Every fact on this page applies to update 1.0.0, the one version tested. Other versions may behave differently.
No emulator needed: Rhythm Heaven Groove runs natively on the Apple chip. How nxnative compares with emulators
Running through nxnative
How Rhythm Heaven Groove runs
Rhythm Heaven Groove plays on the iPhone. In Europe it is sold as Rhythm Paradise Groove. The iPhone app came to about 3 GB in the last published sizes.
How it runs
The Packed app runs the game in handheld mode with the Switch's Boost performance mode, so it still draws at 1920x1080. Handheld mode matters here: in docked mode the game assumes a TV and asks you to pass a latency calibration, pressing A on every fourth beat, before you can play. A phone is its own screen, so handheld mode skips that step.
Getting there took several fixes in nxnative: a black screen where every sprite was in place but invisible, torn numbers and banded backgrounds in some textures, and no sound at all from the newest version of Nintendo's audio system. All of them are resolved.
Controls
The Packed app starts in the 2D touch layout. The layout button at the top centre switches layouts in game.
Good to know
- If you switch the game to docked mode with
DM_OPMODE=1, expect the TV latency calibration. It passes only when your presses land steadily on the beat, and once passed it is not asked again. - Tested with the base game, version 1.0.0.
Known issues
None reported
Packing command
Run this in your nxnative folder on the Build Mac. Replace the game folder and the keys path with your own. Add --platform mac-app to get a Mac app instead of an iPhone and iPad app.
python3 scripts/build_ipa_from_nsp.py ~/Games/rhythm-heaven-groove -k ~/keys/prod.keysFAQ
Does Rhythm Heaven Groove work with nxnative?
Yes. Rhythm Heaven Groove is tested with nxnative on update 1.0.0.
Which iPhone, iPad or Mac do I need to play Rhythm Heaven Groove?
An iPhone 15 Pro or newer (A17 Pro chip or later) or an iPad with an M1 chip or later, on iOS or iPadOS 26 or later, or a Mac with Apple silicon. iPads with the A17 Pro chip (iPad mini) have the iPhone 15 Pro's chip but are untested by nxnative. Packing needs a Mac with macOS 26.6 or later and Xcode 27.1.
Is Rhythm Heaven Groove included?
No. Neither this site nor nxnative includes any game. You Pack Rhythm Heaven Groove from your own copy of the game, with keys dumped from your own Switch.
Does online play work in Rhythm Heaven Groove?
Online play in Rhythm Heaven Groove is not confirmed to work, so do not count on it.
