Chunithm

CHUNITHM
Logo of Chunithm
DevelopersSega (2015-2023)
Sega Fave (2023–present)
PublishersSega (2015–2023)
Sega Fave (2023–present)
Konami Amusement
EngineteaGfx
PlatformArcade
ReleaseCHUNITHM
  • JP: July 16, 2015 (2015-07-16)
CHUNITHM PLUS
  • JP: February 4, 2016 (2016-02-04)
AIR
  • JP: August 25, 2016 (2016-08-25)
AIR PLUS
  • JP: February 9, 2017 (2017-02-09)
STAR
  • JP: August 24, 2017 (2017-08-24)
STAR PLUS
  • JP: March 8, 2018 (2018-03-08)
SUPERSTAR
  • WW: November 26, 2020 (2020-11-26)
SUPERSTAR PLUS
  • WW: September 2, 2021 (2021-09-02)
AMAZON
  • JP: October 25, 2018 (2018-10-25)
AMAZON PLUS
  • JP: April 11, 2019 (2019-04-11)
CRYSTAL
  • JP: October 24, 2019 (2019-10-24)
CRYSTAL PLUS
  • JP: July 16, 2020 (2020-07-16)
PARADISE
  • JP: January 21, 2021 (2021-01-21)
PARADISE LOST
  • JP: May 13, 2021 (2021-05-13)
NEW
  • JP: November 4, 2021 (2021-11-04)
  • WW: March 3, 2022 (2022-03-03)
  • CHN: September 8, 2022 (2022-09-08)
NEW PLUS
  • JP: April 14, 2022 (2022-04-14)
  • WW: August 18, 2022 (2022-08-18)
SUN
  • JP: October 13, 2022 (2022-10-13)
  • WW: March 2, 2023 (2023-03-02)
SUN PLUS
  • JP: May 11, 2023 (2023-05-11)
  • WW: September 28, 2023 (2023-09-28)
LUMINOUS
  • JP: December 14, 2023 (2023-12-14)
  • WW: March 21, 2024 (2024-03-21)
LUMINOUS PLUS
  • JP: June 20, 2024 (2024-06-20)
  • WW: October 17, 2024 (2024-10-17)
VERSE
  • JP: December 12, 2024 (2024-12-12)
  • WW: April 17, 2025

X-VERSE
  • JP: July 16, 2025 (2025-07-16)
  • WW: November 20, 2025

X-VERSE-X
  • JP: December 11, 2025 (2025-12-11)
  • WW: April 16, 2026

Mate
  • JP: July 2, 2026 (2026-07-02)
  • WW: October 22, 2026

GenreRhythm game
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer (up to 4 players via cabinet-to-cabinet play)
Arcade systemNu (original to Paradise Lost, except Superstar and Superstar Plus)
ALLS (Superstar, Superstar Plus, NEW & above)

Chunithm (stylized in all caps) is an arcade rhythm game developed and published by Sega. It was first seen in select Japanese arcades in November 2014, as part of a location test and was officially released on July 16, 2015. The game's title of Chunithm is a portmanteau of "chūnibyō" and "rhythm".

Gameplay

Demonstration of the interface and gameplay of Chunithm. Players hit notes that come from the screen, requiring sliding the controller or lifting and lowering their hands to hit notes.

Chunithm's gameplay consists of using the controller to tap, hold, slide and flick notes that scroll down from the top of the screen, and the motion-based sensor bars on the sides of the cabinet that players must raise and lower their hands to hit notes in the air. Players can choose between five difficulty modes (From easiest to hardest: Basic, Advanced, Expert, Master, Ultima), with Master and Ultima containing notes that can only be hit by flicking the controller, and notes that are required to be hit downwards. Unlocking Master and Ultima difficulties requires the player to achieve an S rank in Expert difficulty, or by using a ticket to unlock Master and/or Ultima difficulties for the game session. A sixth special difficulty, Worlds End features notes which must not be hit to score, charts that are extremely difficult and/or unorthodox gameplay elements such as the notes scrolling backwards. Scores are given as a portion of 1,010,000 score per judgement, with more accurate judgements rewarding more score (From highest to lowest: Justice Critical (101%), Justice (100%), Attack (50%), Miss (0%)). Higher scores give better ranks, up to SSS+. When playing a chart with an additional player, a chain linked to both player's combo is given, breaking if one player misses. A bonus fourth chart is given with cabinet to cabinet play.

A gauge fills up when successfully hitting notes, and depletes when missing notes, clearing the chart when an amount of gauge has been filled up. Harder difficulties increase the maximum amount of gauge that can be filled in a single play. Skills chosen before starting a chart will boost the amount of gauge filled passively, when obtaining combos, hitting Justice Critical judgements or completing the chart at 101% accuracy. Harder skills punish the player for performing poorly by depleting gauge or force-quitting the chart, but rewards greater gauge. After completing a chart, progression to the player's chosen map path is given by how much times they've filled the gauge, with bonus progression for clearing the chart, completing the chart with a Full Combo or All Justice, map and/or character bonuses, playing with another player via. cabinet to cabinet play or using tickets that multiply the amount of progress earned.

Players may save their progress and customise their in-game profile using an Aime card, or other cards compatible with the Amusement IC system from other cards like e-amusement. Before a session, players may choose a map path to complete, where progression rewards in-game currency, usable tickets, charts and cosmetics like characters and nameplates that can be applied to a profile. The in-game currency can be used to purchase one-time use tickets that can be used to boost character experience, and play Master, Ultima or Worlds End difficulties for the session. Additional credit in the machine can purchase premium tickets that significantly boosts the character experience or progression when completing a chart.

International Releases

The first version of Chunithm released outside of Japan, "CHUNITHM SUPERSTAR", was released in November 2020. "CHUNITHM SUPERSTAR" is based on "CHUNITHM STAR" that was released back in 2017.

"CHUNITHM SUPERSTAR PLUS" was released on September 2, 2021, via an online update. This new version added the following to the game:

CHUNITHM NEW International Version was released in March 2022. Due to differences with the Japanese version, data will still be separated.

The launch dates, its countries/areas, and the version first released in these countries/areas are:

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: チュウニズム, Hepburn: Chūnizumu
  2. ↑ Named 中二节奏NEW in Mainland China.

References

  1. ↑ "12/12(木) CHUNITHMのバージョンアップにともなうお知らせ". info-chunithm.sega.jp (in Japanese).
  2. ↑ "Information of New『CHUNITHM VERSE』International Version 4/17". info-chunithm.sega.com.
  3. ↑ "7/16(水) CHUNITHMのバージョンアップにともなうお知らせ". info-chunithm.sega.jp (in Japanese).
  4. ↑ "2025.11.13, Thu. Information of New 『CHUNITHM X-VERSE』 International Version". info-chunithm.sega.com. Archived from the original on 2025-11-24. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  5. ↑ "12/11(木) CHUNITHMのバージョンアップにともなうお知らせ". info-chunithm.sega.jp (in Japanese).
  6. ↑ "2026.4.09 Thu. Information of New 『CHUNITHM X-VERSE-X』 International Version". info-chunithm.sega.com.
  7. ↑ "7/2(木) CHUNITHMのバージョンアップにともなうお知らせ". info-chunithm.sega.jp (in Japanese).
  8. ↑ "2026.10.15 Thu. Information of New 『CHUNITHM Mate』 International Version". info-chunithm.sega.com.
  9. ↑ "About Multiplayers | CHUNITHM International ver". About Multiplayers | CHUNITHM International ver. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  10. ↑ 演奏姿で魅せる！セガの新音ゲー「CHUNITHM（チュウニズム）」. Impress Watch (in Japanese). 28 November 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  11. 1 2 空間を切り裂くエア操作！セガが放つ新感覚音楽ゲーム「CHUNITHM（チュウニズム）」の秋葉原でのロケーションテストをレポート. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). 1 December 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  12. ↑ Eisenbeis, Richard (12 December 2015). "Sega's Newest Music Game Could Only Exist in an Arcade". Kotaku. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  13. ↑ "Chunithm International ver. Facebook Page". Facebook.