Rhythm Heaven Groove, the eagerly awaited 5th main installment in Nintendo’s beloved rhythm game series, finally hit shelves on July 2 for the Nintendo Switch. This latest title brings back the franchise after an absence of nearly 11 years, and fans were thrilled to see Japanese musician Tsunku, who originally pitched Rhythm Heaven to Nintendo, return as the game’s composer and producer.
Recently, Tsunku shared his thoughts in a detailed blog entry about his experiences with Rhythm Heaven Groove, reflecting on the 11 years that led to its creation and launch.
In the post, Tsunku admits that at times he doubted a sequel would ever happen, feeling that “making rhythm popular was harder than I had anticipated.” However, persistent requests from fans worldwide—via social media and direct messages to his office—convinced him of the franchise’s enduring appeal.
The generation that grew up with Rhythm Heaven in the late 2000s and early 2010s is now in their professional years, notes the musician. Many of these individuals now work in the gaming industry, occasionally offering Tsunku opportunities to develop similar games elsewhere. Despite these offers, he chose to decline them all, stating he was confident that he would eventually collaborate with Nintendo again.
“I always believed the chance to work on the next Rhythm Heaven with Nintendo would come, so I respectfully turned down other proposals. This was my way of showing gratitude to Nintendo for their continuous support,” Tsunku explains.
In 2014, Tsunku was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and underwent vocal cord removal surgery during his work on Rhythm Heaven Megamix. The illness significantly affected his health and productivity, but Nintendo’s commitment to the project gave him hope.
“The fact that Nintendo never stopped development and kept moving forward with the game became a source of inspiration for me. It helped me find the strength to think, ‘I can do this!’,” he writes. “Later, I learned that Nintendo’s CEO Satoru Iwata was also battling an illness around the same time… I offer my deepest sympathies once more.”
Looking back at the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic challenges of the early 2020s, Tsunku emphasizes that Rhythm Heaven Groove was completed during uncertain times.
“Both myself and the Rhythm Heaven team at Nintendo have aged two decades since the first game’s release—we’re all seasoned veterans now. Yet, Rhythm Heaven Groove was a collaborative effort across generations; from our veteran team to the fresh talent who shared stories of playing the DS games as kids.”
Rhythm Heaven Groove is now available on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
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