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
- gameplay182 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Coin Game" is a nostalgic blend of arcade mechanics and survival elements, featuring modes like Birthday Mode for casual play and Survival Mode that introduces resource management challenges. While many players appreciate the engaging gameplay loop of earning tickets and redeeming prizes, some criticize the awkward controls and minor bugs that disrupt the experience. Overall, the game is praised for its charm and addictive nature, despite some players finding the survival mechanics unnecessary or the graphics lacking.
“The gameplay loop is addicting, and figuring out which games make the most money is very fun.”
“With its charming graphics, catchy music, and addictive gameplay, it's the kind of game that'll keep you coming back for more.”
“The whole 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 gameplay outside of the cabinets is awkward, and just too much of a pain to ignore.”
“The open-world design and the survival mode mechanics are really just unnecessary and don't make the game fun.”
“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.”
- graphics173 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are functional and capture a nostalgic arcade aesthetic, they lack polish and can be technically flawed, leading to issues like stuttering and bugs. Some appreciate the charm and simplicity reminiscent of early 2000s games, while others criticize the visuals as outdated and in need of improvement. Overall, the graphics do not detract significantly from the gameplay experience, which is often described as enjoyable and engaging despite the visual shortcomings.
“The graphics are accurate where they are important; the arcade machines look superb, each counter/ball/token is perfectly round, the simulated physics react accordingly, the text is sharp and legible on the machines.”
“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.”
“But it's technically a mess with unfixed bugs, poor graphics including bad anti-aliasing and constant stuttering!”
“This game sucks; the graphics are horrible and it runs terrible. Do not buy.”
“The graphics don't justify the poor game function and optimization at this point in time, even on sale.”
- story90 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many players noting that there is no substantial narrative or depth to engage with. While some reviews mention the potential for a more developed story mode in future updates, the current gameplay primarily revolves around repetitive tasks and arcade activities without a cohesive plot. Overall, players express a desire for more narrative elements to enhance their experience.
“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 heart-moving 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, and local UFO sightings... this game is, against all odds, one to watch.”
“There's no story, nor any required tasks.”
“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 a child - rides a bike, and collects trash to make a living' - not a very appealing introduction to a game.”
“Lack of depth: although it offers a variety of activities, some players feel that there is a lack of substantial depth in terms of game mechanics or story development.”
- atmosphere82 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of classic arcades with dim lighting, vibrant machines, and a mix of fun and eerie elements. Players appreciate the blend of charm and slight eeriness, which creates a unique experience reminiscent of childhood adventures in arcade settings. While some find the atmosphere occasionally unsettling due to its solitude and robotic inhabitants, the overall sentiment highlights a captivating and enjoyable environment that encourages exploration and engagement.
“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.”
“Now to get into some of the flaws of the coin game, this game's 'atmosphere' is a little weird in that you are seemingly the only living person surrounded by largely robots, save for the goose inside your house and a neighbor's dog. It creates an 'eerie' sort of experience that seems almost perfect for a more subtle form of horror game. This could put off some who are looking for a genuinely welcoming and heartwarming experience that might be intimidated by the unintentionally 'spooky' atmosphere this game seems to create.”
“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.”
- humor73 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its absurdity and charm, with players highlighting the hilarious interactions of quirky robot characters and the amusing scenarios that unfold, such as surreal arcade experiences and funny glitches. Many reviews note the clever voice acting and witty dialogue, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere that keeps players entertained. Overall, the game is described as a delightful blend of comedy and creativity, making it a fun experience worth exploring.
“The absurdity of grabbing cash from a money machine and then spending it on games you’d never play in real life is hilarious.”
“The humor is great!”
“One of my favorite features is the hilarious voice acting the carnival workers have.”
“It feels janky, but the game is supposed to be funny.”
“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.”
- optimization71 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 37 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting persistent stuttering and frame rate issues, even on high-end hardware. Despite some users noting occasional improvements, the overall performance remains a significant barrier to enjoyment, leading to frustration among the community. While the game shows potential, its current state is marred by optimization flaws that detract from the experience.
“Optimization: 8/10 pretty good, even betas are stable but sometimes the game is a bit 'weird'.”
“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 game has come a long way, and it's amazing that it was done by one guy. The level of care in all the machines is amazing and the gameplay of the survival mode is really fun. My only problems are that the graphics could be improved, and performance could be better, but they don't ruin the experience.”
“But the stuttering is killing this game for me, and it has been years now that this problem persists.”
“The stuttering issue is dreadful to the point of the game stopping for almost a full second every few moments.”
“With each major update, the game's performance has gotten worse and worse.”
- stability70 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game is characterized by a variety of glitches and bugs, which are typical for early access titles, but many players find these issues add to its charm rather than detract from the experience. While some users report game-breaking bugs and frustrating performance problems, others appreciate the humor in the glitches and enjoy the overall gameplay. Despite the instability, the game remains engaging and fun, with players expressing optimism for future updates and improvements.
“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.”
“And about 10 hours of that was spent troubleshooting the game and trying to fix the issues that constantly ruin the experience.”
“The ui is dreadful and buggy, the controls outside of playing the games is 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.”
- music35 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its charm and ability to enhance the nostalgic atmosphere, with catchy tracks that complement the gameplay. However, some players find certain sound effects, like truck horns, annoying and suggest improvements for audio control. While the soundtrack is enjoyable, it can become repetitive, and there are calls for more variety and immersive sound experiences to better reflect a real arcade environment.
“With its charming graphics, catchy music, and addictive gameplay, it's the kind of game that'll keep you coming back for more; I guarantee it.”
“The gameplay, settings, and music give a sense of nostalgia.”
“The music is perfect, the graphics are amazing, the ideas, the games, everything!”
“Piercing, sharp and loud background music and effects.”
“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!”
- grinding33 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 55 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming and tedious, often requiring significant effort to progress, especially in survival mode. While some appreciate the challenge and the sense of reward from grinding for tickets and items, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of the tasks and the lack of engaging mechanics, leading to a feeling of burnout. Overall, grinding is seen as a core mechanic that can detract from the enjoyment of the game.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“Grinding is the only mechanic.”
“Grinding for money can be a bit tedious but gives you a reason to play.”
“Incredibly grindy achievements such as getting on a carnival ride 500 times.”
“Especially in survival - it ends up feeling grindy and tires me out quickly.”
- emotional24 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game resonates deeply with players, evoking nostalgia and warmth as it captures the essence of childhood experiences in arcades and summer vacations. Many reviewers express feelings of joy and sentimentality, often shedding tears or smiling broadly while reminiscing about simpler times, despite some noting an unintentionally eerie atmosphere. Overall, the game's heartfelt design and attention to detail create a wholesome experience that leaves a lasting emotional impact.
“Especially for all you dads who watched your kids play these games... that is what got me the most about this game... now that our kids are all grown up, I play these and shed a tear remembering the family fun at the bowling alleys, mini-golf courses, roller skating rinks, and mall arcades.”
“This game makes me nostalgic in a heartwarming sort of way.”
“One singular developer managed to make a game more moving and emotional than entire AAA studios, which is crazy impressive and I salute you.”
- replayability15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability, with many users highlighting the vast amount of arcade machines and content that encourages repeated play. While some players note that the current content is limited, they express optimism for future updates that could enhance the experience. The game is particularly appealing to fans of arcade culture, making it a worthwhile addition for those seeking engaging gameplay.
“The replay value is high due to the vast amount of content available.”
“The replayability is 10/10.”
“With a huge amount of arcade machines, most honestly having humongous replay value, as you need to actually find the groove of the machines.”
“It's a slightly more playable My Summer Car, but instead of getting money for the car, you get money to play arcade games.”
“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 being free of microtransactions and paywalls, allowing players to earn rewards through gameplay without the pressure of spending real money. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel of the game, likening it to classic arcade experiences, and note the developer's active engagement with the community, which helps mitigate concerns about it being a cash grab. However, some users have experienced technical issues that hinder their enjoyment, particularly on less powerful systems.
“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).”
“The lack of polishing and a whole lot of janky physics create a charming and nostalgic feeling; it's somewhat relaxing to just play trashy cash grab games you used to play when you were a kid without losing real money.”
“Always dreamed of having a game like this since I was a kid, always carnival games on the Wii playing crappy mobile games full of ads and paywalls.”
“I installed it and was barely able to play; I got 40 tickets and have never been able to play more since. It's not to say the game is bad, it just means I jumped the gun on looking at game requirements. It's a pity I only got a Windows computer, not all that old, and for whatever reason, it's so laggy even on potato settings. I was really looking forward to birthday mode just to enjoy it, but I guess it's just not optimal for me to enjoy a time 'out' in a virtual arcade, at least without using my mobile stuff that just spams ads in my face if I want to get anywhere fast in terms of any enjoyable progress.”
- 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 is a desire for a more cartoony and kid-friendly character design, similar to styles seen in games like Animal Crossing or Subway Surfers.
“Great gameplay, good character development.”
“I wish the character design was more similar to Animal Crossing or even Subway Surfers, something more cartoony or kid-like.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I was hoping for more meaningful growth and change in the characters, but it feels stagnant throughout the game.”
