Tamagotchi’s were once the type of pet pal that gamers could fit right in their pocket. While it may not quite fit in your pocket, the Tamagotchi Plaza Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is that little ’90s nostalgia hit with a twist. Developed by Hyde and published by long-term legends Bandai Namco, Tamagotchi Plaza sees players not looking after a singular Tamagotchi, but rather an entire town, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. 

The Tamagotchi citizens of Tamahiko Town are prepping for a big festival and need help bettering the town in preparation. To do so, you act as Chairperson alongside your chosen Tamagotchi buddy, or your Vice Chairperson, working in the various business establishments in a series of mini-games with the ultimate goal of boosting their success to “Royal Status” by providing exceptional customer service. 

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition introduces three additional shops to Tamahiko Town, including the Ninja Shop, which utilises the Joy-Con 2 motion controls to simulate throwing shuriken, for those familiar with Tamagotchi Uni, an old-school Tamagotchi in watch form, additional “gifts” and in-game events can be accessed.

Preparing for the Tamagotchi Festival is a lot of hype in the lead-up. I engaged in dentistry that I was not qualified for, participated in rhythm-based rap battles that resulted in aggressively throwing out self-affirmations, and repairing bicycles.

With 15 mini-games, there’s plenty of variety. Each shop is inventive in its own way, approaching customer service roles or making glasses or fashion, which was a great novelty the first few times, but became monotonous.

hile cycling between mini-games after every few clients made for less repetitive gameplay sessions, it still got tiresome. The only way to progress the story is by serving an endless stream of clients to raise enough money to upgrade shops, and the plaza is underwhelming. It became a mindless slog, where I would sometimes repeat the same instances of designs or recipes, despite the numerous patterns, ingredients, and materials available. 

Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable enough in short bursts. Still, I wasn’t particularly invested in upgrading every shop and the town centre due to how expensive and grindy the process was. It wasn’t always easy to look at the bigger picture and feel pride working toward the ultimate goal.

I yearned for the times when I could care for my pet, and was disappointed that there wasn’t more time to develop a more involved focus on my chosen Tamagotchi. 

The game runs flawlessly in both handheld and docked modes, featuring an adorable, colourful, and eye-catching cartoon world. It’s filled with visual charm, especially in the weird and wonderful creatures, as they speak their Tamagotchi gibberish language and occasionally manage a few zingers that make me chuckle. The music is mostly background noise that’s just upbeat, but not particularly notable, and sweet nonetheless. 

Tamagotchi Plaza: The Nintendo Switch 2 edition is a cute little casual game for those looking for a low-stakes, stress-free gaming session. It’s a family-friendly title that could keep young kids occupied for a while and isn’t overly challenging. It’s a nostalgic and wholesome experience that lovers of the cute and cuddly may enjoy.

Written by: Yasmin Noble