Alright, let’s talk about Tamagotchi Plaza, the latest game that’s trying to revive one of the most iconic parts of 90s kids’ childhood. Tamagotchi are those little virtual pets that kids used to try and keep alive, and put on their keychains (like Digimon, but cuter). I never had this experience, so I might not feel as attached to these Tamagotchis like others would. In Tamagotchi Plaza, they take a different approach to taking care of these little virtual creatures.

While the game and Tamagotchi look adorable and nostalgic on the surface, Tamagotchi Plaza just doesn’t feel as fun as it looks.

The Premise

Instead of raising a digital pet, you play as a human who gets whisked away from Earth by Prince Tamahiko (don’t ask why Earth exists in the Tamagotchi universe, it just does), and now you’re living on Tamagotchi Planet. You’ve suddenly been appointed as the chairperson of a festival committee for Tamahiko Town, and now you must make the town more popular and fun.

The goal of the game is to get Tamahiko Town to host the Tamagotchi Fest, and you have to do so by expanding all the stores and bringing in more crowds, and making it popular. At the end, after unlocking and expanding every store, you will be able to host the Tamagotchi Festival.

It’s cute and quirky, fits the brand, right? But then, the game kinda throws you into the deep end without much explanation. There is not really much lore or story within the game. What’s my motivation? None of that is clear, and even if you’re familiar with the franchise, you might feel a little confused and lost at the start.

Gameplay: Lots of Mini-Games, But Little Depth

Here’s where the bulk of your time goes: you’re managing multiple shops across town (12 shops in total, actually for the Nintendo Switch, and 15 for the Switch 2 edition). Each shop has its own mini-game. For example, there’s a dentist mini-game where you help Mametchi clean teeth (yes, really). Do that enough times, and the Prince comes by to give you a little recognition.

But, and this is a big “but”, the game doesn’t tell you how anything works. No tutorials. No clear objectives. You’re left figuring things out by trial and error. And once you do, you’ll realize most of these mini-games are repetitive. They start off kind of fun, but without any real rewards, goals, or progression, they lose steam fast.

Some of them even feel like the same game with a different coat of paint. It’s cute for a while, sure, but it gets old fast. There is not much exploration either. The town’s map is small, and walking around feels slow. For a game that wants to feel cozy and fun, getting from point A to B just feels like a chore.

Visuals: The One Area That Nails It

Okay, credit where credit’s due—the visuals are on point. The colors are bright, the world is cheerful, and the UI is clean and easy to understand. The in-game smartphone, which tracks your progress and Tamagotchi interactions, is super cute and actually really helpful.

It definitely feels like a Tamagotchi game in terms of presentation. If you’re here for the vibe, you won’t be disappointed.

Audio: Cute at first, but it gets annoying

As you’d expect from a game this adorable, the Tamagotchis come with equally cute voices, at first, that is. Rather than speaking in a common language, they communicate through cheerful, high-pitched noises that match their bubbly personalities. However, over time, those same sounds begin to grate. The lack of audio variety quickly turns charming into tiring, and eventually, I found myself reaching for the mute button just to enjoy the game in peace.

Verdict

So, is Tamagotchi Plaza worth your time? If you’re a hardcore Tamagotchi fan looking for some nostalgia, maybe. There’s joy in seeing all the characters and soaking in the colorful world.

But beyond that? The lack of tutorials, the repetitive gameplay, and the shallow mini-games make it hard to recommend, especially for new or casual players who just want a chill game to relax with. There’s just not enough here to keep you hooked.

It’s charming on the surface, but the fun fades fast.