''Pokémon Café ReMix'' (originally named ''Pokémon Café Mix'') is a 2020

free-to-play "Free-to-play" ("F2P" or "FtP") video games are games that give players access to a significant portion of their content for free. The term "free-to-play business model" or simply, "free-to-play model", refers collectively to business models tha ...

puzzle video game Puzzle video games make up a broad genre of video games that emphasize puzzle solving. The types of puzzles can test problem-solving skills, including logic, pattern recognition, Sequence, sequence solving, Spatial ability, spatial recognition, ...

developed by

Genius Sonority is a Japanese video game development studio, whose staff consists of programmers who have previously worked on the ''Dragon Quest'' series of video games. History Genius Sonority was incorporated in June 2002 for the original purpose of developi ...

and published by

Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto. It develops, publishes, and releases both video games and video game consoles. The history of Nintendo began when craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi ...

and

The Pokémon Company , simply known as Pokémon is a Japanese company responsible for brand management, production, publishing, marketing, and licensing of the ''Pokémon'' franchise, which consists of video games, a trading card game, anime television series, f ...

for the

Nintendo Switch The is a video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. Released in the middle of the Eighth generation of video game consoles, eighth generation of home consoles, the Switch succeeded the ...

Android Android most commonly refers to: *Android (robot), a humanoid robot or synthetic organism designed to imitate a human * Android (operating system), a mobile operating system primarily developed by Google * Android TV, a operating system developed ...

and

iOS Ios, Io or Nio (, ; ; locally Nios, Νιός) is a Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. Ios is a hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides. It is situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini. It is about long an ...

. The game was released on June 23, 2020, in North America, and on June 24, 2020, in Japan, Europe and Australia. Originally named ''Pokémon Cafe Mix'', the game was renamed to ''Pokémon Cafe ReMix'' on October 28, 2021.

Gameplay

The gameplay of ''Pokémon Café Mix'' is similar to the ''

Disney Tsum Tsum , (pronounced ), is a brand of Japanese collectible stuffed toy based upon Disney-owned characters. The name is derived from the Japanese verb ''tsumu'' meaning "to stack", because the rectangle-shaped toys are designed to stack on top of each ...

'' and '' Yo-kai Watch: Wibble Wobble'' mobile games, which are games where a player connects icons together to advance missions. In the game, the player and

Eevee Eevee (; Japanese: , Hepburn: ) is a Pokémon species in the ''Pokémon'' franchise. Created by Satoshi Tajiri and designed by Motofumi Fujiwara, it first appeared in the video games ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue''. It later appeared in a vari ...

are the owners of a café where

Pokémon is a Japanese media franchise consisting of List of Pokémon video games, video games, Pokémon (TV series), animated series and List of Pokémon films, films, Pokémon Trading Card Game, a trading card game, and other related media. The fran ...

come and order Pokémon-related foods and drinks. With each order, the player engages in a puzzle to make the items. In these puzzles, the player needs to clear Pokémon icons on screen by linking them in a string. The goal is to collect enough of a particular item as displayed on the customer's list. Some puzzles may involve clearing extra key objects, like Cafe skills and megaphones. The player is able to level up Pokémon to develop menu items to attract more Pokémon. Staff Pokémon can help with puzzles by making them easier, for example by changing one type of icon into another. Some Pokémon are only available in points events and team events, from the delivery feature, or from legendary visit events. For the

release, the game only supports handheld mode. Like similar

puzzle games, ''Pokémon Café Mix'' used a "life" system where a player failing a level would lose a life, and running out of lives resulted in a time delay before they could play again. Extra lives can be purchased with "golden acorns" which are earned through play, received from friends, or purchased with

microtransaction Microtransaction (mtx) refers to a business model where users can purchase in-game virtual goods with micropayments. Microtransactions are often used in free-to-play games to provide a revenue source for the developers. While microtransactions ...

s. When the game relaunched as ''Remix'', this system was changed and each attempt at a level consumed a life, whether successful or not. Periods of 15, 30, or 45 minutes of unlimited play can be earned in game or purchased.

Development

The game was announced during the '' Pokémon Presents'' presentation on June 17, 2020. On August 18, 2021, it was announced in another ''Pokémon Presents'' that it was revamped to Pokémon Café ReMix.

Reception

''Pokémon Café Mix'' received "mixed or average reviews" according to the review aggregator

Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...

. It was praised by critics for its art style, deemed "adorably nostalgic" by ''TheGamer'''s Abby Espiritu, and also praised by ''

Nintendo Life Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British digital media company based in London. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and ot ...

''s Chris Scullion for its "easy to learn" matching mechanic. The game was mainly criticized because it was only playable with touchscreen, making Switch play uncomfortable. It was also criticized by Nathan Ellingsworth of ''SwitchPlayer'' for "an eventual sluggish pace", and gave the game a score of 3 out of 5. The game was nominated for Best Mobile Game for The Game Awards 2020. ''

Destructoid ''Destructoid'' is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017 and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022. Histor ...

'' rated the game a 6.5/10, stating “There is no getting around that ''Pokémon Café Mix'' is one of the sweetest looking games available on mobile platforms.” ''

Pocket Gamer ''Pocket Gamer'' is a video game website and former print magazine that focuses on mobile, portable and handheld games. It was launched in 2005 by Steel Media Limited. The publication covers portable and mobile gaming formats, including iPhone, ...

'' rated the game a 3 out of 5, stating “''Pokémon Café Mix is a cute puzzle game with an even cuter art style, but that adorable aesthetic can’t mask a simple, but tiring puzzler.”''

References

External links

*
''Pokémon Café ReMix'' website for North America
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pokemon Cafe Mix 2020 video games Android (operating system) games Free-to-play video games Genius Sonority games IOS games Nintendo Switch games Café Mix Puzzle video games Single-player video games Video games developed in Japan Video games scored by Tsukasa Tawada