Being developed by Meowza Games, Mineko’s Night Market has been announced for Switch, along with PC and Mac. This was showcased yesterday during Nintendo’s Indie World 2018 and confirmed by the devs on Twitter earlier today.
The game has a similar gameplay to Animal Crossing, with a huge difference: the main character, Mineko, is obssesed with cats. So much that she even has a kitten farm. These cute little friends will join players everywhere they go: mining, exploring the city, taking parts of a racing tournament or looking for resources and items to sell in the shop.
And while the devs, Brent Kobayashi and Brandi Kobayashi, always mention Animal Crossing as an influence, they focused on a more narrative experience with a greater freedom than just taking care of your farm. Players will get to build friendships with the townsfolk, leading to new “hanging out” possibilities such going to a karaoke bar. Also, the more they like you, the more they will likely spend more money on your shop. Friendships are sacred, though!
Hairballs are used for crafting, and you’ll get to run different markets throughout a game’s year, going through different weather stations. The devs confirmed that players can continue playing the game once they finish the story, but it’s mostly about experiencing the world at your own pace.
You can also unlock alternative modes of transportation like buses, bullet trains, and cat carts to visit different locations, which will offer different tasks and activities depending on the time of day and season. It sounds like it’s going to be a massive game, and based on the features and the art style, a perfect companion to have on the go.
Mineko’s Night Market is set to be released in late 2018 for PC, Mac and Switch. Make sure to visit the official site for more information and don’t forget to follow the devs on Twitter.
