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 (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.

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ＲＡＰＳｏ'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^[1], 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ＲＡＰＳｏ'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
English^NOA	Nintendo Badge Arcade
English^NOE	Nintendo Badge Arcade
French	Nintendo Badge Arcade
Spanish	Nintendo Badge Arcade
German	Nintendo Badge Arcade
Italian	Nintendo Badge Arcade

References

↑ 【3DS】毎日のバッジとれ～るセンター「2016/08/26」今回はリズム天国10周年記念、妖怪ウォッチ、どうぶつの森の新作バッジす！金土日無料プレイだよ。 ([3DS] Daily Badge Collection Center "2016/08/26" This time, new badges from Rhythm Heaven's 10th anniversary, Yokai Watch, and Animal Crossing! Free play on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.)

We'll need more research.
And maybe a dance party.

The Cutting Room Floor has an article on Nintendo Badge Arcade.

[1] 【3DS】毎日のバッジとれ～るセンター「2016/08/26」今回はリズム天国10周年記念、妖怪ウォッチ、どうぶつの森の新作バッジす！金土日無料プレイだよ。 ([3DS] Daily Badge Collection Center "2016/08/26" This time, new badges from Rhythm Heaven's 10th anniversary, Yokai Watch, and Animal Crossing! Free play on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.)

[1]