Sumikko Gurashi – Omise Hajimerundesu is not trying to be a masterpiece. It is trying to be a friend. For collectors of weird Japanese 3DS games, or for parents trying to get a very young child into gaming, this is a hidden gem. For everyone else? It is a delightful YouTube rabbit hole to watch, but a hassle to actually play.
If you have a hacked 3DS, download it. If you have a Japanese 3DS, buy it. And if you just like looking at cute things... go look up a GIF of Tonkatsu rolling over. You will feel better. Sumikko Gurashi- Omise Hajimerundesu 3DS -JPN- ...
Platform: Nintendo 3DS (Japan Exclusive) Genre: Casual / Shop Management Difficulty: Perfect for winding down Sumikko Gurashi – Omise Hajimerundesu is not trying
The 3DS’s dual screens are used beautifully. The bottom screen is the shop floor, where you interact via stylus. The top screen shows a diorama of the corner, complete with little animations. Watching Shirokuma nervously tap his paws together while waiting for customers never gets old. For everyone else
Secondly, the price has gone up. Due to the physical-only release and the post-COVID boom in cozy gaming, loose carts now go for $40–60 USD. CIB (Complete in Box) can hit triple digits. Score: Warm Tonkatsu Sauce / 10
This is an import-friendly gem. The menus are heavily icon-based. To cook a crepe, you tap a strawberry icon, then a pancake icon. To serve tea, you tap the teapot. If you can match shapes and colors, you can beat this game. There are a few dialogue boxes, but they are purely for flavor text.
