Tamagotchi Plaza (Switch 2) Review – Cute, Confusing, and Lacking Core Charm

Tamagotchi Plaza (Switch 2) Review

If you’ve never heard of a Tamagotchi before, I’m not sure I would actually believe you on that. To get everyone up to the same page, though, a Tamagotchi is essentially a device hooked onto a keychain that allows players to take care of a virtual pet. The experience was a bit limited, but back in the day, it felt like a lot of fun. Taking care of virtual pets is a staple feature in some video games, but not for its namesake title, Tamagotchi Plaza.

Tamagotchi Plaza is not a virtual pet game, nor does it really have anything to do with Tamagotchis at all, except for the use of some of its mascot characters. In Tamagotchi Plaza, players are transported from Earth to Tamagotchi Planet in order to help Tamahiko Town earn the spot of host for the upcoming Tamagotchi Fest. Players will do this by upgrading shops to a Royal status to improve the town’s attractiveness.

Now, if a Tamagotchi game doesn’t include raising virtual pets, what do you do? If you thought you’d be playing a bunch of random mini-games, you’d be correct. Don’t forget, this game is geared towards a much younger audience, so the simplicity of the games makes sense. There are a variety of games that follow a similar pattern but are different. These range from games in which you design outfits, create a comic storyboard, or serve guests at a pool. While they all range in levels of enjoyment, they have one annoying thing in common, which is that they don’t really introduce the games to you or provide instructions.

Source of Confusion

While some games are easy enough to figure out, such as designing clothing, others are a bit more abstract, such as the two-panel comic game. Each mini-game is accessed via a shop. By completing the games successfully, the reputation of the shop increases, which then upgrades it and unlocks more features. Then, by using the Gotchi Points earned, players can use them to improve the town square.

The game’s graphics and audio are nothing special, but they do the job. In terms of graphics, the game isn’t pushing the limits of any hardware, and its aesthetics fit the game nicely. That said, they don’t do anything more than act as a serviceable component of the game. Likewise, with the audio, it doesn’t stick out one way or another, simply blending in with the game.

The game also has additional features such as two-player local co-op and versus modes. Additionally, while we did not test the functionality, players can connect the game to Tamagotchi Uni devices to get rewards. Lastly, the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of the game features three additional shops which utilize the Joy-Con 2’s features.

Tamagotchi Plaza is a mediocre experience. While the aesthetic and the mood of the game fit its target audience nicely, portions of the game are unnecessarily complex and without instructions, making it even harder to fully grasp. While Tamagotchi Plaza features some interesting and even fun mini-games, the overall package isn’t worth the headache. Would it kill them to incorporate parts of the traditional Tamagotchi experience into its video games? Whether that would help with the game or not, at least it’s worth a discussion.

*** A Nintendo Switch 2 code was provided by the publisher ***