A Gacha Game Finally Gets Rhythm Minigames Right!

It’s a common trend in the world of gacha games: developers often think adding a rhythm game is a brilliant idea. Spoiler alert: it’s usually not. Welcome to our little corner where we dive into the highs and lows of video game music and sound design, and the recent gacha release has turned that notion on its head.

These rhythm minigames tend to pop up during limited-time events, and quite frankly, they often feel like a rushed afterthought. They’re clumsy, unresponsive, and frankly, it feels like the developers just slapped something together with the bare minimum effort needed. The recent Wuthering Waves minigame, for instance, was a messy mix of poor note designs and confusing charts that left much to be desired. And let’s not even start on the musical fiasco that was Genshin Impact’s rhythm game!

Now, I might come off as a bit of a rhythm game perfectionist. My love for rhythm games runs deep, and I spend way too much time (and money) in the arcade scene. Because of this, I often find myself critiquing how lazily these minigames are thrown into gacha titles as secondary features.

However, my skepticism took a turn when I heard from a friend—also a rhythm game enthusiast—that the latest event in Nikke, the gacha game from the folks at Shift Up, features a rhythm minigame that’s actually enjoyable! This is a big deal for two reasons: first, we often share our frustrations about the poor quality of rhythm minigames in gacha titles, and second, Nikke’s previous attempt at a rhythm game was, well, less than stellar.

But after giving it a shot, I can honestly say: it’s surprisingly fun! Nikke already has a solid soundtrack, with composers like Cosmograph and Feryquitious contributing amazing tracks, which sets the stage for a better rhythm experience.

Now, don’t get me wrong, this new minigame isn’t a groundbreaking innovation; it’s a standard four-lane vertically scrolling rhythm game. What sets it apart is the evident effort that has been put into the charting. The notes are responsive, and it offers a variety of difficulties to cater to players at different skill levels.

As someone who’s been out of the loop with gacha games, I was embarrassed to realize I only recognized a few tracks, but I was pleasantly surprised browsing through newer ones. Songs like Yu-dachi’s “We Begin” bring a catchy electronic vibe, while Feryquitious’s “Archemy” blends classical strings with modern beats, making for an enjoyable listening experience.

Will this be enough to pull me back into gacha gaming permanently? Probably not, but Nikke has definitely made its way back onto my radar. The rhythm mode will stick around after the event wraps up, so I can see myself returning for that sweet Nikke rhythm fix whenever I need it!