Chiikawa Pocket just launch on 27 Mar, it launch on Japanese AppStore and Global AppStore (US, HK & TW). Here is the review and comment summary for the first week. Overall in Asia, the start rating is at around 2.5~2.9. But in US it have more than 4.5 which is surprising.
US App Store comment & review (4.6 star)
Positive Reviews:
- Life-Changing Experience: Many users describe the game as transformative, bringing immense joy, purpose, and entertainment to their lives. They praise its ability to uplift their mood and even claim it has saved them from despair.
- Adorable Characters: The cute and charismatic characters, especially Usagi, are a major highlight. Fans adore their design and energy, with Usagi often singled out as a standout favorite (“my goat,” “gluttonous king”).
- Engaging Gameplay: The gameplay is frequently rated highly (e.g., “10/10, immaculate”) for its variety of activities and missions. Users enjoy spending hours immersed in the game, collecting rewards like free outfits and watching the characters’ antics.
- Universal Appeal: Reviewers recommend it to everyone, calling it a masterpiece suitable for all ages and demographics, with some humorously suggesting it’s the “game of the century” or a “pinnacle of human achievement.”
- Emotional Connection: Players express deep attachment, viewing the game as a companion or a reason to keep going, with some spending heavily on related merchandise.
Mixed Reviews:
- Fun but Limited: Some users find it entertaining initially but note it becomes repetitive or boring after unlocking characters. The side games and lack of social features (e.g., adding friends) disappoint a few.
- Pay-to-Progress Concerns: While the game offers free rewards, progression is slow without spending money or watching ads. Cosmetics and customization options (e.g., costumes, furniture) are often locked behind payments or grindy mechanics, frustrating players who want more without a subscription.
Negative Reviews:
- Disappointing Execution: Critics argue the game falls short of expectations set by its advertising and Chiikawa franchise. Missing features like character voices, poor visuals (e.g., “slideshow experience”), and generic gameplay (e.g., “auto battler”) are common complaints.
- Monetization Issues: The reliance on a subscription model, gacha mechanics for useless items (e.g., weapons instead of clothing), and frequent ads alienate some players. Progression feels like a “cash grab” to detractors.
- Technical Problems: One user mentioned the app being under maintenance right after release, adding to their frustration.
US App Summary:
Chiikawa Pocket elicits strong emotions, with fans hailing it as a groundbreaking, life-altering game thanks to its cute characters (especially Usagi) and engaging gameplay. However, detractors criticize its slow progression, heavy monetization, and lack of polish (e.g., no voice acting, generic mechanics), feeling it doesn’t live up to the Chiikawa legacy or its hype. While some see it as a flawless masterpiece, others find it a disappointing, pay-to-win experience after the initial charm fades.
Japan App Store comment & review (2.9 star)
The Chiikawa Pocket app has elicited mixed reactions. Fans praise its adorable characters (especially Usagi, Hachiware, and Chiikawa), cute animations, and the charm of seeing them in activities like battling or cooking, often calling it healing experience. Positive aspects include generous free rewards (e.g., daily gacha pulls, gems), accessible characters through progression rather than gacha, and a comic album feature that delights fans of the original manga. However, many express disappointment due to high expectations. Criticisms focus on excessive ads (often 60 seconds long) required for progression or rewards, heavy monetization (e.g., costumes and ad removal locked behind payments), lack of character voices, and repetitive gameplay (an auto-battler/placement game). Technical issues like lag, crashes, and lost rewards frustrate players, while some feel it’s a “cash grab” that doesn’t match the cozy, carefree vibe they anticipated from Chiikawa. Suggestions for improvement include adding voices, free costumes, and more interactive or social features. Overall, it’s a polarizing game—loved for its cuteness but criticized for execution and greed.
Taiwan App Store comment & review (2.9 star)
Feedback from Taiwan about Chiikawa Pocket is largely negative, tempered by some appreciation for its cute art style. Players highlight severe technical issues—frequent lag, overheating, crashes, and choppy performance, especially during tutorials—making the game frustrating and often unplayable, particularly on lower-end devices. The gameplay disappoints as a monotonous auto-battler focused on repetitive upgrades and ad-watching, rather than the cozy decorating or simulation experience fans expected from Chiikawa. Excessive ads (often optional but necessary to progress) and heavy monetization (e.g., costumes and ad skips locked behind payments, low gacha rates for decent rewards) fuel perceptions of it as a “cash grab” or a “reskinned disposable game” exploiting the IP’s popularity. While the adorable visuals and music are praised, they can’t offset the lack of depth, bugs, and poor optimization. Many feel it wastes Chiikawa’s potential, suggesting alternatives like simulation or dress-up games would better suit the franchise. Hopes linger for updates, but current sentiment leans toward disappointment and disinterest.
Hong Kong App Store comment & review (2.7 star)
Chiikawa Pocket are overwhelmingly negative, with fans expressing deep disappointment despite their love for the Chiikawa franchise. The most common complaint is the excessive number of ads, which dominate the experience, forcing players to watch them frequently for buffs or rewards, disrupting the cute Chiikawa vibe. The gameplay is described as boring, repetitive, and lacking depth—just a basic auto-battler with numbers and no meaningful interaction or character voices, failing to leverage the IP’s charm. Technical issues like lagging performance, battery drain, and bugs (e.g., crashes) further sour the experience, with some unable to play due to poor launch readiness. Monetization is heavily criticized, with everything from ad removal to stronger characters or cosmetics locked behind steep payments, offering little satisfaction for free players. While the characters’ cuteness is acknowledged, it’s not enough to salvage what many call a “cash grab” that wastes Chiikawa’s potential. Players suggest more features, better optimization, or an ad-free paid version with substance, but currently, it’s labeled as unenjoyable and one of the “worst mobile games.”
