Sunshine Shuffle

If you like Texas Hold ‘Em Poker and stories about found family, this is the game for you. You take on the role of an investigator, working for… well, you’ll find out. Your job is to investigate if the creatures on the ship are dangerous and worth taking out. Seems weird, yeah? Well Sunshine Shuffle has plenty of heart. Each character has a back story and with a couple story twists, it’s really fun. There are some minor issues when it comes to pacing, but in general, if you like card games and cute stories, you’ll enjoy Sunshine Shuffle.

75%Game Brain Score

story, music

graphics, grinding

78% User Score Based on 148 reviews

Critic Score 67%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

Sunshine Shuffle is a single player casual simulation game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Strange Scaffold and was released on May 24, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

In "Sunshine Shuffle," play Texas Hold 'Em with a group of animal robbers seeking to outsmart the Fishie Mob in a vivid, ska-infused world. As you progress in the game, decorate the S.S. Sunshine with new items and unlock conversations that add depth to the compelling neo-noir narrative. Immerse yourself in this unique blend of poker and adventure, unraveling a thrilling tale of crime and camaraderie.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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78%

Audience ScoreBased on 148 reviews

story28 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Charming and cute aesthetic with engaging characters and a heartfelt story.
The combination of poker gameplay and narrative storytelling creates a unique experience.
Fun soundtrack and enjoyable character interactions that keep players entertained.

Gameplay is slow-paced, making it difficult to follow the story and poker simultaneously.
Limited poker mechanics, such as fixed betting limits, hinder strategic play.
Repetitive dialogue and minor glitches detract from the overall experience.

story
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
66%
3%
The game's story is a surprising blend of cute aesthetics and darker themes, revolving around a heist narrative told through poker games with charming animal characters. While the writing and character development are praised for their depth and engagement, many players find the pacing and gameplay mechanics detract from the storytelling experience, leading to a split focus that can hinder immersion. Overall, the story is seen as a unique and heartwarming element, but its execution leaves some players wanting a more cohesive integration with the gameplay.
- “Absolutely love how serious the story is compared to how cheery the music sounds and how chibi the characters look.”
- “A short story that balances serious topics and comedy expertly as it's told through some good ol' Texas hold 'em, creating what has to be one of the best and most unique gaming experiences I've had.”
- “Sunshine Shuffle has a great heist story slowly revealed through great characters that interact with that keeps you to the table.”
- “The story isn't compelling enough to justify its existence.”
- “The pacing of the story is not tied to the timing of the poker, so I just feel jerked around all the time.”
- “The story and dialogue were both intrusive to gameplay and incredibly slow, even when I increased the text speed in the menu.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
38%
12%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the upbeat ska soundtrack as enjoyable and fitting for the game's quirky aesthetic. However, some critics noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive and may not align well with the game's serious narrative elements. Overall, while the music enhances the experience for many, there are calls for a broader variety of tracks to maintain engagement throughout gameplay.
- “Absolutely love how serious the story is compared to how cheery the music sounds and how chibi the characters look.”
- “The characters are interesting, the music is fantastic, you can unlock different items to furnish the boat, outfits and play pieces, and the characters' stories can be put together in an evening of play.”
- “The soundtrack is the delight and as is standard for strange scaffold games, the narrative is stellar.”
- “The ocean sounds muddle the soundtrack, making it sound like blown-out speakers.”
- “This, coupled with the fact that the story resolves itself pretty quickly, and that the soundtrack quickly exhausts itself with just a few tunes, makes for a slightly disappointing game overall, although I appreciate the originality.”
- “The music, while fine, also doesn't really work tonally for me.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
59%
14%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a frustratingly slow pace and distracting mechanics, such as a hidden catch-up system in the poker game that can lead to poor decision-making by AI opponents. While the combination of poker and narrative elements is praised for its originality, the execution suffers from tedious animations, gameplay bugs, and a lack of mechanical polish, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, some players still find enjoyment in the story and music, hoping for improvements in future updates.
- “It's a nice mix of story and gameplay that hasn't really been exploited much in any other game.”
- “Expertly written and a really interesting combination of poker gameplay and a visual novel system!”
- “It worked, I'm having a blast so far and enjoying the music and the gameplay.”
- “It's far too slow and tedious with the animations and the restrictions, and I've even encountered some gameplay bugs like duplicated cards.”
- “The gameplay hinders the narrative, so much so that if the poker was removed and this was just a visual novel or a walking sim while on board, it would be more engaging and the story wouldn't suffer.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay is so frantic that it quickly became a headache trying to both play the game and follow what these creatures were telling me.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The graphics of the game are described as cute and whimsical, featuring vivid, family-friendly visuals that enhance the overall aesthetic. While the art style is appealing and creates a fun atmosphere reminiscent of a friendly poker night, some players feel that the customization options are limited and the cute visuals are underutilized in gameplay. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's charm, despite some frustrations with pacing and gameplay interruptions.
- “Sunshine Shuffle is a Texas Hold'em game with vivid and family-friendly graphics where animals sit down to gamble their money at the Texas Hold'em table.”
- “The art style is whimsical and makes the game pop.”
- “I absolutely adore the style and aesthetic of the game; it really feels like a poker night between a group of friends and you just happen to be there.”
- “The customization sums up as PNG sets that overlay over cards, tables, the carpet, as well as a rather small set of decorative furniture that serves no other purpose besides providing a sense of aesthetic that is very limited.”
- “A cute aesthetic that isn't utilized aside from a handful of animations, an interesting premise that is bogged down by not only an extraordinary amount of fluff but by the actual gameplay, poker that should be quick and seamless is constantly interrupted by comments from the players that slows down a hand so that each one takes like 2 minutes.”
- “If they had just taken the aesthetics of Animal Crossing without the frustratingly slow and labor-intensive AI, this game would have gotten my full endorsement.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the witty interactions between cartoon animal characters, who engage in serious discussions with a comedic twist. Players appreciate the clever writing and the blend of lighthearted moments with a compelling narrative, making it a delightful experience that elicits both laughter and emotional responses. Overall, the game successfully combines a casual poker experience with a charmingly funny storyline and engaging characters.
- “I wanted a nice casual poker game without any crazy modifiers or anything, and that's exactly what I got, with the added bonus of an amazing narrative and some genuinely hilarious moments.”
- “Even if the idea of cartoon animals discussing very serious topics like a bank robbery wasn't humorous enough by itself, the writers have added plenty of jokes throughout.”
- “Sure this is the apparently rarely seen 'limit' variant, but that's no real downside to me, because this is not just a really comfy and cute looking little poker game, but it's got a fantastically written, smart and funny story to boot with an extremely likeable cast of characters.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a surprisingly emotional narrative that juxtaposes heartwarming moments with themes of economic hardship and societal failure. Players are drawn into a touching story featuring cute animal characters engaged in poker, which ultimately reveals deeper issues and evokes a range of feelings, from joy to heartbreak. The writing is praised for its ability to blend humor and serious topics seamlessly, creating a memorable and impactful experience.
- “Touching, surprisingly about the economic hardship and situations that lead people to take drastic actions, and overflowing at the same time with joy and love.”
- “A heartwarming crime story, cute creatures, a very fun ska soundtrack, Texas hold'em, a child who gambles, something about procuring bodies?”
- “The game's writing is incredible; you go in expecting some sweet ska (it's there, the ska is pretty sweet), nice poker (yup, that's poker), and maybe a joke here or there... and end up getting swept into a heart-wrenching story of society failing the people who need it most, when they need it the most.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively slow and tedious, hindered by lengthy animations and various restrictions. Additionally, some have reported gameplay bugs, such as duplicated cards, which further detract from the experience.
- “It's far too slow and tedious with the animations and the restrictions, and I've even encountered some gameplay bugs like duplicated cards.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- “I find the grind to be frustratingly monotonous, with little reward for the time invested.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers appreciate the character designs and highlight the extensive customization options available in the shop, enhancing the overall character development experience.
- “The character designs are great, and I love the customization options available in the shop.”
- “The depth of character development really makes you feel connected to the story and the characters.”
- “I appreciate how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's optimization prioritizes narrative experience over speed, with AI players acting slowly, resulting in longer hand durations compared to other poker games. This design choice may appeal to players seeking a more immersive experience but could frustrate those looking for faster gameplay.
- “The game's design choices are optimized for the narrative experience, allowing players to immerse themselves in the story while playing limit hold'em.”
- “The AI players are relatively slow to act, which enhances the pacing of the game and allows for a more thoughtful gameplay experience.”
- “Overall, the optimization in this game creates a unique blend of strategy and storytelling that sets it apart from other poker games.”
- “You're playing limit hold'em (no variations are available), and some of the game's design choices are optimized for the narrative experience. For example, the AI players are relatively slow to act, so a hand will take longer than in most other poker games.”
- “The optimization in this game feels lacking, as it prioritizes storytelling over gameplay efficiency, leading to frustratingly slow rounds.”
- “While the game has a unique narrative approach, the optimization choices detract from the overall experience, making it feel sluggish and less engaging.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marred by issues with pacing linked to its gameplay mechanics, alongside reports of minor glitches that can disrupt the overall experience.
- “There are issues with pacing due to the gameplay mechanics, which are often hindered by minor glitches.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I encountered several bugs that disrupted my experience, leading to frustrating moments.”

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67%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sunshine Shuffle is a casual simulation game with fantasy theme.

Sunshine Shuffle is available on Nintendo Switch, PC and Windows.

Sunshine Shuffle was released on May 24, 2023.

Sunshine Shuffle was developed by Strange Scaffold.

Sunshine Shuffle has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its graphics.

Sunshine Shuffle is a single player game.

Similar games include Harold Halibut, Silence, Murder by Numbers, Paper Cages, Card Shark and others.

Sunshine Shuffle

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