Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun!, released in Asia as is a rhythm game developed by Bandai Namco Studios & DokiDoki Groove Works and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It was first released in Japan and other parts of Asia in July 2018, and in North America, Europe and Australia in November. The title's release marks the first release of a Taiko no Tatsujin game to Western audiences in over a decade. It was delisted from the Nintendo eShop in November 2023.
Gameplay Similar to past entries in the series, music notes, represented by circular faces of the series' mascots, move across a timeline in the middle of the screen from right to left. represent the face of the drum, while represent the drum's rim. Successfully playing the correct note as each one reaches the end of the timeline builds up a "Soul Gauge". If the gauge reaches a certain point by the end of the song, the stage is cleared.
There are several control options for Drum n' Fun!. The most accurate and consistent option is a specific peripheral controller developed by Hori, in the shape of a drum, as well as non-electronic plastic "drumsticks". These drums are sold separately or in a bundle with the game. It's possible, however, to use a regular controller to play, through use of a buttons-only mode. One could also use the Nintendo Switch's native controllers, the Joy-Con, through a mechanic called "virtual drumsticks" that utilizes the advanced motion controls of the Joy-Con. This method is considered unreliable and best for casual gameplay.
Besides traditional gameplay for a maximum of two players, a multitude of multiplayer rhythm-based party games are present to further expand upon the concept for up to 4 players. Additional updates to the game further added a head-to-head competitive multiplayer mode for two players, as well as online head-to-head and tournament competitive multiplayer modes.
Tracklist Similar to previous games in the series, the tracklist is organized into seven categories. The game also features downloadable song packs which can be purchased through the Nintendo eShop. The game contains 300 songs (inclusive of all downloadable songs) as of July 2020.
Pop SongArtistYearDLCBack Number2013"TT -Japanese ver.-"Twice2016Masaki Suda2017Wanima2016Radwimps2016"R.Y.U.S.E.I."Sandaime J Soul Brothers2014Unison Square Garden2015"RPG"Sekai no Owari2013Golden Bomber2009"Silent Jealousy"X Japan1991"One Night Carnival"Kishidan2001"Train-Train"The Blue Hearts1988Whiteberry2000Masaki Suda2018"U.S.A."Da Pump2018Gen Hoshino2016Hikakin & Seikin2017Keyakizaka462018Nogizaka462018AKB482013Rika Matsumoto2017ЯeaL2018Aimyon2018Misia feat. Hide from Greeeen2018Dreams Come True2018Kenshi Yonezu2019Aimyon2017Back Number2015Eve2017Motohiro Hata2014Keyakizaka462016Babymetal2015King Gnu2019HY2008Ayaka2006Keyakizaka462018Little Glee Monster2018"Winding Road"Man with a Mission2018Band Ja Naimon! MAXX NAKAYOSHI2020Eve2017"Rocket Dive"Hide with Spread Beaver1998"Yes we are"Sandaime J Soul Brothers2019"EZ Do Dance"TRF1993Mihimaru GT2006Yorushika2018
Anime SongArtistOriginYearDLC"Howling"Flow×GranrodeoThe Seven Deadly Sins: Revival of The Commandments2018"Pop Team Epic"Sumire UesakaPop Team Epic2018Project.RKaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger 2018"Be The One"Pandora feat. BeverlyKamen Rider Build2017Tomona YabikuMoana2016Satoshi with Pikachu (Rika Matsumoto & Ikue Otani)Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon2016Dream5Yo-kai Watch2014Wasabi Mizuta, Morinoki Jidou GasshoudanDoraemon (2005)2005Youmi KimuraSpirited Away2001Kyary Pamyu PamyuCrayon Shin-chan2013Hiroshi KitadaniOne Piece1999Yoko TakahashiNeon Genesis Evangelion1995"Cha-La Head-Cha-La"Hironobu KageyamaDragon Ball Z1989B.B.QueensChibi Maruko-chan1990Azumi InoueMy Neighbor Totoro1988DreamingAnpanman1988Boys and MenShinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion2018Azumi InoueCastle in the Sky1986Azumi InoueMy Neighbor Totoro1988Yumi MatsutoyaKiki's Delivery Service1989Joe HisaishiKiki's Delivery Service1989Fujioka Fujimaki, Nozomi ŌhashiPonyo2008Dream AmiZootopia2016Takako MatsuFrozen2013Sayaka KandaFrozen2013Kazuya YoshiiDragon Ball Super2015"Dragon Soul"Takayoshi Tanimoto (Dragon Soul)Dragon Ball Kai2009Hiroki TakahashiDragon Ball1986Joe HisaishiMy Neighbor Totoro1988Joe HisaishiHowl's Moving Castle2004Yumi MatsutoyaKiki's Delivery Service1989Tomohiro HatanoKishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger2019"Butter-Fly"Koji WadaDigimon Adventure1999"Blue Sapphire" Hiroomi TosakaCase Closed: The Fist of Blue Sapphire2019NormCoreCase Closed2018Katsuo ŌnoDetective Conan1996"OVER THE TOP" Hiroshi KitadaniOne Piece2019Hiroshi KitadaniOne Piece2011Kishidan and Hiroshi KitadaniOne Piece2016RadwimpsWeathering with You2019Radwimps feat. Tōko MiuraWeathering with You2019RadwimpsWeathering with You2019Mrs. Green AppleFire Force2019Red Blood Cell, White Blood Cell, Killer T. Cell, Monocyte (Kana Hanazawa, Tomoaki Maeno, Daisuke Ono, Kikuko Inoue)Cells at Work!2018"crossing field"LiSASword Art Online2012ClariSPuella Magi Madoka Magica2011SupercellBakemonogatari2009LiSADemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba2019
Vocaloid SongArtistYearDLCkemu feat. GUMI2017YM feat. GUMI2011Yomi feat. Hatsune Miku2016Kurousa-P (WhiteFlame) feat. Hatsune Miku2011Balloon feat. flower2016Orangestar feat. IA2014cosMo feat. Hatsune Miku2011Tezuka feat. Kagamine Rin/Kagamine Len2015Nayutan Seijin feat. Hatsune Miku2016kemu feat. IA2012EasyPop feat. Megurine Luka and GUMI2010feat. Kagamine Rin/Kagamine Len starring Asami Shimoda2011Mirai Komachi2018Mikito-P feat. Kagamine Rin2018Balloon feat. flower2017OSTER project feat. Hatsune Miku2017Ryuitti feat. GUMI2013"future beat"Mifumei feat. Mirai Komachi2019
Variety SongArtistYearDLCHIKAKIN & SEIKIN2015Taro Hakase1999Nursery rhyme1835Toho Project Arrange (SOUND HOLIC feat. Nana Takahashi)2008Toho Project Arrange (Yu-Hei Satellite)2010"Bad Apple!! feat. nomico"Toho Project Arrange (Alstroemeria Records)2007Oyatsu Company & The Puh2018Toho Project Arrange (beatMARIO (COOL&CREATE))2007Toho Project Arrange (Yu-Hei Satellite)2011Toho Project Arrange (Silver Forest)20072006Division All Stars2019
Classical SongComposerYearDLCOriginal adaptation of Clarinet Polka2018Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov1900Ludwig van Beethoven1809Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart1787Jacques Offenbach1858Joseph Haydn1770Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart1773Ludwig van Beethoven1812Franz Liszt1851Johannes Brahms1869Giuseppe Verdi1874Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky1892Gustav Holst1914Sergei Prokofiev1935Original adaptation of Pachelbel's Canon2008Yuu (pLumsonic!)2015Maurice Ravel & Yukiko 'YMY' Yamamoto Scott Joplin1902Eduardo di Capua1898Frédéric Chopin1834Original adaptation of Piano Sonata No. 142019
Game Music SongArtistOriginYearDLC"Jump Up, Super Star! Short Version"Pauline (Kate Davis)Super Mario Odyssey2017Toru MinegishiSplatoon 22017Hirokazu AndoKirby's Return to Dream Land2011"PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2" (Pac Toy-Box)Hiroyuki KawadaPac-Man Championship Edition 22016Misaki MachiyaNeko Tomo2018Anzu Futaba (Hiromi Igarashi)The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls2012"TD - 28619029byte remix -"Shinji Hosoe (Sampling Masters MEGA)Techno Drive1998"Racing the Storm"George NishigomiCritical Velocity2005Kazuo NoguchiAssault1988"Ridge Racer"Shinji Hosoe (Sampling Masters MEGA)Ridge Racer1993Yuji MasubuchiThe Genji and the Heike Clans1986Shota KageyamaPokémon: Let's Go! Pikachu & Pokémon: Let's Go! Eevee!2018"URBAN FRAGMENTS" Kohta Takahashi feat. Reiko NagaseR4 -Ridge Racer Type4-1999"MEGALOVANIA" Toby FoxUndertale2015"" Toby FoxUndertale2015"" Toby FoxUndertale2015"" Tonkachi, Hiroto, Megahon and Pump (Emiri Katō, Megumi Han, Yuichi Nakamura and Ayumu Murase)Ninja Box2019"Highschool love!" Go ShiinaTekken Tag Tournament 22012"" Go ShiinaMr. Driller Drill Land2002" Satoru KōsakiKotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan2001"" Yuu MiyakeKatamari Damacy2004"No Way Back" Go ShiinaGod Eater2010"The arrow was shot" Motoi SakurabaTales of the Abyss2005"IN THE ZONE" Go ShiinaAce Combat: Joint Assault2010"Brave Sword, Braver Soul" Yoshihito YanoSoulcalibur II2002"KARMA (Tatsujin Mix)" AJURIKATekken 62007"NAMCOT Medley" (ナムコットメドレー) Masako OogamiVarious games from Namco Museum"Fun-Filled Drum-Filled Taiko Dojo" (たのしい太鼓道場) JesahmVarious games by Namco2002
Namco Original SongArtistYearDLCMana2018Yako from Danchinomiya2018☆shoji☆ feat. Honoka♡Erika2018"void setup"Kaori Aihara2018Miho Tsujibayashi2018Tadahiko Yokogawa feat. Yako from Danchinomiya2018Youko Takamizu2007Namiko2011Yoko Takahashi20022017You'll Melt More!2016Tsuyomy2016"The Carnivorous Carnival”AJURIKA2007Kakumi Nishigomi2008Takahito Eguchi2014Zhan Xun Wei (Chai Found Music Workshop)20092011Nobuyoshi Sano2013Saori Terai2015Xeami2014"My Mine"setzer from MintJam2011LindaAI-CUE2003Mika Satoh2004Youko Takamitsu2011micazo2006Kaoru Katai2019Yuji Masubuchi2003Mika Satoh2004DAIKI2019"Gold Armor"2019"VICTORIA"Cranky2016Miyu2010Ryuuichi Takada2009Honoka2019Chiharu Kaneko feat. Haxch2016Bana Inoue2013Yuji Masubuchi2011"ON SAY GO SAY"Sho-kun2019Hiromi Shibano2010Natsumi of Silver Forest2011Mika Satoh2008MOES feat. Erika Kaiho2019Kiddish2018"OK I’m blue rat"E.G.G.2017"Phoenix" Yuriko Keino, Hirapon2013Haruki Shimotsuki2009MOES feat. Singman2019Versus2016Ayako Saso (Sampling Masters AYA)2011"Shiny Kung-fu Revival" t+pazolite2015Yuri Misumi2001CHUBAY2019"Blessed Bouquet Buskers" steμ2017DJKurara2016Azu♪2012Yoshi2011
Release Taiko Drum Master game was confirmed for Switch in Japan, revealing features such as motion control and HD rumble support for the game. The game was released on July 19, 2018. A licensed drum controller by HORI was later released.
Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia published the game in Southeast Asia, which comes with official English translation of the game, on August 9. The game arrived with Japanese voice-overs and Japanese, Chinese, and Korean text while the English text was made available via a free patch.
Bandai Namco Entertainment America published the Western release of the game alongside Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session! for the PlayStation 4. The Western features the identical tracklist as the Japanese/Asia version while adding more language options. The game was digital-only in US while a physical version was released alongside the HORI licensed drum controller in Europe. It was released on November 2.
Reception
Heidi Kemps of Gamespot rated the game 7/10. She praised the simplicity and variety of control modes for the rhythm portion of the games, while also praising the inclusion of numerous rhythm-based mini-games for the party mode, which is compared favorably to the Rhythm Heaven series of games. However, she feels that most of the control schemes are not always optimal and that the Japanese-oriented tracklist might be daunting for newcomers. Gavin Lane of Nintendo Life also scored the game 7/10, praising the touch controls of the game and the fun selection of party games, while criticizing the excess loading screens and lackluster motion controls which is described as "unworkable".
Chris Carter of Destructoid gave the game an 8/10, praising the wide variety of songs and the various difficulty level available that allows players of all skill levels to enjoy the game. He also praised the cute presentation and solid performance of the game in portable mode. Mitchell Parton of Nintendo World Report gave the game 8.5/10 and described the game as "polished, fun and incredibly weird at times". He criticized the English translation and the broken motion controls, but feels that the solid core gameplay and inclusion of party games makes this game enjoyable with just about anyone.
Sales Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum & Fun! sold 69,984 retail copies during its first week of release in Japan according to Media Create sales figures, which made it the best selling game of the week. This is also the best debut for the series to date. As of December 2018, the game has sold more than 260,000 retail copies in Japan.