If you loveSamba de Amigo: Party Central, we can make some assumptions about your taste. First, you love music and rhythm games. But not any rhythm game will do. You’re looking for that classic arcade rhythm game experience that you can play for several hours or a few minutes. Second, you want to whip those Joy-Con out and rock those motion controls.
We gathered some of the best arcade rhythm games available on Nintendo Switch, all utilizing the Joy-Con’s gyroscope controls. If you’ve already shaken yourself out in Samba de Amigo, these are the titles to check out!
Updated May 16, 2025, by Chris Sanfilippo:Eager to learn more about some fantastic rhythm games? We have you covered with our latest update, which adds spec boxes detailing what platform each game is on, their developer(s), publisher(s), and ESRB.
Publisher(s):Sega
ESRB:T for Teen
Sega is responsible for several rhythm game hits. There’s Samba de Amigo, of course, and Space Channel 5. However,Sega’s most prominent rhythm game icon of the past decade is Hatsune Miku, the face of theVocaloidmusic genre.
The Project DIVA series featuresMiku and her Vocaloid friends, Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, Megurine Luka, KAITO, and MEIKO, as they perform concerts for their adoring fans. Your goal is to guide the Vocaloids through each song by matching button icons in time to the music as they appear on the screen.
Project DIVA Megamixon the Nintendo Switch stands out because of its newMix Mode. This new way to play tasks you withcatching falling rhythm targets by tilting your Joy-Con in and out. It’s a simple concept that makes the series feel brand new!
4Taiko no Tatsujin
Taiko no Tatsujin (franchise)
Platform(s):Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, iOS, Android, macOS, Microsoft Windows
Publisher(s):Bandai Namco
ESRB:E for Everyone
Namco’sTaiko no Tatsujin(translation: “Master Of The Drums”) series has been around for almost as long as Samba de Amigo. This rhythm game lets you take the reigns of a traditional taiko drum and jam out to variousclassical tunes and pop hits.
Taiko no Tatsujin uses aunique peripheral controller that recreates the Japanese wadaiko drum. You must hit red rhythm targets by banging the drum face (“don”) and hit blue rhythm targets by banging the drum rim (“kah”).
If you don’t own a Taiko controller,you can emulate the experience using the Joy-Con. In this case, you’ll use forward-facing swings for dons and inward-facing swings for kahs. It’s a suitable replacement for casual play. But you’ll want to buy a Taiko controller for the most accurate input readings possible.
If you wish to try Taiko no Tatsujin on the Switch, there are several options to choose from, including:
Publisher(s):Taito
ESRB:E10+ for Eveyone 10+
Groove Coaster: Wai Wai Party is one of the more distinct rhythm games on the Nintendo Switch. In this title, you’llfollow an 8-bit icon as it rides a winding line of rhythm targets. Each target requires different inputs, and the types of targets you’ll come across increase with the game’s difficulty.
You could play Groove Coaster with standard button controls and have an enjoyable time. However, you can switch things up with the game’sAction Mode, which replaces some button inputs with Joy-Con movement.
One of Groove Coaster’s most exciting mechanics isad-libbing, which lets youearn bonus points for adding additional button inputs in rhythm. Think of it like the Cool scoring system inPaRappa The Rapper, albeit with more structure.
Developer(s):Imagineer
Publisher(s):Nintendo
ESRB:Fitness Boxing (T for Teen), Fitness Boxing 2 (E for Everyone)
The Fitness Boxing series is excellent for gamers who want to feel the burn. Theseexercise-heavy Nintendo Switch gameshave you jab, hook, and uppercut in time to a catalog of pop hits by artists likeLady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Maroon 5, and more!
Fitness Boxing does a stellar job of teaching you various movements in-game. You’ll quickly findfocused lessonsto perfect your right jab or left hook. Then, you can put your training to use in full-length exercises.
More importantly,Fitness Boxing’s motion controls are solid. If you focus on precise, efficient movement, the game registers each punch accurately. You won’t be dragged down by faulty readings, which is a huge plus.
There are three Fitness Boxing titles available on the Nintendo Switch:
You can’t discuss rhythm games with stellar motion controls without addressing theJust Danceseries. Ubisoft’s never-ending dance partyexploded on the Nintendo Wii and continues to delight its fans with yearly installments since 2009.
Just Dance succeeds with casual and veteran rhythm gamers due to its straightforward gameplay. All you need to do isfollow the prompts and mirror the dancers on screen. You can learn the dancers' movements with precise detail if you like. But moving your Joy-Con in the correct direction will suffice if you’re less coordinated.
If you invest in aJust Dance Unlimited subscription, you’ll gain access tohundreds of songsfrom the series’s vast music catalog, available to stream anytime. It’s a great deal that adds significant replay value.
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