Nintendo Badge Arcade

"Grab all the Nintendo-themed badges you can in this fun-filled crane-machine game. Then arrange them into a custom HOME Menu theme for your Nintendo 3DS™ system! Unleash your creativity with dozens of digital badges to collect, and match them to themed backgrounds. Start your collection today with this free-to-start download on Nintendo eShop!" — Nintendo Game Details and Nintendo eShop description (excerpt)

Nintendo Badge Arcade

Image

Developer

Nintendo SPD

Publisher

Nintendo

Platform

Nintendo 3DS

Release date(s)

December 17, 2014
November 10, 2015
November 13, 2015

Modes

One Player

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Nintendo Badge Arcade (バッジとれ〜るセンター^?, Badge Torēru Center) was a free-to-start application for the Nintendo 3DS, allowing players to customize their Nintendo 3DS HOME Menu with badges.

The game launched on December 17, 2014 in Japan, November 10, 2015 in North America and on November 13, 2015 in Europe. On May 26, 2017, updates to the service were discontinued due to save data constraints. On March 23, 2023, with the closure of the Nintendo 3DS eShop, it became no longer possible to buy additional plays and themes, nor receive daily free plays outside of the game's Practice Catcher. On April 8, 2024, the game shut down completely due to the discontinuation of online play on Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.

Gameplay

Nintendo Badge Arcade took place in an arcade filled with machines known as Badge Catchers, each containing badges based on various Nintendo franchises such as Super Mario, Animal Crossing, Pokémon, Splatoon and Rhythm Heaven; which were reorganized each day. Similar to real-life UFO catchers, players would use the catcher's claw to try and drop badges off the bottom of the screen. They could accomplish this by simply picking them up, or use other techniques such as pushing them or causing land-slides. Any badges that the player obtained could be added to the HOME Menu, with certain badges able to launch some of the 3DS' built-in applications. Exclusive themes for the HOME Menu could also be unlocked for purchase, with a "Rhythm Heaven"(or "Rhythm Paradise" in Europe) theme once being available.

Each day, players would have begun the game with two free plays, after which they would need to purchase additional plays using real money. Once per day, players could use the Practice Catcher to practice catching dummy badges. Playing through the Practice Catcher could sometimes reward additional free plays.

Rhythm Heaven sets

There are a total of 23 Rhythm Heaven-themed Badge Catchers/sets. All of them feature characters from the series. Most badges are simply pre-existing artwork, though some are newly made for Nintendo Badge Arcade.

In the list below, the names are taken and translated from the Japanese version of Nintendo Badge Arcade, as the English versions refer to each set simply as "Rhythm Heaven set" and "Rhythm Paradise set" respectively, and each badge as "Rhythm Heaven badge" and "Rhythm Paradise badge" respectively. The images from left to right depict each set's Badge Catcher and appearance in the Collection.

Icon	Sets		Badges
	リズム天国シリーズ ソフトがはじまるバッジ その１	Rhythm Heaven Series Launcher Badges Part 1	コロコロたんけん隊とニンテンドー3DSカメラ コーラスメンと思い出きろく帳 火星人とダウンロードプレイ ロボットと本体設定	Flippers and Nintendo 3DS Camera Chorus Kids and Activity Log Martian and Download Play Robot and System Settings
	リズム天国シリーズ ソフトがはじまるバッジ その２	Rhythm Heaven Series Launcher Badges Part 2	ウラオモテ人とニンテンドー3DSサウンド マーチャとMiiスタジオ マキネコとすれちがいMii広場 テビリとニンテンドーeショップ	Stepswitcher and Nintendo 3DS Sound Marcher and Mii Maker Lumbercats and StreetPass Mii Plaza Tibby and Nintendo eShop
	リズム天国 カラテ家	Rhythm Tengoku Karate Man	カラテ家 植木鉢 岩 電球 タル サッカーボール バクダン	Karate Joe Pot Rock Light Bulb Barrel Soccer Ball Bomb
	リズム天国 パチパチ三人衆	Rhythm Tengoku The Clappy Trio	パチパチ三人衆 パチパチ三人衆（つめたい視線） パチパチ三人衆（パチッ！）	The Clappy Trio The Clappy Trio (Cold Stare) The Clappy Trio (Clap!)
	リズム天国ゴールド コーラスメン	Rhythm Heaven Glee Club	コーラスメン リーダー コーラスメン コーラスメン（うたう） コーラスメン（さけぶ）	Glee Club Conductor Chorus Kids Chorus Kids (Sing) Chorus Kids (Whail)
	リズム天国ゴールド ブルーバーズ	Rhythm Heaven Blue Birds	ブルーバーズ 隊長 ブルーバーズ 隊員 ブルーバーズ 隊員（つっつく） ブルーバーズ 隊員（ふんぞる）	Captain Blue Bird The Blue Birds Member The Blue Birds Member (Peck) The Blue Birds Member (Stretch)
	リズム天国ゴールド ケロケロダンス	Rhythm Heaven Frog Hop	ケロケロ合唱団 ボーカル ケロケロ合唱団 ダンサー ケロケロ合唱団 バックダンサー	The Frogettes Bandleader The Frogettes Dancer The Frogettes Backup Dancer
	リズム天国ゴールド ウラオモテ	Rhythm Heaven Lockstep	ウラオモテ人 ウラオモテ人（オモテ） ウラオモテ人（ウラ）	Stepswitchers Stepswitchers (Onbeat) Stepswitchers (Offbeat)
	みんなのリズム天国 ロボット工場	Rhythm Heaven Fever Screwbot Factory	ロボット 白 ロボット 白（ヨッシャ！） ロボット 黒 ロボット 黒（ヤッタ！）	Robot White Robot White (Let's go!) Robot Gray Robot Gray (Oh yeah!)
	みんなのリズム天国 レスラー会見	Rhythm Heaven Fever Ringside	レポーター レポーター（あきれ顔） レスラー（キメポーズ１） レスラー（キメポーズ２）	Reporter Reporter (Unamused Face) Wrestler (Pose 1) Wrestler (Pose 2)
	みんなのリズム天国 コロコロたんけん隊	Rhythm Heaven Fever Flipper Flop	コロコロたんけん隊 隊長 コロコロたんけん隊 隊員 コロコロたんけん隊 隊員（コロコロ） コロコロたんけん隊 隊員（ミス）	Captain Tuck and the Flippers Captain Captain Tuck and the Flippers Member Captain Tuck and the Flippers Member (Flipping) Captain Tuck and the Flippers Member (Miss)
	みんなのリズム天国 鳥の大群	Rhythm Heaven Fever Flock Step	イロトリ鳥 ピンク イロトリ鳥 ブルー イロトリ鳥 オレンジ イロトリ鳥 グリーン イロトリ鳥 イエロー	The Huebirds of Happiness Pink The Huebirds of Happiness Blue The Huebirds of Happiness Orange The Huebirds of Happiness Green The Huebirds of Happiness Yellow
	みんなのリズム天国 図書ガールズ	Rhythm Heaven Fever Cheer Readers	図書ガールズ 記録係 図書ガールズ 発声係 図書ガールズ 金魚係 図書ガールズ 書記 図書ガールズ 連絡係 図書ガールズ お菓子係 図書ガールズ 会計 図書ガールズ 黒板係 図書ガールズ 振付係 図書ガールズ 副部長 図書ガールズ 部長 図書ガールズ 美術係	School Library Pep Squad Archivist School Library Pep Squad Vocalist School Library Pep Squad Goldfish Caretaker School Library Pep Squad Secretary School Library Pep Squad Communicator School Library Pep Squad Confectioner School Library Pep Squad Accountant School Library Pep Squad Blackboard Duty School Library Pep Squad Choreographer School Library Pep Squad Assistant Director School Library Pep Squad Director School Library Pep Squad Artist
	リズム天国 ザ・ベスト＋ テビリとなかまたち	Rhythm Heaven Megamix Tibby and Friends	テビリ ブンブン プルタ イエモン ブルック レドロン	Tibby Boondog Dieter Saffron Saltwater Paprika
	リズム天国 ザ・ベスト＋ フルーツバスケット	Rhythm Heaven Megamix Fruit Basket	じめんくん（シュート） じめんくん 地面 リンゴ レモン	Courtney (Shoot) Courtney Ground Apple Lemon
	リズム天国 ザ・ベスト＋ 失恋ベアー	Rhythm Heaven Megamix Blue Bear	失恋ベアー くま太 失恋ベアー くま太（うるうる） 失恋ベアー くま太（大粒の涙） 失恋ベアー くま美 ドーナッツ ケーキ	Blue Bear Beary Blue Bear Beary (Teary-eyed) Blue Bear Beary (Big Tears) Blue Bear Bearbara Donut Cake
	リズム天国 ザ・ベスト+ ヤギ小屋	Rhythm Heaven Megamix Stable	ヤギ ゴールデンヤギ ふつうのエサ 銀のエサ 金のエサ	The Goat Golden Goat Normal food Silver food Gold food
	リズム天国シリーズ キャラクターたち その１	Rhythm Heaven Series Characters Part 1	スペースアンパイア ヘアーベジタボーズ タマネギ ヘアーベジタボーズ ジャガイモ ヘアーベジタボーズ 赤カブ マスター マスター（あそびポーズ）	Space Umpire Hair Vegetables Onion Hair Vegetables Potato Hair Vegetables Turnip Barista Barista (Playful Pose)
	リズム天国シリーズ キャラクターたち その２	Rhythm Heaven Series Characters Part 2	おさるさん（ボールでウキ♪） おさるさん（ノリノリ♪） 時計さる イエロー 時計さる パープル	Monkey (Cheerful with a ball♪) Monkey (Joyful♪) Small Monkey Yellow Small Monkey Purple
	リズム天国シリーズ キャラクターたち その３	Rhythm Heaven Series Characters Part 3	階段キャッチ プラリン 階段キャッチ アラリン 通訳者 火星人	Catchy Tune Plalin Catchy Tune Alalin Translator Tom Martian
	リズム天国シリーズ キャラクターたち その４	Rhythm Heaven Series Characters Part 4	マキネコ イエロー マキネコ ピンク マキネコ ブルー ごっつぁん兄弟 鳥羽海道 ごっつぁん兄弟 天ノ鉾立	Lumbercats Yellow Lumbercats Pink Lumbercats Blue Sumo Brothers Toba Kaido Sumo Brothers Tenno Hondate
	リズム天国シリーズ リズム天国ガールズ その１	Rhythm Heaven Series Rhythm Heaven Girls Part 1	マーチャ 隊員 タップダンズ ユカ ボーカリスト ユカ 重役会議 秘書 バッティングショー ピッチャー	Marching Orders Squadmate Tap Trial Yuka Vocalist Yuka Board Meeting Assistant Exhibition Match Pitcher
	リズム天国シリーズ リズム天国ガールズ その２	Rhythm Heaven Series Rhythm Heaven Girls Part 2	Ｗデート 先輩 だいスキＲＡＰ Ｓｏ'ＲＡ パジャマズ マコ エグラン	Double Date His Crush Love Rap MC Adore Pajama Party Mako Eglantine

On August 26, 2016, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Rhythm Tengoku, two special sets of badges were released, bringing the total amount to 25. One is a modified version of the Rhythm Heaven Fever Cheer Readers set depicting the School Library Pep Squad in various outfits, "10 years later", the other being a combined version of the two Rhythm Heaven Series Rhythm Heaven Girls sets with one new badge. While these sets have a separate icon when viewed in the Collection, and are grouped as "Rhythm Heaven Badges 2" (or "Rhythm Paradise Badges 2" in Europe) when placing badges, they are counted towards the "Rhythm Heaven"/"Rhythm Paradise" category in the Collection.

Icon	Sets		Badges
	みんなのリズム天国 10年後の図書ガールズ	Rhythm Heaven Fever Cheer Readers 10 Years Later	１０年後の図書ガールズ 記録係（小学校教師） １０年後の図書ガールズ 発声係（声優） １０年後の図書ガールズ 金魚係（生物学者） １０年後の図書ガールズ 書記（ホテルウーマン） １０年後の図書ガールズ 連絡係（レポーター） １０年後の図書ガールズ お菓子係（パティシエ） １０年後の図書ガールズ 会計（銀行員） １０年後の図書ガールズ 黒板係（学芸員） １０年後の図書ガールズ 振付係（ダンサー） １０年後の図書ガールズ 副部長（ツアーコンダクター） １０年後の図書ガールズ 部長（専業主婦） １０年後の図書ガールズ 美術係（イラストレーター）	School Library Pep Squad 10 Years Later Archivist (Elementary School Teacher) School Library Pep Squad 10 Years Later Vocalist (Voice Actor) School Library Pep Squad 10 Years Later Goldfish Caretaker (Biologist) School Library Pep Squad 10 Years Later Secretary (Hotel Woman) School Library Pep Squad 10 Years Later Communicator (Reporter) School Library Pep Squad 10 Years Later Confectioner (Pastry Chef) School Library Pep Squad 10 Years Later Accountant (Banker) School Library Pep Squad 10 Years Later Blackboard Duty (Curator) School Library Pep Squad 10 Years Later Choreographer (Dancer) School Library Pep Squad 10 Years Later Assistant Director (Tour Conductor) School Library Pep Squad 10 Years Later Director (Housewife) School Library Pep Squad 10 Years Later Artist (Illustrator)
	リズム天国シリーズ リズム天国ガールズ+アイドル	Rhythm Heaven Series Rhythm Heaven Girls + Pop Singer	マーチャ 隊員 タップダンズ ユカ ボーカリスト ユカ Ｗデート 先輩 重役会議 秘書 バッティングショー ピッチャー だいスキＲＡＰ Ｓｏ'ＲＡ パジャマズ マコ エグラン アイドル	Marching Orders Squadmate Tap Trial Yuka Vocalist Yuka Double Date His Crush Board Meeting Assistant Exhibition Match Pitcher Love Rap MC Adore Pajama Party Mako Eglantine Pop Singer

Official Websites

• ニンテンドー3DS｜バッジとれ～るセンター｜任天堂 (Nintendo 3DS | Badge Collection Center | Nintendo)
• Nintendo Badge Arcade for Nintendo 3DS - Official Site [Archive]
• Nintendo Badge Arcade | Nintendo 3DS download software | Games | Nintendo

Trivia

• While the badge sets were used to promote Rhythm Heaven Megamix by featuring characters that appear in the game, the artwork used for the Hair Vegetables comes from Crop Stomp rather than Rhythm Tweezers.
• During its run, players were able to post their HOME Menu designs on Miiverse, and the best ones would be shown off in the Miiverse Gallery, with special commentary from the arcade bunny. After the Miiverse service was discontinued, the Gallery simply showed the existing posts at random each day. Several of these designs also used Rhythm Heaven badges.
• The exclusive "Rhythm Heaven"/"Rhythm Paradise" theme that could be purchased from this app simply contained a plain background with circular shapes, reminiscent of the boxart for Rhythm Heaven, with a stark yellow color like that of the boxart for Rhythm Tengoku, as well as lacking any special music or effects. This is in contrast to the Rhythm Heaven Megamix Ringside and Rhythm Heaven Megamix Costumed Tebiri themes which feature actual characters, play music and change various sound effects.

Development History

Main article: Nintendo Badge Arcade/Development

In Other Languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	バッジとれ〜るセンター	Badge Collection Center
EnglishNOA	Nintendo Badge Arcade
EnglishNOE	Nintendo Badge Arcade
French	Nintendo Badge Arcade
Spanish	Nintendo Badge Arcade
German	Nintendo Badge Arcade
Italian	Nintendo Badge Arcade

References