Moving to a small town to start a new life is equally exciting and nerve-wracking. Are the people cool there? Will they like you? Is there a 7-foot bi-pedal cat prowling around? All normal questions to have when trying to find yourself in a new place. Developed by Meowza Games and published by Humble Games, Mineko’s Night Market is about a young girl and her special connection to a cat. Specifically, a cat called Nikko who may or may not also be a god of legend. With her supportive dad, a nosy kid with a bowl cut, and an entire town full of eager citizens, Mineko may finally find what she’s been looking for.
Minkeo’s Night Market is a mash up between Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley. There is crafting, fishing, mining, and harvesting all to be done on the island. Just keep a close eye on Minkeo’s limited energy level as anything from cutting trees to picking flowers can deplete it. Anything harvested can either be sold or used for crafts and this will be a main income source for this young entrepreneur. As the title of this game suggests, the Saturday night market is an essential feature to the town. Here, not only can Mineko sell her crafts, but she can also buy exclusive night market wares and even participate in special cat-related events.
While helping with the townspeople’s requests and racing on top of cats is all fun, there is also something strange going on in the town. Men In Black wannabes have taken over and have been suspiciously rounding up the cats on the island. It may have something to do with Nikko, the cat god the town is famous for, but these suited up agents are unfriendly and unwilling to explain their motives. Fortunately, they aren’t the smartest tools in the shed and can be easily tricked or outmaneuvered with some stealthy running.
With everything happening in the quaint town, Minkeo is certainly one busy girl. On one hand she is taking requests, making that sweet cash, and helping restore the town’s museums. On the other, she is also helping hide a cat god in her shed from those nosy agents. Along with colorful characters and the mystery of Nikko, there is always something to do and someone to help. Minkeo’s Night Market is a relaxing to play and with the cute, colorful characters and simple game mechanics, this game is a great starting point for those who want to get into this genre.
With that being said, Mineko’s Night Market does also feel about 95% completed. Certain areas are a little lacking, there are minor typos, and it can start to feel repetitive if most of the time is dedicated to gathering supplies. There’s something very special and wholesome about this game and it just needs more polishing for it to live up to its hype and potential.
PROS: Insanely adorable, very relaxing, and a game players can sit down and jump into anytime. Great for cat lovers.
CONS: Mineko’s energy is quite limited and players will have to spend most of the game grinding away to be able to the collect supplies they need.
SCORE: 7/10
Mineko’s Night Market is available for PC via Steam.
Related: Reviews by Vivian Chen
Video games have always been a huge influence in my life and have definitely shaped me to who I am today . Some of my best memories growing up were the many adventures and stories I was able to experience and become immersed in. If my hands aren't either covered in clay, typing, editing, creating, or helping shoving food in my mouth, they would either be gripped to a controller, tapping away at the screen of my phone, or clicking away on my PC. I am always up for trying something new because why live just one life when you can live many.
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