Usagi Shima is a free-to-play 2023 mobile rabbit-collecting game developed by Jess Yu (pank0).[2] The gameplay is based off of that of Neko Atsume, with the player building up a selection of toys and structures to attract rabbits.[3] It was released on September 1, 2023 for iOS and Android[4] and has received several updates since then.[5][6]
Part of a developed island with many rabbit inhabitants
Set on an abandoned island,[7] the player helps Dango, the traveling sales-rabbit, to set up a store on the island. The player buys items and buildings from the store to decorate the island, which attracts rabbits to visit the island.[8]
There are two currencies used to expand the island and buy toys and structures, both of which can be purchased through microtransactions:[6][9]
Carrots, which are earned quickly from visiting rabbits by performing tasks for them or as tips; and
The player can buy more island space via the use of the premium in-game currency, gold carrots, or via in-app purchase. Buying the Beach Expansion gives more land space and unlocks more items in the shop. Buying the Ocean Expansion allows players to place specific items in the ocean.[10]
Players can interact with the bunnies on the island through petting, brushing, feeding, and taking photos,[1] which are collected in a photo album.[7] A 2024 update added an endless runner minigame as an option for rabbit interaction.[5]
Bunnies
As of version 1.5.15,[update] there are 35 bunnies for the player to collect. Among these, 13 are considered to be "special bunnies" and only start to appear on the island when certain items are placed on the island or achievements are met. Each bunny has a unique name, personality, and appearance (e.g. Yuzu who is based on the Yuzu fruit), and prefers specific items.[11][8] Eventually, a hatmaker vendor, Mako, will appear that sells hats to be worn by the rabbits.[9]
Development
Usagi Shima is developed using the Godot engine,[12] and started development in February 2021, with a gameplay trailer appearing in the Wholesome Direct stream of June 2022.[7][13] The game draws inspiration from Ōkunoshima in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, an island inhabited by hundreds of feral rabbits.[14] The game's graphics were drawn in Krita.[7] Shortly after its appearance in Wholesome Direct 2023,[15] the game was released in September 2023. The game also appeared at Tokyo Game Show 2023 under the Selected Indie 80 category.[4] The developer of the game, Jess Yu, created the game due to the lack of games that included or were about rabbits, and wanted to have a game like Neko Atsume where the cats could be interacted with.[3] A release through Steam is anticipated in 2026.[2]
Reception
Usagi Shima has been positively received. Catherine Dellosa, writing for Pocket Gamer, reviewed the game favorably, praising the visual style and low-pressure gameplay, and gave it a perfect score.[8] Reviewers Giulia Martino and Jenni Lada, writing for Multiplayer.it and Siliconera, respectively, gave the game slightly less favorable reviews, the former noting a lack of variety in music[16] and the latter appreciating the improved interactivity compared to Neko Atsume, but not scoring it quite as high.[9] The game was a finalist in the 2023 Pocket Gamer Awards in the Best Mobile Family Game category,[10] losing to Niantic's Peridot.[17]
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