Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town

You can't go wrong with a game like Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, with its charming appeal that players of all ages can warm up to. The gameplay may be simple, but this game is surprisingly packed with a lot of content to keep you going for a while.

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is an excellent follow-up to Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation.

A game based on the popular manga and anime series Shin chan, where Shinnosuke travels between a village in Akita and a town in Coal Town. Explore, fish, catch bugs, grow vegetables, invent, race trollies and more in this adventure game. Switch version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.

Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a beauty of a game. It has a lot of cozy elements but also very basic ones.

Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town doesn't reinvent the wheel but instead takes you on a cozy stroll through the idyllic countryside through the lens of a child.

The cute, simple gameplay and funny exchanges make the game easy to pick up and enjoy without feeling rushed. Even though it doesn't have a lot of depth, this is definitely a cozy experience, perfect for people who want to relax.

I honestly think Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town greatly benefits from its new location, adding a unique charm that sets it apart from its predecessors with a charming story that’s personal and melancholic. It still has its issues with overly simplistic gameplay, which could use an extra bit of spice to keep it from dragging, but this game is a definitive and polished way of experiencing Shin chan’s adventures in video game format.

More of a sidegrade than an upgrade to its predecessor, the inherent appeal of Shin-chan, Japanese countrysides and summertime lollygagging come through enough to keep me captivated by the series.

Shin-Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is an admirable yet flawed effort at a summer vacation simulator. Its nostalgic spirit and gorgeous artwork make for a comfortable hangout, but as its steam runs out at the mid-point, the vacation can begin to feel more like a work trip. A splash of magical realism brings welcome contrast to the genre’s trademark scenery, but the questlines turn from exploration to exploitation along the way. Though the Coal Town attempts to shake up the formula, I’d rather be fishing.

Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a delight that I can recommend to fans of the series. With no calendar system, play at your own pace with no need to rush. Help out the villagers, collect everything, and even compete in races. A story you can tackle whenever that feels pulled out the anime. Beautiful visuals that make the price of admission worth it alone. Sadly a critical save bug keeps me from recommending the PC version. While I wanted the game to do more I can't deny I enjoyed my tim...

The successful execution of these elements is almost enough to distract you from the game’s highly basic and low-impact gameplay for a while, but not entirely. Even with the introduction of more minigames and narrative situations, the game remains a highly consistent experience for better and worse. Still, if Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town looks like a game for you, chances are good you’ll have a great time settling in and immersing yourself in its simplistic charm.

Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town launches on PC via Steam and the Nintendo Switch in western territories on the 24th of October. It will feature multiple languages for subtitles (including English) and dubbing in Japanese, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese. Hang tight for our full review of the game—and while you’re here, give our interview with the game’s producer Akira Nagashima right thisaway! ∎