It has the same sort of funky, oddball charm that feels appropriate to the time, much in the same way that recent titles like Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream have felt like they could have only been born in a bygone era.

Groove is so authentic to the era, in fact, that I felt like my next course of action was to log onto Miiverse and Street Pass with random strangers. Nintendo spent quite a bit of effort distancing itself from that time, so it's fun to see them loosen up a bit and make a game that feels like it could have come directly from gaming days that are long gone.

The art direction and aesthetic of Rhythm Heaven Groove is delightful. It has a simple design philosophy in that regard, but it's just so cute to look at. The 2D, almost paper cut-out characters and abstract backgrounds are such a perfect match.

It has a certain style to it that feels like the Nintendo of old. That extends into the sound design, as well. Much of Rhythm Heaven Groove is built on its audio, which is honestly outstanding. Rhythm Heaven Groove has the same unusual commitment to surreal wavelengths as something like Tomodachi Life, where everything sounds a bit strange, but oddly alluring.

We Got the Beat

The best way to describe the gameplay structure of Rhythm Heaven Groove is if you take the off-kilter weirdness of the mini-game madness seen in something like WarioWare, then add a fast-paced rhythm game on top of it. Your main goal is to try and survive its never-ending gauntlet of random mini-games, with each one presenting a unique challenge based on mastering the beat.

It's a deceptively simple concept, as the team devised a pretty diverse roster of mini-games that range from dead simple to something far more compex and demanding. It doesn't quite reach the levels of something like Dance Dance Revolution, but certain games can be a bit difficult.

As you complete each stage, you'll unlock the next one in the chain, which culminates in a remix level. This combines all the elements of each stage from that chain, testing your skills and everything you've learned to that point. It actually helps the game have a bit more focus, as each remix feels like a boss of sorts. It lets you reset and refresh, which is a good feeling to have in a game as fast-paced as this one is.

I felt somewhat intimidated by it when I first started, as I had not played a rhythm game since roughly 2009. The game actually does a wonderful job at getting you on board with it, however, as it shows you just how important feeling the beat is by not giving you one at the start. Once you understand how important having the beat is, you really get a strong sense for it.

When that feeling clicked, Rhythm Heaven Groove was able to create a fantastic flow state that many games of this type are able to. I would often clear a level, then immediately play it a few more times. Some of them are so incredibly enjoyable, and feel so satisfying to play, that they really are worth playing again.

Unfortunately, more than a few of the levels suffer from two distinct problems. The first is that the actual mini-game is just not enjoyable to interact with, and doesn't feel as satisfying to clear. Another issue arises when a level has an incredibly fun system at work, but ends right when it starts to get going. Those issues don't happen a lot, but it's noticeable when they do.

In addition to the main content, Rhythm Heaven Groove also has some entertaining side activities. There's a sort of RPG side story, which revolves around traditional combat that unfolds with the use of the game's rhythm systems. There's some really nifty variety here, as the game seems to be committed to making sure you don't get bored with the main content.

This is the kind of game that will just put a smile on your face. The combination of its fast-paced rhythm mini-games, energetic songs, and warm, welcoming vibes feels like the exact game we need heading into the summer. It's also fairly priced at just 40 bucks, so there's a lot of content here for a decent amount of cash.

Rhythm Heaven Groove feels like a throwback to a classic era of Nintendo. If you were growing up during the time of Miiverse, Street Pass, and the 3DS, it will seem very familiar to you. The songs are outstanding, and the mood it can put you in is second to none. Not all the levels are winners, and I certainly found myself with a feeling of disappointment at how many of them end anticlimactically, but Rhythm Heaven Groove is still a neat little game that's worth diving into.