Get your dancin’ shoes ready — Nintendo has announced the release date for Rhythm Heaven Groove, the long-awaited follow-up to the publisher’s Rhythm Heaven franchise. The latest entry, now confirmed to launch on Nintendo Switch on July 2, 2026, is the fifth Rhythm Heaven release altogether and the first in nearly a decade. Until Groove, Rhythm Heaven fans haven’t seen a fresh release since Megamix hit the Nintendo 3DS in June 2016.
Rhythm Heaven Groove was first teased during Nintendo’s March 2025 Direct presentation alongside other beat-based hits like Rift of the Necrodancer and PATAPON, as well as its Nintendo Today! smart device application — the same medium used to confirm Rhythm Heaven Groove‘s release date today. Aww, serendipitous!
Nintendo’s announcement names Rhythm Heaven Groove as a Nintendo Switch release; the brand makes no mention of a Nintendo Switch 2 version, leaving players to assume both systems will run the same software. These dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 Editions, usually identifiable by the thin, Mario-red banner across the top portion of each game case, give NS2 players access to “the original game and its upgrade pack, which enhances the game to take advantage of the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch 2 system.”
About ‘Rhythm Heaven’
Nintendo’s Rhythm Heaven series got its start in 2006 as Japan-exclusive Rhythm Tengoku landed on the Game Boy Advance. Gameplay primarily consists of beat-focused minigames a la WarioWare, with the ability to enjoy Endless mode or tinker with Rhythm Toys. Rhythm Heaven landed stateside on the Nintendo DS in 2009, introducing players to all-new minigames and modes that take advantage of the handheld’s then-unique touchscreen and stylus.
Fever released for US-based Nintendo Wii users in 2012, the third entry again leveraging new Nintendo tech to up the ante. The home console’s social elements made it a prime candidate for a franchise-first two-player mode. 2016’s Rhythm Heaven Megamix was, until Groove, the most recent installment in the franchise. Released for the Nintendo 3DS, Megamix served as a Greatest Hits of sorts, bringing back past minigames and Remixes as well as introducing a new scoring system and story mode.
While Nintendo’s upcoming Rhythm Heaven Groove will include compositions from longstanding producer and contributor Tsunku as well as storied artist Ko Takeuchi, the game will introduce new mingames as well as herald the return of old faves. Be sure to keep up with Rhythm Heaven-related goings-on by downloading the free Nintendo Today! smartphone application.
Pick up your copy of Rhythm Heaven Groove when it (finally!) dances onto Nintendo Switch on July 2, 2026! And a 5, 6, 7, 8….
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