Mini Video Game Review: Hokko Life

Developer: Wonderscope

Publisher: Team17

Reviewed For: Nintendo Switch

Also Available On: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

I just finished writing a review for Potion Pixel, and yet here I am writing a review for another life simulator. Hokko Life is yet another game in this crowded genre on the Nintendo Switch. It doesn’t take long to see how much it is inspired by the success of Animal Crossing. How does it hold up? 

In short, Hokko Life is quite disappointing. While it has tons of potential and charm to it, it feels surprisingly empty, and the lack of an actual narrative means that it’s difficult to hook players. The characters aren’t as interesting as they are in Stardew Valley or as cute as the animals in Animal Crossing. The inventory system is a bother, and the controls don’t make the game any more fun to play. It feels like Hokko Life is inspired by too many games and doesn’t do enough to carve its own identity.

Fortunately, the one thing Hokko Life absolutely nails is the dedication to customization. There are many DIYs that can be customized in just about any way you can imagine. There are a lot of options, and creatives will spend tons of time just making and designing stuff. If players only care about customizing their village, then this game will go far for them. Anyone who likes chatting with villagers will be tired of Hokko Life quickly.

Speaking of the villagers, there is something unnerving about their appearance. While almost all of Hokko Life looks nice and cozy, the villagers are almost creepy. I’m not sure what went wrong, but they ruin almost the entire aesthetic. Fortunately, the music is almost enough to soothe the player and help them forget about the monstrosities that they live with.

Hokko Life could have been a lot more, but ultimately falls short of greatness. Anyone desperate for a cozy life simulator can find some enjoyment in this, but there are much better options already out, and even more on the horizon.