A Cozy Management Sim for a Peaceful Escape
Remember when video games were often cited as a cause in an uptick in violent behavior among children? When politicians and family groups would cite violent games as the cause for the deterioration of our moral fabric? They’d blame any crime on the fact that children have access to low-poly characters in combat scenarios, but backing it up with zero studies or sources.
Those people looked foolish then and would look even more foolish now with the rise of the cozy game subgenre.
While not stringently defined, cozy games just have a certain vibe to them that gives a sense of calm. Win and loss conditions in these games aren’t what drive the gameplay. While there are goals, they are usually open-ended and often up to the player to pursue at their own discretion. And again, they just have a certain vibe that makes you want to kick your feet up, grab a nice warm cup of coffee or tea, and just relax for a little while.
If any game is going to fit that description, it’s going to be Minami Lane. Described as a small, wholesome management game, in Minami Lane you are tasked with managing a growing street by adding new buildings, interacting with the characters that wander around it during the day, and making sure everyone is happy. All that is set to a pastel color palette with chill beats playing in the background.
Running the Street
The gameplay loop is simple, as there are five main storyline missions, each which has a specific set of tasks and a bonus task to complete. These revolve around opening new shops, making the citizens happy, and decorating the city to make it more appealing.
The way it works is at the beginning of each day, you have the option of opening a new shop and upgrading buildings along the street. When a shop is built, the style and colors of the building can be chosen to fit in with the aesthetic of the town. Opening a new shop is optional though, and regardless of whether one is built or not, the day will begin as soon as you are ready. During the day, citizens will walk down the street chatting with each other and visiting the various shops spending their money.
Engaging with the Community
During this time it’s also possible to interact with the citizens to learn what they do and don’t like about the different shops. A Tanuki (a Japanese raccoon-dog for those unaware) will also hide as an object, and finding him will give a little extra money. And in the later levels, there will even be cats and bikers to interact with.
While that may sound like a lot, the different systems are completely optional to engage with. It’s also possible to just relax as the day goes by and enjoy the cute art and chill music as everyone goes about their day.
Balancing the Budget
At the end of the day, a report is generated that shows how satisfied everyone is, and there will be suggestions for what to improve. The ramen shop may have a recipe that needs to be tweaked so more younger citizens enjoy it, while the book store may only have two out of three novels that the elderly citizens want. These options can be adjusted in the morning of the following day to increase the likability of the street’s offerings for the two different age groups. It’s also possible to open a second store to make sure everyone’s needs are met.
By increasing their likability, more money will be earned over the course of the day. Money is used to buy newer and bigger buildings, as well as upgrade the existing ones to either be more profitable or more attractive to the residents. It’s also possible to buy more housing to increase the street’s population, so stores have more customers. The more people there are, though, the nicer the city needs to look.
Before long, Minami Lane will be a bustling street, with plenty of people walking up and down it, chattering as the music plays along.
A Brief But Satisfying Escape
Like stated earlier, Minami Lane is the textbook definition of a cozy game. The objectives can be completed at your leisure, but there are bonuses which may be a little time based for individuals that want a bit of a challenge. But failing these has no bearing on the gameplay experience. The game doesn’t penalize players for taking things at their own pace, and if you just want to unwind at the end of a long day, you don’t need to worry about meeting tight deadlines on anything.
There’s even a free-form endless mode that just lets you mess around and have fun.
A Charming Distraction for Cozy Gamers
The main criticism of Minami Lane would be that of the overall length and amount of content. There are less than 20 buildings to choose from, and the game itself can be finished easily in just a few hours. This includes going after every achievement. It’s a really relaxing game, but the overall amount of content is fairly short. However, for the low asking price, and a day one launch into Game Pass, it’s near impossible to complain about the lack of content. That is, beyond the fact that it does what it wants to do so well that it’s a shame there isn’t more of it.
If you’re looking for a cozy game to play and are in need of a a break from your farm on something like Stardew Valley – a game that is, let’s be honest, the king of the cozy genre – then Minami Lane is a great distraction that is sure to deliver on those immaculate vibes and judgment free gaming.
Important Links
Build Your Own Cozy Japanese Street in Minami Lane on Xbox, Game Pass and Play Anywhere – https://www.thexboxhub.com/build-your-own-cozy-japanese-street-in-minami-lane-on-xbox-game-pass-and-play-anywhere/
Download Minami Lane on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/minami-lane/9NRL00D96M3R/0010
