Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 80 | 51 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 84% | 78 | 809 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 80% | 74 | 16 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 45 reviews sampled · 37 total reviews in window · weighted 23.7 up / 5.8 down · computed 12h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (30)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 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.”
read full review ↗ - 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.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“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.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival provides great fun. The number of songs in the base does not impress, however, even so you will find some addictive songs.... and then you can soak in for weeks on end.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is a very good game with a solid PC port. The base mechanics are classic, and they still work well, just like they did before. The song list is meaty enough, but the presence of both DLC and a Song Pass gives everyone the chance to expand their song library. While the drums give you the more authentic experience, the PC's natural ability to use a wider variety of control methods allows for the game to be more entertaining, if only to see what other odd peripherals people will use to play the game. Provided you're not averse to the lack of Western songs, you'll have a fun time with this game.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival has the same core gameplay as other Taiko titles, but it continues to be a fun rhythm game that's easy to learn and hard to master (especially in the higher difficulties). Though the highlight of this new release is the various game modes that it has, including the story mode.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Rhythm Festival is easily the most complete and accessible game in the series. Its insane amount of content ensures that it will have a long life, and its monetization options - with the exception of the initial price - aren't particularly bad. It's a delight that the game that's finally most accessible to the PC audience is such a solid one, as it feels like a solid reward after so many years of waiting. Whether you're a newcomer looking to discover the series, or a veteran looking for something new, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is the best of what this quirky series has to offer.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The creators have captured the atmosphere and the nuances of Japan culture as well as possible. Even the voices we hear when choosing almost anything in the game, are typically Japanese - sweet and amusing. In the case of such a cheerful production, this is a huge advantage, which once again emphasizes that this is a game for people of all ages, fully Family Friendly. With many songs available, everyone should find something they like, and the available modes will certainly provide plenty of joy.”
read full review ↗ - 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.”
read full review ↗ - 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.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Taiko No Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is another welcome addition to the drum hero series. With so many different styles of songs to pick from, and not just having to play song after song with no variety, it’s one of the easiest versions of the series to pick up and play.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“With so many control, training and customization options, it's an almost perfect package, with the only shortcomings being the distribution of music genres and the decision to not include at least the tracks already present in the previous game on the Nintendo Switch. But if we could recommend just one game in the series for the console, this is a good place to start!”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
NintendoWorldReport
PPE.pl
Worth Playing
UnGeek
GameOnly
GameSpew
EGM
WayTooManyGames
NintendoBoy…and 18 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Announcement of updated data (Ver. 1.1.2)Dec 12, 2024