When playing the latest cozy sim-style games in this space it’s hard not to bump into titles that are lacking in new and inspiring ideas. Too often content with merely mimicking the likes of Stardew Valley or some others out there, and failing to establish any notable features of their own, it can be tough to find titles that are instead determined to do their own thing. No matter what criticisms of Go-Go Town there could be, at a minimum it’s absolutely deserving of some credit for charting its own path. Though perhaps its kitchen sink-like approach of appropriating elements of a few different types of sims, and mashing them into one experience, may not always work out ideally.

There are a number notable things about this game, including the fact that it’s likely an excellent co-op opportunity for parents with their kids. With support for both multi-system and split-screen play, this is generally a low-pressure affair, with most negative outcomes being more silly than punitive. What further sets it apart is that it doesn’t slot conveniently in with most of the other titles out there, since you will be able to mine, fish, grow crops, and craft, but there’s more to it as well. Your town gets a steady stream of visitors to boot, who are looking to eat, buy things, and be entertained, giving the game more of a Tycoon feel in some way, complete with people being slobs and leaving trash everywhere. On top of that you’ll also have the opportunity to get some automation going the further you go, streamlining some tasks and helping you get the time to do things like explore and discover other hidden surprises out there.

All that said, not everything comes together quite as well as they could. While with some poking around you’ll find that the option to play the game split-screen is in your phone menu, why that wasn’t put out in the main menu like pretty well every other title out there is a mystery. I also think that the game’s tutorial probably should have been broken up into phases, perhaps only introducing relevant instructions as you unlock the appropriate buildings or resources. In my mind it was being implied that enlisting the help of townies early on would help to reduce the amount of running around I’d have to do, but for the most part they aren’t of much use until quite a bit later. Worse, the majority of them would simply walk about doing absolutely nothing, when perhaps they could have at least helped with trash or done anything useful at all. I think it works better as a co-op game than a solo experience, somewhat for this reason, since early on it can be overwhelming trying to do pretty well everything yourself, especially when like I said the tutorial didn’t leave the impression that would be the case. Regardless, it offers a fresh and much more varied experience than the majority of its peers, so even with some issues it still manages to shine.