Kill Time with Kairosoft Games

Are you a fan of pixel games? Let me introduce you, to the rabbit hole that is Kairosoft.

Kairosoft is a game developing country in Japan that creates pixel games specifically for mobile, though these days you may find their games on Nintendo switch. A testament to how far they've come. *wipes proud tears*

They're a company that specializes in simulator-type arcade games. And I use the term "arcade" because Kairosoft games are created solely with replayability in mind. They understand a player's tendency to uninstall and reinstall perfectly well. Once you uninstall a Kairosoft game your progress will be forever lost but it takes nothing to get back to where you were. You can also subscribe to Kairosoft to unlock certain furnishings but that's for the desperate and impatient. You can easily get what you want by not spending a single cent.

Well, wait that's a lie, some games you have to pay to unlock. That's why Kairsoft has "lite" games, which are demo versions of the game you can play for free before deciding whether or not it's worth your money.

You'll never have to pay to unlock the game again so long as you're using the same google or apple account. Choosing to put in any more money is up to you. Just don't take it personally, Kairosoft's gotta make money somehow you know.

With each and every game the player has the same identity, although it's not said outright you are presumably the child of a well-off family, a random entrepreneur trying their luck at building some kind of business or if it's a medieval setting some kind of knight or reliable person.

Each and every time you're fortunate enough to have an assistant sometimes a butler or a brown-haired girl to explain the game mechanics to you.

Allow me to introduce you to games I think you should dive into first.

1. Beastie Bay

In Kairosoft's "beastie bay" you start off stranded on an island. You are an aspiring island developer and on your quest to expand the island you encounter many strange creatures you can recruit as your own loyal bodyguards. You can think of it as a pokemon-knock off if you're pessimistic, but the goal here isn't to become the strongest of them all but to develop your island. As your island expands you may come across survivors at your own islands or when you visit other isles, you'll be able to start businesses and invite tourists over to your isle.

I think you should start with the older games first to see just how far they've come. Of course, new fans won't know how old they are, and it doesn't really matter, it's just a personal recommendation.

2. High Sea Saga

It feels as if beastie bay carried over into this game. But instead of beasts having the most power, it's pirates. In this medieval-like setting, help your king develop the land. Your job is to go out and explore other isles, bring back the technology you learn and keep the riches for yourself. High Sea Saga is a game where you not only build your country but mainly your ship and its crew. You can recruit or sell the prisoners you capture in battle, you can also level up your crew into different classes.

3. Dream House Days

You're a landlord. Furnish each room according to your tenant's personality and charge them rent depending on it's expenses and room size. Tenants can get married and have babies, pets, and take on life challenges. The objects you place in their room influences their interests and hobbies so keep that in mind, if you have residents that have the same goals it's likely because of the furniture or where they were recruited. Invest your research points into recruiting higher class residents and researching new furnishings, to make your tenants look different you also have to invest tickets to unlock new clothes. This game is basically back seating and watching the lives of your tenants unfold until they grow old and move out while expanding your small apartment building into a complex.

As much as I love this game I have complaints. So I'm warning you now. Residents...don't share beds.

4. Dream Town Story

In Dream Town Story you are a town developer. Create your own town, plant the houses and buildings and watch the little people live. Simple but you have to really manage your money and use your brain to unlock more variety of buildings and keep enough money in your pocket so you can continue to expand your city.

5. BonBon Cakery

You're a patissier that open up a pastry shop. Develop new recipes and employ others to run your store. Enter in bake-offs to win money and prizes. The higher you rise the more type of plates and pastries you can unlock and use as a base to make more interesting pastries. The most interesting feature about this game is the baking feature. You drop in random ingredients and poof! A new type of pastry appears. It's fun to experiment and see what will happen. Though you may end up craving something sweet after or while playing.

6. Ramen Sensei 2

If you're not a sweets person, what about ramen?

Ramen Sensei 2 is part 2 of Ramen Sensei a game you have to pay for, Kairosoft will make "part 2's" to usually improve features of the game, so don't worry. You're not missing out on some kind of hidden storyline. But unless you want to support them or see how different the two games are help yourself.

In Ramen Sensei you make ramen, collecting and unlocking new ingredients based on the location you choose to set up shop, your achievements, negotiations with local providers as well as your customers. You can promote your business by entering cooking challenges and eventually be able to open up multiple ramen stores. Business-wise I feel like Kairosoft's restaurant sims are realistic and nostalgic of working in the food industry. Ah, as you progress you also have to play mini games to unlock more ingredients so have fun with that.

You may want to make yourself your own bowl from playing this, I know I am. Or maybe cause it's thanksgiving.

7. Burger Bistro Story

A game full of nostalgia, there have been other Kairosoft games that let you manage burger shops before but this is the first game solely dedicated to managing burger bistros and setting up a fast-food chain. As a former employee of the fast-food industry and an avid fan of burgers, as well as a dedicated player of the food game sims sharing the title of Papa's [insert any food]-ria, how could I not download this game?

Building burgers are straight forward but when it comes to creating side dishes, it reminds you of BonBon Cakery where ingredients could end up creating something different from what you expected.

8. Pool Slide Story

Build and manage a pool resort! Expand the area and unlock different types of pools, features, food stalls, other attractions and new customers. Satisfying a customer's request makes them recommend it to their friends which in turn starts a chain of unlocking new customers from different areas. You can enter competitions to level up the ranking of your resort and in turn you'll be able to do new things. My favorite feature is creating new menu items for the food stalls. It's really fun.

9. Pocket Arcade Story

Manage a pocket arcade! You can compete with other rival arcades by actually playing arcade games, it's pretty entertaining. No matter how similar Kairosoft games seem they always throw something new at you that changes everything.

10. Grand Prix Story

A game about starting a racing team. When you race you can control the little car or let them drive by themselves! It's a pretty cute and cool game! Completing competitions unlocks new vehicles. Upgrade your vehicle and get different times in order to help your little racer drive smoothly on the different terrain. You can also level up the skills of your little people; racers and mechanics. That way even if you are low on funds or have a crappy car, your little racer will learn how to handle the vehicle.