Anime City

About

Anime City is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Shoujo City Developer and was released on December 15, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Anime City is a survival simulator blended with classic anime visual novel elements where you attend a Japanese high school, join clubs, and build friendships. Experience authentic anime culture through school subjects, after-school activities, and improving skills like cooking, sports, and social. Your choices and relationships shape your high school journey.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

66%

Audience ScoreBased on 80 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

gameplay4 negative mentions

The game has a charming and cozy atmosphere, making it enjoyable for players who appreciate slice-of-life simulations.
Character customization options are decent, allowing players to express creativity in their avatars.
The game has potential for growth, with the developer being responsive to feedback and regularly updating the game.

The game lacks a comprehensive tutorial, leaving players confused about objectives and mechanics.
Camera controls and player movement are clunky, making navigation frustrating and detracting from the overall experience.
There are significant concerns regarding the game's content, including the presence of controversial symbols and a lack of engaging gameplay features.

gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
70%
17%
The gameplay has received mixed feedback, with users noting a detailed tutorial and unique crafting and survival mechanics, but many find the controls clunky and the overall experience lacking motivation and depth. Players express frustration over vague mechanics, poor camera angles, and the absence of multiple save slots, which limits character development. While some appreciate the game's realistic portrayal of Japanese culture, others criticize the focus on superficial elements, suggesting that significant improvements are needed as it remains in early access.
- “The tutorial shows various mechanics of the game, but can be disabled/enabled whenever you want.”
- “Detailed tutorial that goes over almost every aspect of gameplay.”
- “Crafting and survival mechanics that are kind of unique.”
- “The controls feel clunky, and the gameplay can get boring quickly—especially if you’re unsure of what to do.”
- “These make up a grand majority of the gameplay unfortunately, so unless you're a completionist, you run out of things to do very quickly.”
- “The problem is - before it becomes fun you have to learn a lot of weird little mechanics.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their cute and charming aesthetic, contributing to a cozy and relaxing gameplay experience. However, there is significant criticism regarding the inclusion of AI-generated artwork, particularly concerning its thematic appropriateness and how it clashes with the overall art style. While some players appreciate the improved visuals compared to previous titles, others feel that the graphics alone do not compensate for the game's lack of content and features.
- “The graphics are great though because it's cute.”
- “It’s cozy and relaxing to play, with charming visuals and a nice range of customization options.”
- “The aesthetics are amazing and the vibe is so, so cute!”
- “It is clearly AI and does not match the art style at all.”
- “The visuals look dark and muddy, and the limited clothing options are disappointing.”
- “While the graphics in Anime City have improved, everything else about the game has regressed.”
story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The game's story aspect is criticized for its lack of depth and guidance, leaving players feeling lost and frustrated with the tutorial and mission structure. While some appreciate the freedom to create their own narrative in an anime world, many feel that the absence of a cohesive plot and character development detracts from the overall experience. Players suggest that a more structured story or clearer objectives would enhance engagement and enjoyment.
- “If you expect a hand-holdy story for 'modern' audiences, this is probably not for you, and I admire the dev's commitment to his vision.”
- “So you build your own story, live your life in an anime world, and that's a lot for a game that is only in early access.”
- “Being able to engage with your girlfriend or dive into story mode gives it more depth, which this game lacks.”
- “It also has no plot; it would be much better with a slight story, giving some kind of personality to your character.”
- “Not relaxing, needlessly strict (weather you can't avoid that makes you sick but you need to do the missions so... okay then), and confusing even with a 'tutorial.'”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The reviews indicate a significant absence of music in the game, with many users expressing disappointment over the lack of background music, particularly in settings like the convenience store where it would be expected. Additionally, while there is a music minigame, it has been criticized for its unintuitive design, further detracting from the overall musical experience.
- “Background music would be very beneficial, especially in the convenience store, where music would most likely play in real life.”
- “Since I was in the Shizuka route, I tried maxing my science stats through class and art stats through the music club.”
- “There's no music at all.”
- “There is no music.”
- “I thought there would be music in this game since it's the latest in the series, but my doubts were proven correct after I watched the gameplay video on YouTube.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a calm, slice-of-life vibe that effectively captures anime tropes, providing a serene experience for players. While it lacks the intense challenges and horror elements found in titles like Pathologic or Fear & Hunger, it offers a relatable portrayal of a struggling student's life, emphasizing a more relaxed and introspective ambiance.
- “If you’re into calm, slice-of-life vibes, it definitely delivers that atmosphere well.”
- “Hey, the game does a really good job at capturing anime tropes and the overall atmosphere.”
- “But if you enjoy things like Pathologic or Fear & Hunger where failure is constant and the joy comes from learning the game and doing better each time, this might be a nice little challenge that's not nearly as hard as those two and doesn't have the horror atmosphere, leaving you to just feel the life of this struggling student with nothing but an empty house to come home to.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players note significant replayability potential, particularly with the anticipated addition of six new romance interests, two additional clubs, and new clothing options, which could enhance the overall experience and encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “There is a lot of replayability potential after the developer adds the additional six romance interests, two more clubs, and new clothing options.”
- “The game offers endless replayability with its branching storylines and multiple character paths.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the diverse choices and outcomes available, making me want to dive back in again and again.”
- “There is a lot of replayability potential after the developer adds the additional six romance interests, two more clubs, and new clothes.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The lack of diverse endings makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as the cooking and crafting systems offer limited rewards that do not justify the effort required. Additionally, navigating the menu is described as cumbersome, further detracting from the overall experience.
- “The cooking and crafting systems are nice, but there's only so much you can do with the outputs, so they feel rather tedious since the reward is not greater than the amount of effort needed to use these systems.”
- “In regards to the UI, going through the menu is tedious.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurd and unexpected elements, such as the AI-generated anime girl Mona Lisa, which elicits genuine laughter. Players find enjoyment in the comedic aspects, especially when sharing the experience with friends, despite any financial concerns related to the game's cost.
- “I literally burst out laughing when I saw the AI-generated anime girl Mona Lisa.”
- “When you don't think about how you spent 15 dollars while playing this game, it's funny to roast with someone next to you.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users express disappointment with the game's stability, noting that it is plagued by numerous bugs despite its early access status, which detracts from the overall experience, especially given the price point.
- “I was really disappointed playing this because I see a lot of potential, and I do understand it’s early access, but it's very buggy, especially for the price.”