Getting Started

Welcome to Taiko no Tatsujin!

Whether you’ve just discovered the game or you’ve already played a few times, this section will help you understand the fundamentals of the game.

You’ll learn how to read notes, how scoring works, how difficulty is measured, and the terminology you’ll encounter throughout the rest of the site.

If you’re completely new, this is the best place to begin.

Where Are You Playing?

🕹️ I’m playing at the arcade

If your first experience will be on an arcade cabinet, start here.

➡️ Read the At the Arcade guide first.

You’ll learn about:

Finding a cabinet
Using player cards (Banapassport / alternatives)
Arcade etiquette
What to expect on your first credit

🏠 I’m playing at home

If your first experience will be on a home version of the game, start here.

➡️ Read the At Home guide first.

You’ll learn about:

Choosing a platform
Controllers
Initial setup
Calibration

Once you’ve played your first few credits, come back to this page to learn the fundamentals of Taiko no Tatsujin. These guides explain how the game works and will make everything you see on-screen much easier to understand.

Learning the Basics

It’s time to understand how Taiko no Tatsujin really works.

The guides below explain the game’s core mechanics. They can be read in order, or you can jump straight to the topic you’re interested in.

🥁 Reading Notes

Learn what every note type means, how to recognise them, and the correct way to play them.

🎮 Gameplay Mechanics

Learn how gameplay works once a song begins, including the note highway, on-screen interface, gameplay mechanics, and other elements you’ll encounter while playing.

⭐ Scoring & Judgement

Understand how your performance is scored, how the Soul Gauge works, how accuracy is judged, and what determines your final result.

📈 Difficulty Levels

Learn how Taiko’s difficulty system works, what the star ratings represent, and how to choose songs that match your current skill level.

📖 Terminology

A reference guide explaining the common words, abbreviations, and community terms you’ll encounter throughout the game.