Tokyo Tattoo Girls

Tokyo Tattoo Girls is a simple strategy game which can be fun in small doses but is sadly not interesting enough to keep you playing for long. The story is poor, the characters are strange (and not in a good way), and the gameplay is lacking. The artwork and tattoos look gorgeous, so it’s a pity they weren’t in a better game.

29%Game Brain Score

graphics, story

gameplay, music

39% User Score Based on 33 reviews

Critic Score 40%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $4.98

Buy NowGet on Steam$9.99

About

"Tokyo Tattoo Girls" is a strategy game where players help Japanese girls gain power through tattoos, battling factions to unite Tokyo. Players must manage resources, customize tattoos for strength and elemental abilities, and make story choices affecting relationships and outcomes. The game features a unique blend of Japanese culture, mythology, and visual novel elements.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+11

39%

Audience ScoreBased on 36 reviews

graphics7 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The artwork and graphics are visually appealing, showcasing beautiful character designs and tattoos.
The game offers a unique premise that combines elements of tattoo culture with a strategy-like gameplay loop.
It can be enjoyable as a casual, mindless game to play when looking for something light and stress-free.

The gameplay lacks depth and is overly automated, making it feel more like an idle game than a strategy game.
There is minimal player control, with most actions occurring automatically, leading to a tedious experience.
The story and character development are shallow, with repetitive gameplay that can become boring quickly.

gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
63%
19%
The gameplay has been widely criticized for its lack of engagement and depth, primarily revolving around a repetitive loop of clicking for resources and managing alerts without meaningful strategy. Players find it more akin to an idle game than an interactive experience, with many expressing disappointment over the absence of challenging mechanics or dynamic battles. While some appreciate the simplicity and potential for casual play, the overall consensus is that the gameplay fails to deliver a satisfying or immersive experience.
- “The gameplay in the game is relatively simple once you get used to it; you just level up skills and wait to see what the RNG gods decide to do to you.”
- “Depending on which character you choose, their skill set and different tattoos will greatly affect the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay, which is really not portrayed in the promotional material at all, is fundamentally a mix between an idle game and a minimal grand strategy game.”
- “This is the gameplay loop in a nutshell: click on briefcases for money and sirens to remove alert, use the money for tattoos and to lower alert or cease fire in areas, then wait until a boss 'fight' occurs, repeat.”
- “There is no real gameplay besides watching your numbers go up and your enemies' numbers go down and occasionally clicking on a region you're in to stop your forces from fighting each other (they needed something to call it gameplay.) though you better hope you have the money to do the click or else there is a chance you'll lose some honor (the game's version of health.) and you better hope the skill isn't on cooldown as well, which can get really annoying in the late game.”
- “Honestly after the 7th ward I was tired of the gameplay but I persisted and kept going on but it didn't seem like there was a way to lose at that part in the game and honestly beyond the first ward I never paid attention to the ward's characteristics or weaknesses since it didn't seem to matter.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
9%
27%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their lovely artwork and impressive aesthetics, with many reviewers highlighting the quality of the visuals and music. However, some feel that the promotional materials oversell certain elements, particularly the ecchi aspects, which are less prominent in the actual game. Overall, while the artwork is a strong point, it is noted that there are other games with comparable visuals that offer more strategic depth.
- “The artwork and graphics are amazing, plus the great storylines for each main character.”
- “The aesthetics, however, are great in general.”
- “The graphic and the voice acting is impeccable.”
- “Sure, the artwork and music are decent, and I'm willing to bet that most people who enjoy it do so for its aesthetics, but even the ecchi element of the game is far oversold in the promotional materials compared to what is actually in the game.”
- “Even if that is the case, however, there are free-to-play idle games on Steam or even your phone that involve considerably more strategic planning in that respect, many of them with comparable artwork and music, albeit maybe with fewer boobs.”
- “While the anime designs of the characters may not be much, this game is extremely Japanese both in terms of visuals, music, world, and dialogues.”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
10%
30%
The story is generally considered intriguing but lacks depth, with characters often described as one-dimensional and repetitive across multiple playthroughs. While some appreciate the unique backstory and artwork, many find the narrative tedious and not worth the effort required to achieve completion, especially given the high price point of the game. Overall, the storytelling aspect fails to elevate the gameplay experience significantly.
- “The artwork and graphics are amazing, plus the great storylines for each main character.”
- “I mean there is an interesting backstory and dialogue for each character.”
- “Pros: artwork, story is simple but unique.”
- “The story and characterization is not deep; every character has a single-note personality, with all but your chosen protagonist showing up just once per run (and even the protagonists are just 'the cat girl', 'the wannabe movie star', etc.).”
- “And 100% achievements requires forty-eight runs through these nearly identical storylines (which, with only 4 difficulty levels, means you'll either play each mode twice per girl or slog through a total of 24 easy-mode runs), which is not worth your time or effort.”
- “The story is poor, the characters are strange (and not in a good way), and the gameplay is lacking.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The music in the game is highly praised, with many reviewers noting its quality and pleasantness, contributing significantly to the overall aesthetic experience. While the artwork and character designs are appreciated, the music stands out as a strong point, with some players even opting to purchase the soundtrack. Overall, the game's audio elements are considered a highlight, enhancing its Japanese-themed visuals and dialogues.
- “I want to like this game, since the character art is beautiful, the music is really really really good and the voice acting is pleasant to the ears.”
- “Art, voicework, and soundtrack are all great.”
- “Sure, the artwork and music are decent, and I'm willing to bet that most people who enjoy it do so for its aesthetics, but even the ecchi element of the game is far oversold in the promotional materials compared to what is actually in the game.”
- “Even if that is the case, however, there are free-to-play idle games on Steam or even your phone that involve considerably more strategic planning in that respect, many of them with comparable artwork and music, albeit maybe with fewer boobs.”
- “While the anime designs of the characters may not be much, this game is extremely Japanese both in terms of visuals, music, world, and dialogues.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly as they progress and unlock everything for their characters. The lack of sufficient information complicates strategic decision-making, making the experience feel laborious and unworthy of the game's price.
- “The game itself is pretty tedious.”
- “You have some choices, but after a few runs, once you have everything unlocked for that character and need to do the last 4 of your 8 runs (probably in easy mode), it gets tedious to pick the choices.”
- “All in all, I don't think this game deserves to be played; the gameplay, scenes, and story are all so tedious, especially considering its high price.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
While the game features excellent art, voice acting, and multiple routes, some players feel that the preset nature of the tattoo limits replayability, as the experience can be completed in a single playthrough without the incentive to explore different outcomes. However, the presence of six distinct routes does offer some potential for varied experiences.
- “In addition to excellent art, voice acting, characters, and dialogues, the game offers six different routes, enhancing its replay value.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes makes each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “With multiple endings and character interactions, I find myself coming back to explore every possibility.”
- “The tattoo is preset, and you complete the entire thing in a single game, meaning that it lacks replay value or the feeling of 'what if I?'”
- “While the game features excellent art, voice acting, characters, and dialogues, it ultimately falls short in terms of replay value.”
- “Despite having six different routes, the overall replayability feels limited.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is noted as a tolerable element that enhances the overall experience, even for players who may not typically enjoy it. While not the primary draw, it contributes positively to the gameplay and story.
- “The humor in this game is absolutely top-notch, with clever writing that keeps you laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game blends humor with gameplay, making even the toughest challenges feel light-hearted.”
- “The witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions had me chuckling from start to finish.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers express concern that the monetization strategy of "Tokyo Tattoo Girls" is heavily reliant on advertisements, which detracts from the overall gaming experience.
- “I believe the biggest problem with Tokyo Tattoo Girls is its monetization strategy.”
- “The in-game purchases feel excessive and disrupt the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating how much you have to spend to enjoy the game fully.”