When it comes to cozy games, the Switch most certainly has you covered. Whether it’s in the form of poignant narrative-driven adventures, or life sims that are willing to move at the pace you choose, there are plenty of great opportunities to relax, enjoy yourself with simpler concerns, and take in all the feels. Shiro and the Coal Town is very much in that general mold, though with its distinctive art style, settings, and general personality it’s also refreshingly different from the norm in many regards.

Playing as a little boy out in the rural countryside with his family, you’re left to explore, talk to the people you meet, and collect bugs and fish. There’s a pleasant and chill vibe to it all that should be familiar to farming sim fans. Where things take a bit of a turn is when you end up discovering a mysterious train that takes you to a very different place called Coal Town. While this helps to expand the number of characters to interact with and the story to become a little more interesting, it also opens the door to a variety of different activities (trolly racing is very different for this genre) and things to enjoy as well, broadening the scope of the experience and helping to keep it fresh a bit longer. By going on little errands (also known as fetch quests), you’ll work to help everyone out and continue to move things along.

While there’s no doubt that one of the game’s greatest strengths is its fantastic art style, I’d say that it’s also a bit of a weakness as it is implemented. The fixed camera view of each scene feels like a throwback to the original Resident Evil days, and while it’s not as crippling as when you’re trying to hold off zombie dogs it can still be quite awkward at times. I understand that it’s likely part of what makes the game’s unique look possible, but mechanically there’s no doubt that it can be cumbersome at times to make your way around, trying to tell where you can and can’t walk. Regardless, where the game lives and dies is on what type of experience you’re looking for. If you enjoy life sims and have been looking for something familiar, but clearly possessing its own vibe, you may find this to your liking.