Nintendo's potentially last Switch 1 game is absolutely worth it
Nintendo's potentially last Switch 1 first-party release is Rhythm Heaven Groove, and hands-on impressions say it is absolutely worth your time. Mashable calls it a charming, $40 sendoff with funky beats, dozens of musical minigames, and enough heart to close out nine years on the original console in style—even if more OG Switch games may still arrive.
Nintendo is closing out the Switch 1 era in style, according to a new hands-on review from Mashable's Alex Perry. For the past couple of weeks, Perry has been digging through Rhythm Heaven Groove ahead of publication. At that moment, it stood as the only announced upcoming first-party game for the original Nintendo Switch—a detail that could give the rhythm title a unique place in console history.
Perry is fairly confident Nintendo will release at least a couple more games for the OG Switch before too long. For now, though, Rhythm Heaven is all that is officially on the horizon. That uncertainty is part of why the conversation around Nintendo's potentially last Switch 1 game has caught fire among players weighing one more purchase before the Switch 2 era fully takes over.
Key Takeaways
- Rhythm Heaven Groove is, for now, the only announced upcoming first-party game for the original Nintendo Switch.
- Mashable's hands-on review praises its funky beats, low-fi charm, $40 price, and approachable one- or two-button rhythm gameplay.
- The game bundles dozens of short minigames, remix levels, a rhythm RPG called Beatspell, and living-room multiplayer modes.
- Perry argues it represents what made the Switch great: surfacing eclectic Nintendo franchises beyond Mario and Zelda.
- Even if more OG Switch releases follow, Groove is positioned as a strong potential swan song for the nine-year-old hardware.
Why is Rhythm Heaven Groove Nintendo's potentially last Switch 1 game?
After nine years on the market, the original Switch is winding down its first-party release calendar. Perry notes that Rhythm Heaven Groove is the lone announced upcoming Nintendo-made title still slated for the OG console at the time of the review.
That does not mean the platform is finished. The author expects at least a couple more first-party Switch 1 games before the catalog truly goes quiet. Still, with no other announced releases waiting in line, Groove currently carries the weight of a farewell—whether or not it ends up being the literal final bow.
And if this is indeed the swan song, Perry argues it is a fitting one. The latest entry in one of Nintendo's most eclectic franchises is also described as one of the most eminently approachable games on the platform. Anyone who has not yet picked up a Switch 2, Perry writes, really ought to give Rhythm Heaven Groove a shot while the original hardware still has this kind of spotlight.
What makes the gameplay so approachable—and so catchy?
If you have never touched the series, Rhythm Heaven games are built from dozens of little unique musical minigames. Each one takes only a couple of minutes to complete and brings its own premise, visual style, and music. Underneath the variety, the core loop stays consistent: feel the beat and press one or two buttons when the rhythm demands it.
A big part of what makes Groove work is its attractive, somewhat low-fi 2D look. Characters and backgrounds are endearing rather than mega-budget. The music is fantastic too, with beats simple enough for non-musicians to follow and melodies that stick in your head for minutes after a round ends.
Perry points newcomers toward Monkey Watch, a minigame from Rhythm Heaven Fever on Wii, as a quick vibe check. The series has not changed much since then, he writes—to its benefit. Minigames are grouped in fours; once you clear a set, you unlock a playable remix level that mashes all four into one coherent song. Those remix stages are generally the highlight, showing how separate musical ideas can snap together into something greater than the sum of their parts.
What else is inside beyond the solo minigames?
Groove is more than a solo rhythm anthology. Beatspell is a rhythm-based RPG side mode where you mash out musical combos to cast spells in monster fights, complete with experience points and leveling up. Perry says he needs more time with it for a full judgment, but calls it a really cool inclusion alongside the main event.
Multiplayer offerings are built for living-room hangouts. One four-player mode has each person try to grab a slice of cake at just the right moment; whoever nails the timing closest wins. Perry is especially fond of the silly color-coded pompadour haircuts that grow longer each time a character wins a round. That playful spirit, he notes, is exactly what Rhythm Heaven has always had.
For players tracing how Nintendo nostalgia evolves across hardware generations, Groove sits in a familiar spot explored in our Nostalgia: Then & Now coverage: a handheld-rooted cult favorite getting a late-console victory lap.
What does this sendoff say about the wider Switch era?
Beyond quality alone, Perry likes what Groove represents about Nintendo's past nine years on Switch. The console era exposed fans to franchises outside the safe orbit of Mario and Zelda. Perry credits the Switch with turning him into a fan of Fire Emblem, Xenoblade Chronicles, Luigi's Mansion, Tomodachi Life, and now Rhythm Heaven—plus Metroid's revival in both 2D and Prime form.
Not every beloved series made the jump. F-Zero tops Perry's personal list of important franchises that missed the OG Switch. For players who skipped the DS or 3DS years, though, the Switch became a gateway to quirky handheld experiments that never commanded the same spotlight as blockbuster tentpoles.
Rhythm Heaven fits that description perfectly. The series historically lived primarily on handheld platforms, and Groove may be the best way to close out the Switch era—for now. Mashable's verdict is clear: it is charming, cool, and priced at just $40, with funky beats and a ton of heart. That combination is why Nintendo's potentially last Switch 1 game is absolutely worth your time, whether you are a rhythm-game devotee or a curious holdout on original hardware.
For the full hands-on breakdown, see Mashable's Rhythm Heaven Groove impressions review by Alex Perry, published July 1, 2026.