Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a ridiculously charming and relaxing game that perfectly fuses the appeal of Shin chan with an addictive but laid-back gameplay loop. Some might find it a bit slow, but if you need a game to wind down with, this is the one for you.
Credit: Millennium Kitchen
Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town
Developer: Millennium Kitchen
Price: $40
Platforms: Nintendo Switch and PC (reviewed)
MonsterVine was provided with a PC code for review
Crayon Shin chan is a delightful show to watch when you want some goofy laughs with little commitment. It makes sense to pair this franchise with the chill gameplay of Boku no Natsuyasumi, which has you enjoying a vacation by catching bugs and fish and just generally hanging out. After thoroughly enjoying the previous title, Shin-chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation, I was raring to review the next game, and it’s as great as the first.
Most of Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is divided between the main rural area and the titular Coal Town. While in the main area around your house, you can grow vegetables, explore the mountains, catch fish, bugs, and crawfish, and complete quests for the quirky residents. Time goes by and days pass as you do this, though there are no hard time limits or anything to stress you out, making for a wonderfully relaxing experience.
Credit: Millennium Kitchen
Meanwhile, the main meat of the narrative happens in Coal Town, which is in danger from the powerful head of the Discardson family. As Shinnosuke, you spend a lot of time there creating inventions alongside a scientist to improve the town, gathering ingredients to help a struggling diner owner make new dishes, and taking part in trolley races on the coal mine tracks. It feels like an entirely different world from the rural area (which is also implied in the story by how you get there and return home), which makes jumping between the two areas refreshing and interesting.
“Everything you do feels productive but not in a stressful way, as there’s no pressure to complete things at any speed beyond the limits of each day.“
There are tons of plants, bugs, fish, crabs, and crawfish to forage and find, which fill out a notebook and add a neat aspect of collecting to everything you do. You can befriend the local kids and complete tasks for them like catching certain fish or finding particular flora, which rewards you with currency, items, and more.
Credit: Millennium Kitchen
Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town provides real relaxation
Everything you do feels productive but not in a stressful way, as there’s no pressure to complete things at any speed beyond the limits of each day. This can feel a bit slow if you go into Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town with a goal-oriented mindset, but if you just sit back and enjoy the pace, you’ll be in for a great time.
Of course, I couldn’t talk about how fun Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is without talking about the Shin chan aspect. As someone who finds the show to be very charming and pleasant to watch, it’s great to see the characters carried over so well. Shinnosuke is hilarious and constantly spouting off goofy remarks, while the supporting characters like his parents and the townsfolk all react to him differently with some excellent comedic moments. The series really is the perfect fit for this sort of game, as Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town proves frequently.
The Final Word
Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is another laid-back and charming title like its predecessor and the Boku no Natsuyasumi series before it. There’s lots to do and no pressure to get anything done, making for a bountiful title that lets you do what you want, when you want, as much as you want. It’s a great game to relax with, and worth grabbing if you need a break between bigger and more fast-paced games.
MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
