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Game Information

Game Title: Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town

Platforms:

• Nintendo Switch (Oct 24, 2024)
• PC (Oct 24, 2024)

Trailer:

• Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town - Official Release Date Trailer

Developer: h.a.n.d.

Publisher: Neos Corporation

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 78 average - 62% recommended

Metacritic - 77 average based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews


Andrenoob - Otto Cossio - Spanish - 8 / 10

In the sea of anime-based games, it's rare to find one that combines the freshness of the authors' ideas with a simple purpose, without hundreds of secrets that complicate or destroy the story as it progresses. For this reason, this game is a pleasant experience.

CGMagazine - Zubi Khan - 7 / 10

Like the 2022 title, Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town mashes together the iconic Crayon Shin-chan manga with the gameplay of a more obscure, Japanese bug-catching series.

Cubed3 - Sandy Kirchner-Wilson - 9 / 10

Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town takes what made the previous Shin-chan game good and adds a twist of intrigue that is much stronger than the latter's plot. There is a lot of fun to be had in Shin-chan's new adventure in Coal Town and a good relaxing holiday story to boot. The dedication to matching the visual and writing style of the Shin-chan universe makes this a joy to experience and a fantastic pickup for those who pine for summer during the cold seasons! It's a satisfying little adventure story with a ton of very odd humour and a really unique design.

GAMES.CH - Jasmin Linder - German - 85%

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a charming little adventure that brings back childhood memories of carefree summer holidays. The beautifully drawn landscapes paired with the classic Shin chan humour is bound to put a smile on your face no matter what.

GameLuster - Mateusz Niewierowski - 6 / 10

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.

Gameliner - Patrick Lamers - Dutch - 3 / 5

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a charming, visually appealing game suitable for all ages, though its simplicity and short day-night cycle can make the gameplay feel repetitive at times.

GamingTrend - Olivia Davies - 70 / 100

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.

God is a Geek - Lyle Pendle - 7.5 / 10

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is another wonderful cosy game featuring that daft anime kid, and is a seriously relaxing experience.

Hobby Consolas - Alberto Lloret - Spanish - 72 / 100

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is an adventure superior to my summer with the professor, although it still has problems, from extreme simplicity to a somewhat slow and monotonous development. But if you're into the crazy universe created by Yoshito Usui, and you like Japanese culture, you're very likely to be conquered.

IGN Italy - Arianna Buttarelli - Italian - 7.5 / 10

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is an adventure with childlike tones and a deliberately monotonous pace that aims to recreate the carefree atmosphere that many associate with their childhood summers. Undoubtedly designed for a very young audience, it forgoes some of the original work's strengths to package an aesthetically enchanting adventure, but perhaps a little too poor in terms of gameplay.

LadiesGamers.com - Yvonne van Geloven - Mind-blown

Truly, I hadn’t expected to like Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town as much as I do. I was never a big fan of the little boy when my daughter wanted to watch the anime many years ago, so I was a bit sceptical. But I have really warmed up to him, even though he is still a strange little boy.

The game is full of details, little adventures and bigger mysteries. Some of the interactions made me smile, and I was never left frustrated or in a rush. I took my time uncovering it all, and it was a grand journey. This is a serious contender for my Game of the Year 2024!

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is not for gamers who want to be bowled over by fast-paced action or striving for bigger and better goals. Instead, this is a game to curl up with on the couch and see Shin chan’s world with a kind of childlike wonder. If you want to know more about this game, don’t miss our interview with Akira Nagashima, the producer of the game.

LevelUp - Dan Villalobos - Spanish - 7.8 / 10

Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is an easy recommendation for any fan of Shin chan, as well as for those looking for a relaxing experience while exploring a beautiful place through the eyes of a 5-year-old boy with a lot of imagination.
The game looks great and lets you engage in various farming tasks, collect all kinds of insects, fish, and minerals you come across, and enjoy some excitement in curious races. The best part is that the signature humor of the series is present at every moment.

MonsterVine - Spencer Legacy - 4.5 / 5

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.

Nintendo Life - Jess Elizabeth Reed - 8 / 10

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a stunningly beautiful game balanced by its fair share of weird humour. While not mechanically complex, it's a charming slice-of-life game that will likely delight any fans of the Crayon Shin-Chan series.

Quest Daily - Sonia Heng - 8 / 10

“ This is a game I want to keep playing forever.”

Reno Gazette-Journal - Jason Hidalgo - 7.5 / 10

Like its mischievous protagonist, “Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town” is a surprisingly complex game. And by that, I don’t mean its mechanics. After all, the gameplay in “Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town” is about as simple as it gets. Instead, it’s the little details where the game pleasantly surprises. In that sense, “Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town” is very Crayon Shin-chan-like. It might seem shallow at first. But give it a closer look and there’s some depth behind that butt-walking move that he loves to whip out.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Ed Thorn - Unscored

A leisurely collectathon set in the Japanese countryside, which can't help but stick in your memory.

TestingBuddies - Dominik Probst - German - 8.5 / 10

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is not a game that comes with great bombast. It is a calm, almost meditative experience that impresses above all with its charming atmosphere and variety of small activities. Fans of the series will love Shin chan and his adventures, but players looking for a relaxed adventure will also find a welcome change of pace here. The coal town with its many secrets and nostalgic atmosphere will go down particularly well with players who have a fondness for Japanese culture and life simulations.

The Games Machine - Daniele Cucchiarelli - Italian - 8.5 / 10

Light-hearted as the flight of a butterfly, refreshing as water raised by the dart of a fish and relaxing as a sunny summer afternoon. Shiro and the Coal Town is an old-fashioned title that requires no special skills, but if played with the right spirit can awaken sweet emotions, welcoming you into a typically Japanese rural atmosphere.

WayTooManyGames - Oliver Shellding - 7.5 / 10

Soapboxing aside, Shiro and the Coal Town is legitimately interesting and has a pretty sizable tail for a game of this style. There’s tons to discover, the jokes that aren’t inherently problematic are funny (and the puns are even better if you know a touch of Japanese), and it runs wonderfully on the Switch. I can easily see this being an investable game for people looking for a marathon, not a sprint, and it’ll be more easily recognizable for younger players.

XboxEra - Genghis Husameddin - 8.4 / 10

Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a fantastic adventure game in that it is laid back, funny, and easy enough to be enjoyed by just about everyone be they child or senior. You might not know who Shin-chan is, but don’t let that stop you from taking it easy and looking up once in a while. ∎

Zoomg - Afshin Piroozi - Persian - 8.5 / 10

Overall, Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a very heartfelt, lovely, and relaxing game that excellently captures the unique storytelling style of anime in a video game format. Although it might lack some challenge, especially for adult players, if you're seeking a bit more tranquility in your daily life and want to enjoy a story with lovable characters and get lost in stunningly beautiful scenery, you won't regret experiencing Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town.