The Coin Game
- February 22, 2019
- devotid
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"The Coin Game" is a ticket arcade simulation set on an island with goofy robots. The game features various arcades with realistic physics, ticket redemption areas, and a band of animatronics. Other attractions include UFO arcade, lazer tag, go-kart track, a 90's mall with cinema, and odd jobs for earning more tickets. Watch out for mischievous minions who love the animatronic band.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- gameplay164 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Coin Game" is characterized by its addictive and nostalgic arcade mechanics, offering a satisfying loop of playing games to earn tickets, redeeming them for prizes, and managing survival needs. While the game features impressive physics and a variety of activities, it suffers from some janky mechanics and bugs that can detract from the experience. Overall, players appreciate the charm and depth of gameplay, despite some criticisms regarding graphics and occasional frustrations with controls.
“The gameplay loop of playing games to win prizes to pawn them to get more money, all while paying attention to your needs, is incredibly fun and addictive!”
“The attention to detail in the highly realistic physics of the arcade machines is commendable, making gameplay both engaging and satisfying.”
“The gameplay is simple yet engaging, with a focus on earning tickets and redeeming them for silly prizes.”
“The mechanics are janky and buggy; you have to be precise with certain things to click on, and the way the game functions is told rather than shown to you.”
“The gameplay gets redundant after a while, even in survival mode, but I keep playing for the realism of gameplay and my hope for any updates from the developers.”
“The open-world design and the survival mode mechanics are really just unnecessary and don't make the game fun.”
- graphics159 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the nostalgic, early 2000s aesthetic, while others criticize the simplistic and sometimes glitchy visuals. Some users note that the graphics do not significantly detract from the overall gameplay experience, emphasizing the game's charm and fun factor despite its graphical limitations. However, there are calls for better optimization and more advanced graphics options to enhance performance and visual quality.
“The graphics are charming and the overall atmosphere of the game is lighthearted and humorous.”
“The aesthetics of going into an arcade/entertainment establishment is dead spot on.”
“With its charming graphics, catchy music, and addictive gameplay, it's the kind of game that'll keep you coming back for more.”
“All in all, the graphics are shocking and the game is just weird; having never been to a mall in my life, I especially have no desire whatsoever after this bizarre experience.”
“This game is buggy, the character models (especially the female) look awful, and there are graphical issues such as shadows being distorted in a weird way.”
“The graphics don't justify the poor game function and optimization at this point in time, even on sale.”
- story86 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a mixed perception of the game's story aspect, with many players noting a lack of substantial narrative or depth. While some appreciate the heartwarming themes and potential for future story modes, others criticize the absence of a cohesive plot, suggesting that the gameplay could benefit from more structured storytelling and character interactions. Overall, the game is seen as fun but lacking in meaningful story elements.
“With a diverse array of activities, attention to detail, and the heartwarming story of its development, this game captures the essence of the classic arcade experience while adding its own unique twist.”
“Not only does this title let you play many different arcade games for free, it has a heartwarming story full of hardship, struggle, and suffering.”
“There's a ton of potential here - for new minigames and activities, and, if a mission-based story mode ever emerges, for plotlines that take advantage of elements like seedy businesses, a struggling town, automation, local UFO sightings... this game is, against all odds, one to watch.”
“The survival mode never really appealed to me; it needs some kind of story elements to it, or something other than 'adult man acts like child - rides a bike, and collects trash to make a living' - not a very appealing introduction to a game.”
“Perhaps a little story added to the game would make the player dive deeper into the lore?”
“There's no story, nor any required tasks.”
- atmosphere77 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of classic arcades and the carefree spirit of youth. Players appreciate the charming visuals, eerie undertones, and attention to detail that create a unique and engaging environment, making it a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Overall, the atmosphere enhances gameplay, drawing players into a world reminiscent of their childhood arcade adventures.
“The atmosphere is awesome, between the accurately made arcade games, the visuals, and the little details like snack stands and candy machines, playing this game is just as fun as a trip to your local arcade.”
“Clouded with nostalgia, this game delivers a unique atmosphere that captures you into coin-popping-pizza-smelling-arcade-madness.”
“The machines are well designed, the games are fun, and the atmosphere of the arcade nails the dimly lit, flashing lights, and old wood paneling that I remember from the arcade corner of my local roller rink.”
“The atmosphere is eerie and the constant night along with the player being the only human makes for a great atmosphere.”
“The old eerie atmosphere of an empty town in the middle of the night really sold me on this.”
“The recent addition of clothed and voiced robo-citizens adds a much more lively atmosphere where the silence and emptiness of the original version made me feel a little bit like I was in a horror game waiting to happen.”
- humor66 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its surreal and quirky charm, with players enjoying the funny locations, witty dialogue, and amusing character interactions. Many reviews highlight the game's lighthearted atmosphere, filled with oddball humor and entertaining glitches that add to its appeal. Overall, the comedic elements, including dark humor and absurd scenarios, contribute significantly to the game's enjoyment and replayability.
“The graphics are charming and the overall atmosphere of the game is lighthearted and humorous.”
“The humor is great!”
“One of my favorite features is the hilarious voice acting the carnival workers have.”
“To be honest, the glitches are funny sometimes, but what I would love more is a more in-depth character creator, because as of now all you can do is pick from 2 character models and change the color of their shirts.”
“It feels janky, but the game is supposed to be funny.”
- stability63 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game is characterized by a significant number of bugs and glitches, which are typical for early access titles. While some players find these issues frustrating, many appreciate the charm they add to the overall experience, often describing the gameplay as enjoyable despite the instability. Overall, the game's performance can be inconsistent, with reports of crashes, freezing, and janky mechanics, but it remains a fun and engaging option for casual play.
“Doesn't feel like random luck, and the games aren't buggy at all (besides one claw machine with letters).”
“All games play very well with no glitches!”
“This game is a frustrating, nearly unplayably buggy mess.”
“The UI is dreadful and buggy, the controls outside of playing the games are also buggy and unsatisfying, which wouldn't matter if there wasn't so much emphasis on transportation, chores, etc. that pull you away from actually playing the arcade games.”
“Golf cart glitches often make it unsteerable until reset.”
- optimization57 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 32 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly on PC. While some users have noted improvements in recent patches, the game still struggles with frame drops and technical errors, leading to a less polished experience. Despite these challenges, players appreciate the game's charm and potential, hoping for further optimization in future updates.
“For $10, this was certainly worth it, and I look forward to future content updates that improve performance and add more unique arcade-style games!”
“The last patch has really improved performance a lot.”
“How optimization is done is through a menu that you select your computer's power through, and it adjusts the video settings accordingly.”
“Does have a big stuttering issue on newer hardware and the game dev is silent on it.”
“The stuttering issue is dreadful to the point of the game stopping for almost a full second every few moments.”
“My only real complaint is that I feel this game really needs to be better optimized.”
- music34 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience with catchy tracks that fit the arcade theme. However, some players find certain music loops repetitive and suggest improvements, such as more variety and control over audio settings. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's relaxing atmosphere, making it enjoyable for casual play.
“The gameplay, settings, and music give a sense of nostalgia.”
“Just by going down the street and hearing the amazing music kick in brings up a feeling of happiness and sincerity about the whole place.”
“With its charming graphics, catchy music, and addictive gameplay, it's the kind of game that'll keep you coming back for more.”
“The soundtrack of the coin game, while accurate, is a loop of blown-out distorted 'in the distance' generic 'hype tracks' that will quickly get on your nerves.”
“Loading bar shows half loaded, music still running but it crashes my entire computer!”
“An animatronic band plays generic music.”
- grinding31 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 55 % negative mentions
The reviews consistently highlight that grinding in the game is a significant and often tedious aspect, with many players feeling it requires an excessive time commitment, likening it to needing "a second life." While some find the grind rewarding in the long run, especially in survival mode, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking engaging mechanics, leading to a sense of boredom. Overall, grinding is seen as a necessary but exhausting part of the gameplay experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“Grinding is the only mechanic.”
“Which in survival means the wisest strategy is just grinding on the same few machines and ignoring 90% of the machines in the game.”
“Can get repetitive at points, as you will be grinding a bunch in survival unless you get a good RNG at the pawn shop and can grind prizes for items to sell.”
“I spent 8 hours straight grinding for a 100,000 ticket piece of shit hoverboard I can't even use.”
- emotional22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game deeply emotional, evoking nostalgia and warmth through its heartfelt design and relatable experiences reminiscent of childhood summers and arcade visits. The attention to detail and the developer's passion create a wholesome atmosphere that resonates with players, often leading to genuine emotional reactions, such as tears of joy and smiles from fond memories. Overall, it stands out as a touching tribute to simpler times, making it one of the most beloved games on Steam.
“This game makes me nostalgic in a heartwarming sort of way.”
“You can tell the developer put so much love and passion into this game; it's so wholesome and sweet.”
“It might sound silly to say that this game was touching, but it managed to capture a very specific childhood experience so well that I found my face hurting from how much I was smiling.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many users highlighting the vast amount of content and fun gameplay that encourages repeated playthroughs. While some note that current content may feel limited, they express optimism for future updates that could enhance the experience further.
“The replay value is high due to the vast amount of content available.”
“More than meets the eye, very fun and replayable.”
“The replayability is 10/10.”
“It's a slightly more playable My Summer Car, but instead of getting money for the car, you get money to play arcade games.”
“I hope soon I can upgrade my setup so I can make it more playable on my end.”
“Kid loves it, I love it, but there's not a ton of replayability right now as survival mode isn't in.”
- monetization7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is praised for its absence of microtransactions and in-game purchases, allowing players to earn rewards through gameplay without the pressure of spending real money. Players appreciate the developer's active engagement with the community, which helps mitigate concerns about the game being a cash grab. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic arcade games, free from intrusive ads and paywalls.
“I appreciate that the game does not have in-game purchases that use real money (as of yet, as the game is in early access).”
“Always dreamed of having a game like this since I was a kid, always playing carnival games on the Wii and crappy mobile games full of ads and paywalls.”
“I also appreciate that the game does not have in-game purchases that use real money (as of yet, as the game is in early access).”
“If you're playing in birthday mode, just head to a cash grab booth in any arcade to start grabbing dollar bills as they're blown around you as many times as you want for free.”
- character development3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the character development in the game, noting it enhances the overall experience. However, there are suggestions for improving character design to be more cartoony or kid-friendly, akin to styles seen in games like Animal Crossing or Subway Surfers.
“Great gameplay, good character development.”
“I wish the character development was more engaging and meaningful.”
“The character design feels uninspired and lacks creativity.”
“I would have preferred a more cartoonish or kid-friendly style, similar to games like Animal Crossing or Subway Surfers.”
