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CHEEKY CHEERHYTHM is a tiny indie rhythm game with composers from Secret of Mana, 13 Sentinels and Shin Megami Tensei
CHEEKY CHEERHYTHM initially looks like the sort of wonderfully specific game that lives in an indie corner at a trade show: two motion controllers become cheer pom-poms, a Live2D character reacts to the beat, and the player is expected to actually move. Then the composer list starts reading like several decades of Japanese game music history.
By Kader CHEEKY CHEERHYTHM 
Yabukaradoo revealed the first wave of music contributors on September 11. CHEEKY CHEERHYTHM is planned for Steam in 2027, and every track involved in this announcement is being written specifically for the game.
Hiroki Kikuta brings credits including Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana. Basiscape's Mitsuhiro Kaneda has worked on 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Unicorn Overlord and Taiko no Tatsujin. Saori Kobayashi's history includes Panzer Dragoon Saga and Panzer Dragoon Orta.
The soundtrack credits are much bigger than the production looks
Tsukasa Masuko, closely associated with the early Megami Tensei and Shin Megami Tensei soundtracks, is also involved. Yoshimi Kudo, Hige Driver, Prof. Sakamoto, Manbo-P and mewlist are part of the first wave as well.
Yoshiki Ara is handling the main theme along with additional in-game and out-of-game music.
The developer says more contributors are expected. The current list only covers composers who have already approved the public announcement of their involvement.
The actual controls turn motion controllers into pom-poms
CHEEKY CHEERHYTHM describes itself as fitness rhythm action. Players hold one gyro-equipped controller in each hand and move them to the beat like cheerleading pom-poms rather than simply tapping a conventional note chart.
The player acts as the coach of Iroha Shishikura, a high-school student with no previous cheerleading experience. Her Live2D animation responds in real time to rhythmic accuracy, linking the character performance directly to how well the player moves.
Joy-Con and Joy-Con 2 are specifically recommended as gyro controllers. The currently announced platform is Windows PC through Steam.
Playing perfectly does not make Iroha nicer
The other half of the pitch is character interaction. Iroha is deliberately written as proud and constantly teasing, with voice actor Hinata Yuka recording more than 600 original lines for the game.
Accurate rhythm inputs change her movements. They do not stop the taunting.
Character design and original artwork come from illustrator Asanagi, while story scenes appear between the rhythm sections as the player attempts to improve the school's sports-club results through cheer training.
Five minutes of it are playable at TGS 2026
CHEEKY CHEERHYTHM is appearing in playable form at Tokyo Game Show from September 17 through September 21 in the Indie Game Area, booth 09-C10. The show demo is approximately five minutes long.
There is still no exact launch date beyond 2027. For now, a motion-controlled cheer rhythm game with this particular soundtrack roster is specific enough.