The game was released in Japan on July 31, 2008, in North America on April 5, 2009, in Europe on May 1, 2009, and in Australia on June 4, 2009. It is the second game in the Rhythm Heaven series and the first one released worldwide, following the Japan-only Game Boy Advance title Rhythm Tengoku, and was succeeded by Rhythm Heaven Fever for the Wii and Rhythm Heaven Megamix for the Nintendo 3DS. Rhythm Heaven, Known as Rhythm Tengoku Gold in Japan, Rhythm Paradise in Europe, and Rhythm World in Korea, is a rhythm video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS.