Animal Restaurant: A Casual Tycoon Game

Animal Restaurant, a management simulation game developed by Chinese studio DH Games in 2019, has garnered a massive following on social media platforms such as Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, and Instagram. The simplistic yet cute visual style with a focus on animals and relaxing ASMR gameplay has captured the hearts of many players worldwide. As of April 25, 2023, the game has generated over $2,000,000 in IAP with more than 20,000,000 downloads.

What sets Animal Restaurant apart from other cute-looking games is its focus on the tycoon genre. Games with a cute visual style and animal theme are not uncommon in the mobile game market, but Animal Restaurant’s implementation of these features is exceptional. The game’s location design and the camera angle offer a compact but dense view of the restaurant, making it easy for players to manage everything from one screen.

The gameplay in Animal Restaurant is straightforward, but it is the game’s focus on long-term retention that sets it apart from other tycoon games. The core gameplay involves running a restaurant, purchasing and upgrading items, hiring staff, and earning prestige. The game opens up to new mechanics and mini-games as the player progresses, including a rating system that can unlock new areas and items.

One of the game’s strengths is its visuals, which feature hand-drawn, adorable pictures that fit perfectly with the game’s relaxing vibe. The animations are simple but smooth, and players can visually see the improvements to their restaurant with each upgrade. The game’s various currencies, such as Cod, Films, Bells, and Plates, are connected to specific locations and make the onboarding process less painful for the player.

Animal Restaurant’s tap mechanics compensate for the relaxing pace of the game. Taps are used to increase production, collect soft currency, and speed up customer orders. There are also limited-time events that require players to be attentive and engage with the gameplay.

Players looking for more than just the core tycoon gameplay will find plenty to do in Animal Restaurant’s meta-game. Different locations offer new mechanics and mini-games that unlock various rewards, including the collection of Customers, Mementos, Letters, and Movies. Gacha mechanics are also present in the game, offering players a chance to obtain random rewards from machines located throughout the game.

With its charming visuals, relaxing gameplay, and engaging mechanics, Animal Restaurant is a must-play for casual mobile game enthusiasts.