Originally Taiko no Tatsujin operated off the much simpler Namco System 10 arcade system board, which basically speaking, had the processing power of the PlayStation1. When Taiko no Tatsujin was first released on a console it retained the old engine, resulting in the first few PS2 Taiko games having PS1 standard graphics and sound.
At the 7th arcade version Namco gave Taiko no Tatsujin a complete overhaul, upgrading the arcade machines to the current, newer system board, Namco System 246, a board based off PS2 technology, and upgraded again to another new format after the 14th iteration to the newer Namco System 357, based off Playstation 3.
Significant changes to the series will be mentioned underneath each arcade machine's profile.
For Taiko Dojo, the mobile service complementing Taiko no Tatsujin 7 to 14, click here.
Taiko no Tatsujin (太鼓の達人) -First ever Taiko, songs had only a single difficulty -Namco System 10 Release: 21 February 2001 Number of songs: 25 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 2 (太鼓の達人2) -Donderful difficulty introduced -Multiple (incomplete) difficulty levels for each song Release: 6 August 2001 Number of songs: 36 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 3 (太鼓の達人3) -Balloon notes introduced -Battle mode introduced Release: 15 March 2002 Number of songs: 44 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 4 (太鼓の達人4) -Voice samples for '50 combo!' '100 combo!' etc. Release: 12 December 2002 Number of songs: 48 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 5 (太鼓の達人5) -Song before difficulty select added, but can't choose Donderful in this mode -Futsuu difficulty added for all Namco Originals -Able to choose same song more than once per play Release: 6 October 2003 Number of songs: 54 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 6 (太鼓の達人6) -Able to choose same song more than once per play only if song is chosen before difficulty Release: 15 July 2004 Number of songs: 58 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 7 (太鼓の達人7) -Namco System 246, graphical overhaul -All songs streamlined to 6 genres, complete difficulty -Go-Go Time and Doron modifier added -Yam Note added -Number of times drumrolls are hit is displayed -Donderful difficulty renamed to Oni -Battle Mode discarded -Ability to choose same song more than once per play discarded -Popularity Ranking added Release: 15 July 2005 Number of songs: 80 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 8 (太鼓の達人8) -Game Music genre added -Baizoku, Sanbai, Yonbai modifier added -Revival Roulette added after first song is failed Release: 23 March 2006 Number of songs: 90 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 9 (太鼓の達人9) -Abekobe modifier added -Song Select mode taken out -Results screen shows number of 良・可・不可 obtained Release: 20 December 2006 Number of songs: 100 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 10 (太鼓の達人10) -First arcade Taiko with secret codes -'Game Over' text swapped for Japanese equivalent -Option to arrange songs by difficulty added -Tutorial system changed Release: 26 July 2007 Number of songs: 102 + 3 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 11 (太鼓の達人11) -First arcade with Ura Oni -First arcade with different Taiko sounds -Papa Mama Support added -Results screen shows total number of hits on drumrolls -Revival Roulette is replaced with Revival Drumroll -Position of drum sticks changed Release: 18 March 2008 Number of songs: 108 + 6 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 11 Asian Version (太鼓の達人11 亞洲版) -First Taiko arcade in full Chinese, features C-Pop genre Release: 25 April 2008 Number of songs: 108 + 6 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 12 (太鼓の達人12) -Announcement of version number changed to Japanese equivalent Release: 11 December 2008 Number of songs: 112 + 3 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 12 Asian Version (太鼓の達人12 亞洲版) Release: 23 June 2009 Number of songs: 143 + 2 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 12 Don~! to Zoryoban (太鼓の達人12 ド~ン!と増量版) Release: 14 July 2009 Number of songs: 147 + 11 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 13 (太鼓の達人13) Release: 17 December 2009 Number of songs: 154 +7 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin 14 (太鼓の達人14) -First arcade Taiko to congratulate a Full Combo -Introduced Shinta Mode, a different scoring method -Only arcade to receive a software patch Release: 8 September 2010 Number of songs: 157 + 13 + 5 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin (太鼓の達人) -Same name as first arcade -Namco System 357, new graphic and interface update -Backlit LCD screen, surround sound speaker system -Player profiles through Banapassport added, network and DLC support -Able to choose same song more than once per play -First arcade with costume and color select -2 players can choose different difficulties and gameplay mods -Scoring system changed, result screen overhauled -First Taiko to congratulate a Normal Clear -Yam Note replaced with Kusudama Note, Kimagure and Detarame modifiers added -Revival Drumroll is available after every song Release: 16 November 2011 Number of songs: 147 + 20 +15 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin (太鼓の達人) (July 2012 Update) -Codenamed 'KATSU-DON' -First arcade version to have a built-in camera -Network functionality revamped -Don Challenge system for unlocking even more content -Dojo Ranking mode added -Folder for recently played and popular songs added Release: 25 July 2012 Number of songs: 210 + 38 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin Sorairo Version (太鼓の達人 ソライロver.) -Vocaloid genre added Release: 13 March 2013 Number of songs: 276 + 43 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin Momoiro Version (太鼓の達人 モモイロver.) -Costumes and titles split into two different types Release: 11 December 2013 Number of songs: 321 + 41 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin Momoiro Version (International) (太鼓の達人) -First HD Taiko to be officially released outside of Japan, carries latest firmware -Certain features from Momoiro currently unavailable Release: 27 January 2014 Number of songs: 227 + 34 | |
Wadaiko Master -First arcade to be released outside of Asia, carries Momoiro firmware -Brasilian Music genre added Release: May 2014 Number of songs: 32 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin Kimidori Version (太鼓の達人 キミドリver.) -More folders to separate favorite songs, friend challenges, and promotional sets Release: 16 July 2014 Number of songs: 364 + 80 - 20 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin Kimidori Version (International) (太鼓の達人 キミドリver.) -Folders to easily find Touhou songs and new licenses -Monthly Facebook score contests Release: 6 August 2014 Number of songs: 291 + 36 - 19 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin Murasaki Version (太鼓の達人 ムラサキver.) -Favorites song folder expands to 10 songs -Tweaked results screen Release: 11 March 2015 Number of songs: 421 + 59 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin Murasaki Version (International) (太鼓の達人 ムラサキver.) -Tweaked results screen Release: 11 March 2015 Number of songs: 350 + 27 - 6 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin White Version (太鼓の達人 ホワイトver.) -First arcade version with Tokkun Mode Release: 10 December 2015 Number of songs: 484 + 72 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin White Version (International) (太鼓の達人 ホワイトver.) Release: 20 January 2016 Number of songs: 355 +68 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin Red Version (太鼓の達人 レッドver.) -First arcade version with Dojo Ranking Gaiden trials Release: 14 July 2016 Number of songs: 538 + 50 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin Red Version (International) (太鼓の達人 レッドver.) Release: 6 September 2016 Number of songs: 439 + 58 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin Yellow Version (太鼓の達人 イエローver.) -Don Point system replaced with Don and Katsu medals Release: 15 March 2017 Number of songs: 593 + 27 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin Yellow Version (International) (太鼓の達人 イエローver.) -Don Point system replaced with Don and Katsu medals Release: 5 April 2017 Number of songs: 543 + 5 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin Blue Version (太鼓の達人 ブルーver.) -Unlock system increased to include console Taiko style Battle mode (release June 30, 2018) -Tokkun mode deleted Release: 15 March 2018 Number of songs: 644 + 19 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin Blue Version (International) (太鼓の達人 ブルーver.) -Unlock system increased to include console Taiko style Battle mode (release June 30, 2018) Release: 13 April 2018 Number of songs: 594 | |
Taiko no Tatsujin Green Version (太鼓の達人 グリーンver.) -AI Performance Battle mode introduced Release: (Japan) 14 March 2019 Number of songs: 722 Release: (Asia) 7 May 2019 |
Taiko no Tatsujin (太鼓の達人) (March 2020 Update) -Same name as first arcade, codenamed 'Nijiiro Version' -Based on System BNA1, general performance upgrade -120 FPS Monitor; New QR Code Reader -Score Judgement by Grades introduced -New Base Scoring Rule Added (former base/Shin'Uchi scoring removed) -More Gameplay Modifier Customization Options -First Taiko to congratulate a Donder-Full Combo Clear -Songs now categorizable into multiple genres -Children genre renamed as 'Kids' -Game Music and Variety genres merged into one Release: (Japan) 24 March 2020 Number of songs: 804 |
Spinoff arcades
Taiko no Tatsujin RT ~Nippon no Kokoro~ (太鼓の達人RT~日本の心~) -Modified arcade for rehabilitation purposes -Only Kantan and Futsuu difficulties -'Drum Hitting' mode for strength training Release: November 2004? Number of songs: 20 | |
Medal no Tatsujin- Doki! Ooatari Darake no Sugoroku Matsuri (メダルの達人 ドキッ!大当たりだらけのすごろく祭り) -Taiko spinoff, Mario Party board game style with Don-chan as the main character -Songs are used in a drumming minigame Release: April 2005 Number of songs: 40 | |
Medal no Tatsujin 2- Atsumare! Go! Go! Sugoroku Sentai Don Ranger Five (メダルの達人2 あつまれ!ゴー!ゴー!双六戦隊ドンレンジャーファイブ) -More new minigames, choice can differ based on in-game season of the year -Battle minigame with Waru-Mekadon Release: February 2007 Number of songs: 43 |