The Rhythm Heaven series is finally set to make a comeback. During the latest Nintendo Direct showcase, it was revealed that Rhythm Heaven will make its triumphant return on the Nintendo Switch through the announcement of Rhythm Heaven Groove. This new title, set to release in 2026, will be the first Rhythm Heaven game since 2015’s Rhythm Heaven Megamix and looks like another chance for Nintendo to give an underrated IP a big breakout on the Switch.
As Rhythm Heaven makes its return after over a decade away, a new generation of gamers will be able to experience the franchise’s wacky aesthetic and rhythm gameplay. Plus, with the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 being backward compatible with Switch games, players will be able to enjoy the game regardless of which generation they choose. The return of Rhythm Heaven also bodes well for another major Nintendo franchise, one that’s seemingly been inching closer and closer to representing the series.
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Rhythm Heaven’s Return Points To A Big Breakout
Rhythm Heaven May Finally Make A Big Appearance In Super Smash Bros.
With Rhythm Heaven finally making a return, there’s a chance the Super Smash Bros. series may finally receive a playable character from the franchise. It feels like Super Smash Bros. has been so close to receiving some major Rhythm Heaven representation, but has fallen just short of receiving its own playable character. With a new game on the way, Masahiro Sakurai and his team will have plenty to play with when putting together the next Smash Bros. game.
To be clear, Rhythm Heaven has certainly seen some appearances across previous Super Smash Bros. games, with the franchise’s fourth entry being the most notable example. In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS’s Smash Run mode, Rhythm Heaven’s Sneaky Spirits appeared as common enemies. This is the only time Rhythm Heaven has factored into the gameplay of Smash Bros., though, with the series instead seeing plenty of representation in the form of Trophies and Spirits in the past few games.
Rhythm Heaven May Have Almost Had A Playable Smash Fighter
Rumor also has it that the Chorus Kids, three of the major characters in Rhythm Heaven, were close to appearing in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. Uncovered data from the game indicates that a Rhythm Heaven character may have been intended, and the infamous Gematsu leaks implicated that the Chorus Kids would fill that role. While the latter was disproven, the former does indicate that Sakurai was at the very least thinking about introducing these characters to the fighting franchise.
He may have even more motivation to bring these characters into the next Super Smash Bros. game now that the Rhythm Heaven series is making a return. Smash Bros. has never shied away from adding characters in the wake of a new game, notably even adding several Fire Emblem characters before the American releases of their respective games. Depending on how far along the next game is, Rhythm Heaven could use Super Smash Bros. to help cross-promote the release of Rhythm Heaven Groove next year.
It feels like Super Smash Bros. has been so close to receiving some major Rhythm Heaven representation, but has fallen just short of receiving its own playable character.
Rhythm Heaven’s Chorus Kids Could Be Unique In Smash Bros.
The addition of the Chorus Kids would also create an interesting new mechanic, as it’s been theorized that players would control all three Chorus Kids at one time in a way comparable to the Ice Climbers. This may have been a reason these characters did not make it into Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, as the 3DS’s technical limitations were a major factor in the Ice Climbers being cut. With the Switch 2 being a significantly more powerful console, the Chorus Kids could be fully realized, standing out from the game’s many other playable characters in the process.
Rhythm Heaven Groove is great news for Nintendo fans who have waited so long for the franchise to make a return. It may be even greater news for Super Smash Bros. fans who have been hoping to see the Chorus Kids become playable characters in Nintendo’s crossover fighting franchise. With the combination of a new game and an appearance in Smash, Rhythm Heaven could be in for its big mainstream breakout.
- Released
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July 21, 2011
- ESRB
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e
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo SPD, Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo