Item: Kalimba Royal
Rating: 79
Author: Dinsun

Dinsun Review

Dinsun here. I don't usually review 'instruments,' but Kalimba Royal positions itself with enough 'guided play' that it almost qualifies as a rhythm game. It’s a very classy app. The sound quality is exceptional—you can tell they spent time recording a real kalimba. It’s incredibly relaxing, and the haptic feedback when you 'pluck' a tine is a nice touch.

As a 'game,' it’s severely lacking. The song library is small, and there’s no real challenge or progression system. It’s a simulation. If you want to learn the kalimba or just want a pretty sound in your pocket, it’s great. But if you’re looking for a Guitar Hero-style experience, you’ll be disappointed. It’s a conservative 58 because it does exactly what it says on the tin, but it doesn't do much to engage a 'gamer' mindset.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Authentic sound
Elegant UI
Educational

Limited songs
Not really a game
Niche appeal

Technical Report

Performance: Ultra-low latency audio.

Accessibility:

Note labels
Adjustable tine size

Audience Fit

Buy if: You find the sound of a kalimba relaxing or want to learn basic melodies.

Skip if: You want a competitive or fast-paced rhythm game.

Similar Games:

Sky: Children of the Light (Instruments)
Real Piano

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old conservative gamer
Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro
Playtime: 3 hours
Status: Learned 5 songs

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

1459382070

$9.99 4+★4.6 45 reviews

Author : Son Truong Ngoc

Pubish Date : Fri Apr 26 2019

Last Update Date : Thu Apr 18 2024

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 2.10Thu Apr 18 2024

[2.10] Change color theme
- Improve performance and fix bugs
[2.8] NEW Kalimba
- More New features:
+ Rotate vertical screen for tablet
+ In-game Recorder (without Microphone), Vibration
- Improves
+ Reduce Audio Latency
+ Big improve for Connect Physic Kalimba feature
+ UI, Gameplay
- Fix more bugs
The Kalimba is an African musical instrument consisting of a wooden board (often fitted with a resonator) with attached staggered metal tines, played by holding the instrument in the hands and plucking the tines with the thumbs. The mbira is usually classified as part of the lamellaphone family and part of the idiophone family of musical instruments.
Members of this broad family of instruments are known by a wide variety of names. The kalimba is also known as marímbula and mbria in the Caribbean Islands.
6 Kalimba Simulator (Thumb piano/ an African musical instrument) with real audio, with #, b, adjustable UI, changeable color style:
- Five Treble: 17 keys
- One Alto: 15 keys
More offline and online songs (Kalimba Tabs) for practice
Play simulator or Connect to real Kalimba (play multi-pitch) with mode:
- Melody & Chord
- Melody Only
- Melody (Auto Chord)
- Real Time
- Autoplay
Two view mode for beginner and professional
Build my own tabs and export pdf (similar KTabS): build, pre-play and save, open Kalimba tabs
Import & export midi file. Use this app for creating Standard Midi File (SMF)
Share your tabs to world. Download tabs from world
Record feature: record, play back and share
Export .wav file for better sound quality than recording by microphone. You can use it as ringtone or share it to your friends
Kalimba Tabs with songs:
- Yesterday once more
- Heart and Soul
- Heal the World
- When you believe
- My love
- You are my sunshine
- Happy birthday
- Kiss the rain
- ...
** Kalimba Tabs is updated regularly
Requires iOS 12.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Vip version of Kalimba Real. 6 Kalimba in 1. Connect, play multi-pitch with Real Kalimba. BUILD your own tab, export pdf for tabs. You can change color style.
The Kalimba is an African musical instrument consisting of a wooden board (often fitted with a resonator) with attached staggered metal tines, played by holding the instrument in the hands and plucking the tines with the thumbs. The mbira is usually classified as part of the lamellaphone family and part of the idiophone family of musical instruments.
Members of this broad family of instruments are known by a wide variety of names. The kalimba is also known as marímbula and mbria in the Caribbean Islands.
6 Kalimba Simulator (Thumb piano/ an African musical instrument) with real audio, with #, b, adjustable UI, changeable color style:
- Five Treble: 17 keys
- One Alto: 15 keys
More offline and online songs (Kalimba Tabs) for practice
Play simulator or Connect to real Kalimba (play multi-pitch) with mode:
- Melody & Chord
- Melody Only
- Melody (Auto Chord)
- Real Time
- Autoplay
Two view mode for beginner and professional
Build my own tabs and export pdf (similar KTabS): build, pre-play and save, open Kalimba tabs
Import & export midi file. Use this app for creating Standard Midi File (SMF)
Share your tabs to world. Download tabs from world
Record feature: record, play back and share
Export .wav file for better sound quality than recording by microphone. You can use it as ringtone or share it to your friends
Kalimba Tabs with songs:
- Yesterday once more
- Heart and Soul
- Heal the World
- When you believe
- My love
- You are my sunshine
- Happy birthday
- Kiss the rain
- ...
** Kalimba Tabs is updated regularly

Ratings & Reviews

4.6 out of 5 with 45 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Kalimba Royal transforms your mobile device into a high-quality thumb piano. Whether you are a seasoned musician or a complete beginner, the game's guided note system allows you to play complex melodies instantly. Explore a vast library of songs across multiple genres, unlock beautiful instrument skins, and record your performances to share with the world. It is the perfect blend of creativity and relaxation.

Features

Authentic high-fidelity kalimba sound samples

Extensive library of popular and classical songs

Relaxing 'Zen' mode for stress-free playing

Record and export your musical creations

Tips

Learning the Tines

Follow the falling 'seeds' to hit the correct tines. The longer you hold certain notes, the more resonance you create. Practice in 'Free Play' mode to get used to the layout before jumping into the song challenges.

Gameplays

Customization

Earn stars by completing songs with high accuracy. Stars can be used to unlock different wood types for your kalimba, which subtly changes the acoustics and aesthetic of your instrument.