What free Groove demo was released on June 22, 2026?

The free Groove demo released on June 22, 2026 was called the Starter Demo.

Nintendo made the Starter Demo available through the Nintendo eShop before Rhythm Heaven Groove’s full launch. It gave players an early sample of the game’s timing-based minigames and let them experience the series’ familiar focus on rhythm, repetition, and precise inputs.

The title is easy to confuse with a generic description such as “trial version” or “preview.” Those phrases describe what a demo does, but they are not the official name used for this release. “Starter Demo” is the specific product name attached to Groove’s downloadable sample.

The demo also helped introduce features beyond the traditional solo challenges. It included selected rhythm games, including Hoop Trundling and the multiplayer Rhythm Tweezers. Progress and available content were limited compared with the complete game, so the Starter Demo should not be mistaken for the full release.