With the Rhythm Heaven series making a comeback after a decade-long hiatus, players are thoroughly enjoying Rhythm Heaven Groove, which debuted on July 2 for the Nintendo Switch 2. What’s caught many by surprise, though, is the surprising trend of social media posts from Japan featuring cats completely captivated by the gameplay.
It seems these feline friends aren’t choosy about which mini-games their owners are playing. Whether it’s flying cooking ingredients or floating volleyballs, if there’s movement on the screen, chances are a cat will be chasing it. Perhaps it’s the game’s simple, repetitive animations and beats that draw them in, but the exact reason for their fascination remains a mystery.
Although Rhythm Heaven Groove isn’t designed as a cat-themed game like Stray or Little Kitty, Big City, cats do make appearances throughout its stages. A white cat can be spotted near the sink in Slice N Dice Kitchen, while a black-and-white feline helps grab missed ingredients. Maneki-Neko characters bounce to the rhythm in Hop Stop N Roll. Beyond these obvious examples, some stages hide secret cats that only appear under specific conditions.
If you’re a fan of Rhythm Groove and happen to own a cat, you might want to test your pet’s reaction the next time you play. You could discover that your cat is just as engrossed in the game as you are.
Rhythm Heaven Groove is available on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.