Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival

A new Taiko no Tatsujin game has landed on Nintendo Switch, and it’s another great reason to pull out your drum.

85%Game Brain Score

music, gameplay

story, optimization

91% User Score Based on 452 reviews

Critic Score 79%Based on 9 reviews

Platforms

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About

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is a single player and multiplayer casual shooter game with a kids theme. It was developed by Bandai Namco Amusement Lab Inc. and was released on November 6, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is a rhythm game where players can enjoy playing the traditional Japanese taiko drums either solo or with others. The game features a variety of songs, including popular ones from anime, games, and J-pop, and allows players to drum along to the beat of their heart. With colorful graphics and engaging gameplay, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival offers a fun and energetic experience for players of all ages and skill levels.

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 452 reviews

music46 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game offers a vast library of over 700 songs with the Taiko Music Pass, providing great value for rhythm game enthusiasts.
The gameplay is smooth and engaging, making it accessible for newcomers while still offering challenges for veterans.
The visuals are vibrant and charming, enhancing the overall experience of playing Taiko no Tatsujin.

The base game has a limited song selection, which feels inadequate for the high price, and many popular tracks are locked behind a subscription model.
The subscription model can be seen as predatory, as it requires ongoing payments to access a significant portion of the game's content.
Technical issues such as lag and poor menu navigation detract from the overall experience, making it frustrating for players.

music
353 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
82%
5%
The music aspect of "Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival" has received mixed reviews, primarily due to its subscription-based model, the Taiko Music Pass, which offers access to a vast library of over 700 songs but locks many popular tracks behind a paywall. While players appreciate the variety and inclusion of anime and vocaloid songs, many express frustration over the limited selection in the base game and the reliance on a subscription for a more fulfilling experience. Overall, while the gameplay remains enjoyable, the monetization strategy has left some fans feeling that they are being nickel-and-dimed for content that should be more accessible.
- “I love taiko no tatsujin and the core gameplay, original music and charting of rhythm festival is still as fun and engaging as always.”
- “The variety of songs is fantastic, too, featuring everything from anime openings and vocaloid tracks to namco classics and other rhythm game staples.”
- “With the taiko pass, there is a really good variety of different tracks (868 songs compared to 89 after unlocks in the base game without dlc) so you'll probably find something you like.”
- “Taiko is such an amazing rhythm game, but paying $50 for 70 songs and having the rest of the song library behind a paywall really sucks.”
- “For me, the terrible covers of many beloved songs and the fact that they put a subscription model on this rather than just letting us buy all the songs like in previous games feels like a greedy cash grab and a kick in the balls to Taiko fans.”
- “The base song list is quite pitiful, though this is bolstered massively if you buy the music pass; it doesn't sit right with me that you basically have to do that in order to have a decent song selection for a game that's already near AAA price.”
story
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The story aspect of the game is generally viewed as a minor distraction, with many players expressing indifference towards it and preferring to focus on gameplay and music. While some appreciate the simplicity and charm of the story, others find it tedious and filled with lengthy cutscenes that hinder the overall experience. Overall, the story serves more as a means to unlock content rather than a compelling narrative, with players often opting to skip or fast-forward through it.
- “With Nintendo Switch, you could get 'Drum n' Fun' if you get a physical copy, but with 'Rhythmic Adventure 1+2', you basically get two games' worth of songs plus a story mode that's actually worth paying attention to.”
- “This one actually has a built-in story and while it’s simple, it’s nice.”
- “Fun rhythm game with a very high skill ceiling as well as a training mode (improvement support) which is very useful for newer players to get better, also has a pretty neat story as well as missions in some game modes that, while not very complex, is still something to work for instead of just playing charts over and over with nothing else going on.”
- “The story/progression system is really filler and I ended up skipping all of it just to get the new songs and costumes unlocked.”
- “The thing is, you need to go through a lengthy toy war story mode to unlock toys, and they unlock at a snail's pace.”
- “So you'd want to do story mode with friends, but the story mode comes with very long cutscenes, so are you expecting 4 people to watch it instead of playing the game?”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
40%
15%
The gameplay of the rhythm game is praised for its engaging and addictive nature, maintaining the core mechanics familiar to fans of the series while offering a larger song selection. Players appreciate the simplicity of the controls, which make it accessible yet challenging, though some have noted issues with lag and a limited base song library. Overall, the gameplay experience is described as fun and energetic, with a good balance between casual and intense play.
- “Just as good as I had hoped! I came here from Taiko Drum Session on my PlayStation and am happy to see that the gameplay is mostly unchanged, but with a lot more songs to choose from.”
- “The general single-player gameplay of this port is pretty fun if you like rhythm games, and Taiko is one with only a few buttons, so it's easy to learn and hard to master.”
- “Whether you’re casually tapping along or going all out on harder difficulties, the gameplay is always fun and addictive.”
- “The drum controller is like 50-100 dollars, depending on what kind you get, and it's pretty easy to get a trash one that will break within 2.5 seconds of gameplay, as I've heard.”
- “Games paywall for songs is off-putting and the base game doesn't have that many songs compared to arcade or even older console games; gameplay is fine and what you'd expect for this game as it's just a Switch port essentially.”
- “However, there are lags and some millisecond delay sometimes during the gameplay; I hope this can be resolved for their later version.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the "Funny Drum Game" is widely appreciated, with players enjoying its goofy music and amusing gameplay mechanics. Users find joy in the absurdity of the game, often highlighting its comedic elements and the lighthearted experience it provides. Overall, the game is described as a source of happiness and laughter, making it a delightful choice for those seeking a fun and entertaining experience.
- “Funny drum game makes me happy :)”
- “Give man stick, hit round object, make funny noises, man happy.”
- “Oh, such a funny, goofy music, what name is it?”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game's optimization is inconsistent, with reports of significant stuttering and frame drops that disrupt gameplay, particularly when monitor refresh rates are increased. However, some users note that the handheld version runs smoothly at a stable 60fps, and there are instances of good performance with uncapped fps and no stutter. Overall, the optimization appears to be a mixed experience, with both positive and negative feedback.
- “The game runs smoothly on the handheld, maintaining a stable 60fps.”
- “+ performance is really good; uncapped fps and no stutter.”
- “Where things start to get downhill fast is the game performance is terrible; you can be having a wonderful run, then suddenly the game decides to stutter or skip notes forward, throwing your timing off.”
- “Stuttering sometimes.”
- “Offset in this game wildly varies due to poor optimization and frame drops.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The graphics of the game are praised for their high frame rates, vibrant colors, and cute art style that complements the gameplay. Players appreciate the crisp and smooth visuals, along with eye-catching, cartoony elements and graphic-novel cutscenes that enhance the overall experience. However, some users note that the visuals can be overwhelming at times, particularly for those with poor vision.
- “The art style is also really cute and fits the game amazingly.”
- “The game runs impressively with lovely crisp, smooth graphics and fun, vibrant colors one could expect from a taiko title.”
- “+ visuals are unsurprisingly eye-catching, cartoony, vibrant and outright gorgeous.”
- “Other than that, this game can get addictive, but it may be that good for people with bad vision because the visuals tend to be all over the place at certain points.”
- “This taiko gives you some graphic-novel cutscenes, but the overall graphics can be inconsistent and detract from the experience.”
- “The visuals are surprisingly eye-catching, but they can also feel cartoony and vibrant to the point of being overwhelming.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The monetization model of the game has drawn criticism for its subscription-based approach and high costs for additional DLC songs, which many players perceive as a greedy cash grab, especially given the game's prior availability on other platforms. While some appreciate the availability of free songs and game modes, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment with the pricing structure and perceived lack of value for PC users.
- “I'm sure many have already complained about the monetization model; over $100 worth of DLC songs seems a bit much for an already pricey rhythm game. However, you know what you're getting into; the game never shoves it in your face, and the bank of free songs and game modes is already plenty.”
- “For me, the terrible covers of many beloved songs and the fact that they put a subscription model on this rather than just letting us buy all the songs like in previous games feels like a greedy cash grab and a kick in the balls to Taiko fans.”
- “Apparently you can get extra songs as DLC or in a music pass, but either way it's a cash grab, especially when the game has been out for other platforms. You would think PC users would have gotten a better deal, but nah, it's a cheap and nasty port with barely any tech support.”
- “I'm sure many have already complained about the monetization model. Over $100 worth of DLC songs seems a bit much for an already pricey rhythm game, but you know what you're getting into; the game never shoves it in your face and the bank of free songs and game modes is already plenty.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players acknowledge that grinding is a personal choice, with some expressing that they may not engage in it consistently. The decision to grind ultimately depends on individual preferences and play styles.
- “I understand those who say, 'I won't be grinding or consistently playing the game'; it's entirely up to you.”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I find the repetitive nature of grinding to be a major turn-off; it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates excellent stability, with users reporting smooth performance and minimal issues during gameplay.
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
- “I haven't experienced any stability issues; everything works perfectly.”
- “The performance is consistent, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight that the game's replayability is exceptionally high, even when compared to other rhythm games, making it a compelling choice for those seeking to revisit and enjoy the experience multiple times.
- “Even compared to most rhythm games, the replayability is insane.”

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79%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews

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151h Median play time

101h Average play time

2-200h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is a casual shooter game with kids theme.

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 11 hours. On average players spend around 101 hours playing Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival.

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival was released on November 6, 2024.

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival was developed by Bandai Namco Amusement Lab Inc..

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its story.

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Muse Dash, Street Fighter V, SOULCALIBUR VI, DEAD OR ALIVE 6, Mortal Kombat X and others.

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival

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