Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town Review (2024)

Editor’s note: JF Games PR provided a PC (Steam) copy of Shin chan and the Coal Town to IGN India for this review.

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a new game centred around the beloved, mischievous five-year-old Shin chan, a character many recognise from the long-running manga and anime series. This game is developed by Neos Corporation, who previously released Shin chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation – The Endless Seven-Day Journey in 2022. That title took the Nohara family away from their familiar city of Kasukabe to a vacation spot, immersing players in a charming countryside adventure. Shiro and the Coal Town follows a similar theme, with Shin chan and his family once again leaving the city behind, this time heading to the Akita region, to a picturesque village in rural Japan.

But the interesting thing about Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is the contrasting areas you get to explore. While the game begins in a serene, lush village, it then shifts to the industrial, gritty setting of Coal Town. This area is very important to the main story (it’s literally in the name), and Shin chan arrives there in a magical train that transports him to this unique mining town. Without giving too much away, Coal Town comes with its own narrative arc, where Shin chan meets new residents and assists them with various tasks, ultimately helping to shape and save the town. It feels much like a Shin Chan adventure anime film, that has an entirely new cast of characters and challenges.

A Beautiful Landscape to Explore

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town takes a charming 2.5D approach, where the character models move along a linear path against beautifully crafted backdrops. There is meticulous attention to detail in every scene, which makes the game stunning to navigate at every scene. The landscapes in the village setting feel reminiscent of a Ghibli film, with its lush, picturesque landscapes. No matter if it’s the bright sunny days, serene evenings, or quiet nights, each time of day is rendered beautifully, making you want to linger in the game’s colourful and vibrant visuals.

In contrast, the mining town has a constant dull, evening look, which is far from “beautiful” in the sense that the village is. It is the opposite of the serene, natural village side — showing a more industrial, gritty atmosphere. The town is marked by smoke stains, narrow lanes, and an overall polluted feel. This contrast doesn’t give you the same relaxing vibe as the village, but is a more sombre, heavy atmosphere that fits well with the storyline taking place there.

Decently Addictive Gameplay Loop

The gameplay loop in Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town revolves around completing tasks during the day cycle before nightfall. Each day begins with exploring the village, gathering materials —because the game heavily focuses on collection elements, and doing missions. You then move on to the Coal Town, where you follow a similar routine, working on both main missions and side missions.

An Unending Collectathon

The missions often require materials that you collect during your gameplay. These materials range from bugs, fish, vegetables, herbs, to stones. You can find them by spotting shining objects on the ground, fishing, or bug-catching. However, you’ll often need to revisit the same spots repeatedly to make sure materials respawn and you gather enough of what you need for various tasks, which can become somewhat grindy soon.

You also need money to purchase certain materials, as it’s not always possible to collect everything in the quantity you require. This is where sub-missions become important. The gameplay emphasises the importance of completing these side quests, as they reward you with both money and materials, which you can later use to advance in the main missions. The design of the game encourages exploration and gathering resources, making these tasks essential for progressing through the story.

The game’s relaxed and serene atmosphere is also beautifully enhanced by the music in the village area. The peaceful tunes go perfectly with the visuals. Even in the Coal Town, with its dusk-like ambience, the music complements the setting. This harmonious combination makes the game an entirely pleasant world to lose yourself in.

I think people who prefer a slow gameplay that would require them to explore a by going through the same places over and over again to collect stuff will like the game. This is also why Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town feels like the kind of game best enjoyed on handheld devices. Its calming nature offers a perfect way to unwind after a stressful day, so that you can immerse yourself in the quiet village life with Shin chan while also going on exciting adventures in the mysterious coal town.

Worth the Money?

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is fully priced at ₹1,800 on Steam in India, which is 38% higher than Valve’s current suggested pricing for the country. Although it would have been nice to see publisher Neos Corporation follow the suggested regional pricing, the game’s current price is still worth it for what it offers, especially for fans of the beloved character Shin chan, who is highly popular in India. With an introductory offer of ₹1,620, future sales may also bring the price down to a similar number, making it a good investment for those looking to relive the charm of the iconic series from their childhood.