Tiny tasks with big charm
By Paul Hunter
Tamagotchi Plaza is the latest entry in Bandai Namco’s kid-friendly franchise, this time landing on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Combining the virtual pet charm of the late ‘90s with a shop-management spin, you’ll pick a Tamagotchi companion and set out across a colourful town, working toward a singular goal: convincing a king to host the Tamagotchi Festival in your community. Sounds simple, right?
This time, you’re not just feeding or cleaning up after a digital critter—you’re jumping into various shops to lend a hand and build your town’s reputation. On the surface, it leans into cuteness and nostalgia, but underneath, it's something quite a bit deeper. Over a dozen different mini-games, coin rewards, and town upgrades await those willing to clock in and take on a surprisingly enjoyable routine.
Whether you're restocking shelves or designing comics for picky customers, the job changes from store to store—but your mission stays the same. Build up each business from scratch, earn the town some prestige, and hopefully win the bid for Tamagotchi Fest. That’s the pitch.
With tie-ins to the Tamagotchi Uni toy and co-op features on the Switch 2, it’s clear this isn't just a quick nostalgia grab. But does the adorable wrapping paper hide a satisfying experience underneath, or is this one plaza not worth visiting? Let’s find out!
Your journey in Tamagotchi Plaza begins with a simple task: help Tamahiko Town win the right to host the upcoming Tamagotchi Festival. That goal comes directly from the town’s mayor, and it’s your responsibility to raise the town’s profile through good old-fashioned hard work. After entering your name and birthday, you choose a Tamagotchi assistant who becomes your avatar throughout the game.
To earn the king’s favour, you’ll need to help each of the town’s shops reach “Royal” status—the highest of four rankings. That means diving into the daily grind of each business, from clothing boutiques to sushi restaurants, manga studios, and even opticians. On Switch 2, there are fifteen shops in total (twelve on the standard Switch), including three exclusive shops utilizing the Switch 2 Mouse controls, and all of them must be maxed out for the town to be considered a worthy festival host.
As you work through each job, you’ll gain coins and raise your town’s reputation. Occasionally, the prince will visit, offering encouragement and progress updates. While his appearances are brief, they act as mile markers in your journey. The coin system also lets you unlock small upgrades for each business and enhancements to public park at the centre of town.
You’ll also encounter dozens of Tamagotchis wandering around the town. Some will appear in your journal as you interact with them, though most don’t say much and offer little beyond a quick wave. Still, familiar faces from earlier Tamagotchi games can pop up if you’re paying attention.
It’s a charming enough setup, driven by a clear objective and a structured path forward. The story stays light and straightforward, keeping the focus on town-building and simple task completion rather than any deep narrative turns. Your mission is constant—help your community shine bright enough to be chosen for the big event.
Tamagotchi Plaza centres around working your way through a collection of minigames tied to different town shops. Each one has its own tasks, but the goal remains the same—satisfy enough customers to raise each store to its max level.
Some minigames are straightforward and fun to play for a while. In the clothing shop, you match patterns and colours to complete outfits. The bike shop has you fixing flats, painting frames, and customizing bikes to match a customer’s request. These activities are simple and easy to pick up, offering short bursts of satisfaction.
Others are a bit harder to grasp. The comic book shop asks you to build a two-panel comic based on a character, location, and object—without telling you which character is which. If you don’t already know your Tamagotchi cast, you’ll be guessing. I once spent five minutes throwing a bunch of characters into a panel just to complete one request. It technically worked, but it didn’t feel right.
What can be a little frustrating, particularly for a game aimed at children, is there are no tutorials. The gym has you tapping shoulder buttons at a specific rhythm, but good luck figuring that out on your first try. The optician shop is another head-scratcher, and several other jobs expect you to learn through failure. While a few minigames can be satisfying once you get the hang of them, roughly half fall into a loop of trial and error. There are small tips that show up at the bottom of the screen, and once you figure out how the minigames work, repeat rounds get a lot more satisfying.
Tamagotchi Plaza starts strong with visuals that grab your attention. It’s bright, bubbly, and every shop looks distinct. Characters are expressive, colourful, and easy to tell apart. The aesthetic is a clear match for the Tamagotchi world.
The town hub looks good too—but that’s where the energy stops. You can walk around freely, but it feels empty with little meaningful interactions, few secrets to find, and barely any conversation. Tamagotchis fill the space, but they don’t do much. You’re looking at a lively world that doesn’t react to you.
Performance on Switch 2 is solid across the board. Load times are quick. Frame rates stay smooth. It all works exactly how you’d hope—especially important when you’re grinding through shop tasks over and over again.
Music and sound are simple. Each area has its own tune, but the loops are short and become repetitive fast. Tamagotchis communicate through chirps and expressions, which fits the style but leaves the audio side feeling thin. A bit more variety could’ve helped.
Tamagotchi Plaza nails its first impression. The visuals are appealing, and the tone is light. But the lack of life in the town and repeated music bring down the presentation. It looks alive, but it doesn’t feel that way for long.
Final Score: 7/10 - Good
Developer: Hyde Inc.
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Genre: Simulation
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Tamagotchi Plaza is the latest entry in Bandai Namco’s kid-friendly franchise, this time landing on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Combining the virtual pet charm of the late ‘90s with a shop-management spin, you’ll pick a Tamagotchi companion and set out across a colourful town, working toward a singular goal: convincing a king to host the Tamagotchi Festival in your community. Sounds simple, right?
This time, you’re not just feeding or cleaning up after a digital critter—you’re jumping into various shops to lend a hand and build your town’s reputation. On the surface, it leans into cuteness and nostalgia, but underneath, it's something quite a bit deeper. Over a dozen different mini-games, coin rewards, and town upgrades await those willing to clock in and take on a surprisingly enjoyable routine.
Whether you're restocking shelves or designing comics for picky customers, the job changes from store to store—but your mission stays the same. Build up each business from scratch, earn the town some prestige, and hopefully win the bid for Tamagotchi Fest. That’s the pitch.
With tie-ins to the Tamagotchi Uni toy and co-op features on the Switch 2, it’s clear this isn't just a quick nostalgia grab. But does the adorable wrapping paper hide a satisfying experience underneath, or is this one plaza not worth visiting? Let’s find out!
Your journey in Tamagotchi Plaza begins with a simple task: help Tamahiko Town win the right to host the upcoming Tamagotchi Festival. That goal comes directly from the town’s mayor, and it’s your responsibility to raise the town’s profile through good old-fashioned hard work. After entering your name and birthday, you choose a Tamagotchi assistant who becomes your avatar throughout the game.
To earn the king’s favour, you’ll need to help each of the town’s shops reach “Royal” status—the highest of four rankings. That means diving into the daily grind of each business, from clothing boutiques to sushi restaurants, manga studios, and even opticians. On Switch 2, there are fifteen shops in total (twelve on the standard Switch), including three exclusive shops utilizing the Switch 2 Mouse controls, and all of them must be maxed out for the town to be considered a worthy festival host.
As you work through each job, you’ll gain coins and raise your town’s reputation. Occasionally, the prince will visit, offering encouragement and progress updates. While his appearances are brief, they act as mile markers in your journey. The coin system also lets you unlock small upgrades for each business and enhancements to public park at the centre of town.
You’ll also encounter dozens of Tamagotchis wandering around the town. Some will appear in your journal as you interact with them, though most don’t say much and offer little beyond a quick wave. Still, familiar faces from earlier Tamagotchi games can pop up if you’re paying attention.
It’s a charming enough setup, driven by a clear objective and a structured path forward. The story stays light and straightforward, keeping the focus on town-building and simple task completion rather than any deep narrative turns. Your mission is constant—help your community shine bright enough to be chosen for the big event.
Tamagotchi Plaza centres around working your way through a collection of minigames tied to different town shops. Each one has its own tasks, but the goal remains the same—satisfy enough customers to raise each store to its max level.
Some minigames are straightforward and fun to play for a while. In the clothing shop, you match patterns and colours to complete outfits. The bike shop has you fixing flats, painting frames, and customizing bikes to match a customer’s request. These activities are simple and easy to pick up, offering short bursts of satisfaction.
Others are a bit harder to grasp. The comic book shop asks you to build a two-panel comic based on a character, location, and object—without telling you which character is which. If you don’t already know your Tamagotchi cast, you’ll be guessing. I once spent five minutes throwing a bunch of characters into a panel just to complete one request. It technically worked, but it didn’t feel right.
What can be a little frustrating, particularly for a game aimed at children, is there are no tutorials. The gym has you tapping shoulder buttons at a specific rhythm, but good luck figuring that out on your first try. The optician shop is another head-scratcher, and several other jobs expect you to learn through failure. While a few minigames can be satisfying once you get the hang of them, roughly half fall into a loop of trial and error. There are small tips that show up at the bottom of the screen, and once you figure out how the minigames work, repeat rounds get a lot more satisfying.
Tamagotchi Plaza starts strong with visuals that grab your attention. It’s bright, bubbly, and every shop looks distinct. Characters are expressive, colourful, and easy to tell apart. The aesthetic is a clear match for the Tamagotchi world.
The town hub looks good too—but that’s where the energy stops. You can walk around freely, but it feels empty with little meaningful interactions, few secrets to find, and barely any conversation. Tamagotchis fill the space, but they don’t do much. You’re looking at a lively world that doesn’t react to you.
Performance on Switch 2 is solid across the board. Load times are quick. Frame rates stay smooth. It all works exactly how you’d hope—especially important when you’re grinding through shop tasks over and over again.
Music and sound are simple. Each area has its own tune, but the loops are short and become repetitive fast. Tamagotchis communicate through chirps and expressions, which fits the style but leaves the audio side feeling thin. A bit more variety could’ve helped.
Tamagotchi Plaza nails its first impression. The visuals are appealing, and the tone is light. But the lack of life in the town and repeated music bring down the presentation. It looks alive, but it doesn’t feel that way for long.
The Verdict
With its cheery visuals, relaxing pace, and endlessly enjoyable minigames, Tamagotchi Plaza offers a cosy break from the usual grind. Every shop you visit gives you something new to master, and the town itself radiates playful charm. The fun sticks around, thanks to tasks that are easy to jump into again and again. It’s a sweet and satisfying experience that keeps the good times rolling.Final Score: 7/10 - Good
Tamagotchi Plaza details
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo SwitchDeveloper: Hyde Inc.
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Genre: Simulation
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.