Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 23
  2. Negative: 0 out of 23
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  1. 90
    If you've never experienced the Taiko no Tatsujin franchise, this is going to be the perfect entry point for players. With the new Taiko Music Pass, you'll have access to more music than ever before, and with its abundant customization options for your character and playstyle, you'll become a master Donder in no time. You'll need the patience to learn and grow, but once you do, it's the best feeling around.
  2. Sep 26, 2022
    90
    At its heart, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is just more Taiko—the foundational rhythm game hasn’t changed a whole lot since Drum ‘n’ Fun. But that’s only because it doesn’t need to: the taiko drumming core, and the only thing a new entry really needs is new songs to play with. That’s what Rhythm Festival delivers, with a strong base tracklist and huge additional selection with the Taiko Drum Pass. Fun minigames help round out the package, but it’s that rock solid rhythm foundation and endless charm that make Rhythm Festival a must for music game fans.
  3. Oct 31, 2022
    85
    While those more familiar with the series might have some gripes, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival was an excellent introduction for me. No worries about being overly skilled at these types of games; you’ll have a good time, especially if you have friends in the room for a party-type setting. But even more solo gamers will have the main story and many unlockables to keep them busy. Whether competing or cooperating, this could be a ton of fun for family gatherings.
  4. Oct 30, 2022
    85
    Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival, the musical series returns with a more varied and rich chapter than ever.
  5. Oct 11, 2022
    85
    Rhythm games aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re looking to get into one, look no further. Taiko No Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is a wonderful entry game and if you get it bundled with the drum controller, there’ll be no stopping you. If you don’t want to shell out for the controller, that’s ok. Playing it in the other three modes is equally as fun. There’s a large range of music types so there’s a little bit of something for everyone. Whether you’re just dipping your toes in or a veteran rhythm player, the amount of content in the base game alone without the music pass will be sure to give you endless hours of playtime.
  6. Sep 27, 2022
    85
    Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is a fantastic addition to the Nintendo Switch library, but one that needs to have its DLC handled a bit better even with the Taiko Music Pass. The base game has enough to justify the asking price, but the real star is how much you get for the optional Taiko Music Pass that dramatically increases what is available in-game. Hopefully future updates and DLC bring in more game music and some VTuber songs.
  7. Oct 11, 2022
    82
    Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is yet another colourful and adorable rhythm game in an excellent series. Its Great Drum Toy War mode helps shake things up and the online and local multiplayer components are genuinely a great deal of fun.
  8. Oct 10, 2022
    81
    Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is a great rhythm game for the Nintendo Switch. It has an excellent selection of songs for lovers of anime, J-Pop, Vocaloid, and gaming music. The game modes feel refreshed and have a clear purpose of unlocking something here and there. We found the ultimate game for taiko fans.
  9. Nov 28, 2024
    80
    Taiko no Tatsujin Rhythm Festival has the potential to entertain for what feels like endless hours. Not least thanks to the fact that you can buy 700 songs if you wish, but also thanks to the fact that there are so many game modes to choose from where everyone entertains on their own terms.
  10. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Dec 22, 2022
    80
    Without the use of the Music Pass, the core setlist can, at first glance, feel like a shockingly slimmed-down Taiko entry, but if Namco continues to support the service with more and more tracks before releasing more full games, Rhythm Festival offers more reasons to come back again and again with just a single jam-packed entry. [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 76]
  11. Dec 4, 2022
    80
    Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is the best game in the franchise to date. It introduces new game modes and ideas that allow it to stay fresh. Thus, its new game-as-a-service approach also makes it an installment destined to give many more hours of fun to the most seasoned Taiko fans.
  12. Nov 22, 2022
    80
    Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival has a massive song list with multiple modes and addicting yet simple gameplay. The DLC and subscription service adds an incredible amount to that list, but does make me worry for the future of the game. Even so, this is a great choice if you want to jam out alone or with friends.
  13. Nov 7, 2022
    80
    Minor quibbles aside, you’ll have a great time with Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival if you’re a fan of music games and have a penchant for percussion or rhythm in general. With a vast and exotic music library and multiple ways to play, it’s easy to get swept up with the beat. Playing with a drum controller elevates the experience to another level if you can swing it, but there’s still plenty to be enjoyed here without it.
  14. 80
    I would say Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is a release for the more hardcore side of the Taiko fanbase, but that would be overlooking the sheer joy and accessibility of the main game. Perhaps I’m merely bitter at the lack of supplementary features, shallow party modes, and a somewhat cynical subscription service that makes Rhythm Festival lag behind Drum ‘n’ Fun. But ultimately, this is more Taiko, and more Taiko is good. It’s not my favourite of Bandai Namco’s outings on the Nintendo console, but it’s not without its charm either.
  15. Sep 29, 2022
    80
    Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival proves to be another solid entry in the series. In terms of quantity and variety, the default song list is on the same level as Drum 'n Fun, and while the DLC will pad things out, the 30- and 90-day song passes do a much better job of making this feel like the most packed entry yet. The removal of minigames is a bit disappointing for those who liked them, but Great Drum Toy War and its strategic elements more than make up for it. It's a much better experience if you're willing to shell out for the drums, but even if you don't, you'll have fun with Rhythm Festival if you're a big rhythm game fan who isn't too hung up on grooving to familiar Western pop hits.
  16. Sep 29, 2022
    80
    Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is a solid new entry in Bandai Namco’s rhythm game franchise, offering a roster of fresh music to enjoy, some creative new game modes, and more unlockables to have fun collecting. The game doesn’t offer as many multiplayer options as its predecessor did, but does feature more to keep solo players occupied. Rhythm Festival also offers what is arguably the biggest addition the franchise has ever seen, the Taiko Music Pass—a new music subscription service that can greatly expand the life of the game while also bringing with it some additional concerns over our subscription-laiden future.
  17. Sep 28, 2022
    80
    Taiko is not only an enjoyable rhythm title, but easily one of the best and most well-put together ever created. Rhythm Festival in turn also feels like one of the best to date with a wide variety with tons to play and unlock. It’s addictive and easy to get sucked into song after song trying to perfect mastery or just enjoy an absolute favorite. Fans of Taiko will likely be thrilled with this latest entry, and those looking to try out a new rhythm title should consider giving Taiko No Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival a shot because there’s nothing else as gratifying as sitting down to play a song to the beat of a drum.
  18. Sep 26, 2022
    80
    Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is a great game, and I would argue that this is the best entry point for beginners to the Taiko games. Perhaps the only thing that prevents it from being a perfect title for everyone is the lack of a diverse minigame selection and the fact that you’re almost required to sign your soul in a subscription model to expand your playtime. Still, otherwise, it has a solid music selection with online support, making it a respectable and formidable package for both new and old fans of the series.
  19. Nov 13, 2022
    78
    Despite it could have had more free songs (you have to pay a subscription to unlock the game's full potential), Rhythm Festival still manages to be enjoyable and extremely fun.
  20. Oct 2, 2022
    78
    Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is the latest entry in the rhythm and music franchise, which relies on the motion controls of the Switch. It is still a fun game that makes a low risk bet from what has been seen before. However, it is a very fair version, since it has few game modes, although it has a large number of songs to master.
  21. Oct 27, 2022
    70
    Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is another solid entry into this bizarre but lovable drumming rhythm game. The 70 songs included within the game offer plenty of variety, but it’s a shame some of the best tracks are locked behind the Taiko Music Pass subscription. The multiplayer modes on offer are a welcome touch, but if you’re expecting more minigames like Drum ‘n’ Fun, you may be disappointed. This is more about the music, and we can’t really fault that.
  22. Sep 28, 2022
    70
    Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is another solid entry in the franchise, but it's also a very safe one. The core gameplay is still a lot of fun and that might well be enough for some players. For others, the distinct lack of modes on offer may result in a rather short-lived experience, particularly if you're not looking to dive into the Taiko Music Pass subscription service. Still, with a chunky amount of songs available from the start, Rhythm Festival is a no-brainer for fans of the series; you know what you're getting into, and we think you're going to like it.
  23. 65
    While I was thrilled to finally have a Taiko no Tatsujin drum to try out with Rhythm Festival, the accessory and the game itself left me wanting to a degree. Fans of previous games and Japanese music, including the dozens of anime themes available here, will find a charming and compelling package in DON-chan's latest outing. Others might not appreciate the lack of variety in the basic library, which seems to demand that players fork over for the more robust offerings of the Music Pass. It rubs me the wrong way when, at launch, the base version of a game contains but a fraction of what can be purchased or rented digitally. There's no denying the cute and colorful characters of the Taiko no Tatsujin world, but you're almost forced to pay a premium to keep the party going.
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Sep 3, 2023
    10
    Oh my god this game is amazing. A huge selection of songs to choose from, and even more with a reasonably priced subscription service that isOh my god this game is amazing. A huge selection of songs to choose from, and even more with a reasonably priced subscription service that is way more than worth the 4 bucks a month it costs. But if you don't want to pay, there's also three other game modes and online multiplayer, ranked and causal. There are also chapters to a story you can unlock by leveling up, and you unlock all of them by level 91. But you also unlock coins and lots of cool outfits you can buy in the shop with the in game currency. Besides the subscription service and a couple of song packs, there are no microtransactions, so you can only get the coins by leveling up and playing songs. Also, Don-chan is the **** best and I love him HOLY **** HE'S SO CUTE AND KATSU-CHAN TOO WHAT THE FU- Full Review »
  2. Mar 4, 2023
    9
    To a westerner, complete insanity. 10 different japanese girls who sound way too young screaming at you at the same time, but you haveTo a westerner, complete insanity. 10 different japanese girls who sound way too young screaming at you at the same time, but you have literally no idea what they're saying and you don't have time to look at the text, because everything is so damn cutely drawn. While overwhelming at times, after a few hours of gameplay, it's a one a of a kind experience, which I will show to everyone I meet, who likes gaming. Full Review »