I’m a huge fan of arcades. Obviously, I love video games, but I also enjoy low-wager slot machines and other silly endeavours. Therefore, when The Coin Game was sent my way, I was giddy with excitement. The opportunity to play an array of weird and wonderful arcade games from the comfort of my chair was too good to turn down.
This odd simulation title was developed by Devotid and published by Kwalee. It is a single-player experience that mashes together fairground rides, penny slots, and skill games. Furthermore, there is a survival mode, birthday mode, and quick play. Although I enjoyed the challenge of the survival option, I spent most of my time with unlimited cash in the birthday mode.
The Coin Game tells you to forget the story and get gaming.
The Coin Game doesn’t really have a story. Instead, it thanks you for being part of the process. This was a nice touch, but the developer missed a trick. The world is full of odd robot NPCs, and a huge story and mountains of lore could have been introduced. Instead, you are left to your own devices as you explore the world.
The core concept of this is simple. Pick 1 of 5 gaming locations, and try to win as many tickets as possible. The tickets can be exchanged for prizes, at quite frankly, a ridiculous rate. However, this is to be expected. Thankfully, it doesn’t really hold you back, and pushing for bigger and better prizes is a must.
Survival vs birthday mode.
The Coin Game offers depth if you fancy trying your luck. Survival mode demands that you look after yourself while managing your bank account. Sadly, this does mean that you’ll have to deliver papers, pizzas, or take on other remedial tasks. Yet, needs must, as those arcade games and fairground rides won’t pay for themselves. Although I’m not against this idea, per se, it did make experimenting with the games a little tricky.
This is where the birthday mode comes to the fore. Money is not a problem, and you can forget about riding your bike or taking the bus like a peasant. Instead, you have a limo to take you between each location. Additionally, if you run out of cash, fear not. Luckily, there is a “Crystal Dome” style cash-grabbing event to refill your coffers.
The games vary from simple ball dropping and coin pushing moments to skill-based endeavours. This blend is fantastic, and there is bound to be a game for everyone. However, if I didn’t have unlimited funds, it would have been quite tricky, and this is one of the downsides of the survival option.
The Coin Game has its issues.
I’m not normally one to complain about frame rates. However, The Coin Game stutters and hangs horribly at times. This is a shame, as the world is fun to explore. It feels huge, and riding your bike across its streets was enjoyable. Additionally, once things had settled down, the games ran smoothly and winning every ticket was pleasurable.
The audio is as loud, energetic, and bizarre as you’d expect. This is juxtaposed by some calm ambient sounds. This intelligent soundscape matched the demands of the arcade moments. Furthermore, it offered some peace as you explored the world.
Rough controls.
I enjoyed The Coin Game, but the UI feels like an afterthought. Moreover, the controls are clunky and badly ported. On top of this, there is little hand-holding, and this confuses. In short, a better tutorial and smoother controls would improve this title.
Replay value depends on how much you enjoy the arcade games. The survival mode is good, but it doesn’t have enough depth to keep you going. Therefore, if you get bored with the large library of arcade machines, you’ll probably uninstall it.
The Coin Game is a great concept.
I adore what the developer has tried to achieve with The Coin Game. It is fun, silly, and a little out there. However, it has its faults, and that holds it back. Had it been ported better, or if there was more depth, it would be a cult masterpiece. Instead, it is a decent indie game, and I recommend buying it here! Can you get every prize you desire? Pick a machine, try your luck, and get those tickets.
