Taiko: Drum Master
Nintendo Wii U · 2004
About this game
Taiko Drum Master is an entry in Namco's Taiko No Tatsujin rhythm game series and the first to have a Western release.
As in other rhythm games, the goal is to interact with a special controller according to scrolling onscreen prompts timed to music.
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This game comes bundled with the TaTaCon drum controller, a miniature version of a Japanese taiko drum with sensors in the middle and on the sides.
In-game actions are indicated by scrolling circle icons.
Red circles indicate hitting the center of the drum, while blue circles require the player to hit the edge.
On big circles, the player can hit both center or edge sensors for bonus points.
Finally, yellow lines and balloons require the player to perform drum rolls.
The game comes with a varied set of tunes: from covered pop hits like Material Girl and ABC to music from other Namco games such as Katamari Damacy and Dragon Spirit and even television theme songs.
In addition, there are also several mini-games included on the disc that use the TaTaCon for more esoteric purposes, such as watermelon eating and wolf-stacking.
The Japanese release is mostly the same, including keeping the game completely in English, but switches out a few of the tracks (particularly the TV show themes) for songs recognizable to Japanese audiences, such as We Will Rock You , I'm A Slave 4 U , and I Was Born To Love You .
About Nintendo Wii U
The Wii U (2012) was commercially Nintendo's least successful home console, hampered by market confusion over whether the GamePad tablet controller was a new device or a Wii accessory. Its low sales mean smaller overall print runs across the board, and several first-party and indie darlings have already become noticeably pricier than their commercial performance would suggest, since there are simply fewer copies in circulation.
Gamevaro tracks Taiko: Drum Master for Nintendo Wii U with separate market values for loose, complete-in-box (CIB) and factory-sealed copies, sourced from real eBay sales. Prices also vary by region — PAL, NTSC-U and NTSC-J releases of the same game often sell for different amounts due to print run sizes and regional collector demand.
Adding Taiko: Drum Master to a Gamevaro collection takes seconds — search by title or scan the box barcode, and the app fills in cover art, release details and current pricing automatically. This WIU release dates back to 2004.
Market values by condition
PAL
NTSC-U
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-13 | Loose / Item only | PAL | €31.50 |
| 2026-07-12 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-U | €22.92 |
Market insights
Rarity & condition
Only a handful of market sales have been tracked for Taiko: Drum Master, suggesting it doesn't trade hands very often — a sign of relative scarcity compared to more common Nintendo Wii U titles.
Complete-in-box (CIB) copies typically command a premium over loose cartridges/discs because the original box and manual are more fragile and get discarded or damaged over time — fewer complete sets survive.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Taiko: Drum Master worth?
Taiko: Drum Master for Nintendo Wii U is currently worth €31.50 loose. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is Taiko: Drum Master rare?
Taiko: Drum Master has only a handful of tracked market sales, suggesting relative scarcity compared to more common Nintendo Wii U titles.
What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for Taiko: Drum Master?
Loose means cartridge or disc only, CIB (complete in box) includes the original box and manual, and sealed means factory-sealed and never opened. These are tracked as separate market values because the price gap between them can be significant, especially for older releases.
Is Taiko: Drum Master worth more in PAL or NTSC?
The PAL version of Taiko: Drum Master is currently worth €31.50 loose, versus €22.92 for NTSC-U. Regional price differences usually come down to print run size and regional collector demand.
Ratings & Reviews
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