Usagi Shima

Usagi Shima
DeveloperJess Yu
PublisherJess Yu
DesignerJess Yu
Composers
  • Shiomi Shino
  • Mos
  • Max Duggan
EngineGodot[1]
Platforms
  • Android
  • iOS
  • 1 September 2023
GenreVirtual pet
ModeSingle-player

Usagi Shima (うさぎしま, Rabbit Island) is a free-to-play 2023 mobile rabbit-collecting game developed by Jess Yu (pank0).[2] The game is developed using the Godot engine, with gameplay inspired by Neko Atsume. The player builds up a selection of toys and structures in the game to attract rabbits to a tropical island.[3] It was released on September 1, 2023 for iOS and Android[4] and has received several updates since then,[5][6] with a release on Steam anticipated in 2026.[2]

Gameplay

Set on an abandoned tropical island,[7] players buy items and buildings from the store to decorate the island, which attracts various rabbits.[8]

There are two currencies used to expand the island and buy toys and structures, both of which can be purchased through microtransactions: carrots, which are earned quickly from visiting rabbits by performing tasks for them or as tips; and gold carrots, a premium currency that is earned more slowly.[6][9] The player can buy more island space using 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 rabbits 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]

Rabbits

As of version 1.5.15, there are 35 rabbits for the player to collect. Among these, 13 are considered to be "special rabbits" and only start to appear on the island when certain items are placed on the island or achievements are met. Each rabbit 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, appears, offering 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] Its graphics were created using 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 Jess Yu was inspired by Neko Atsume, a cat-collecting mobile game.[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 its visual style and low-pressure gameplay, and awarded it a perfect score.[8] Reviewers Giulia Martino and Jenni Lada, writing for Multiplayer.it and Siliconera, respectively, gave the game somewhat 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]

References

  1. ^ a b "Usagi Shima". Gry-Online Encyklopedia Gier (in Polish). December 21, 2023. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Ghiurca, Andreea (November 1, 2024). "Usagi Shima welcomes plenty of Fall flavour in cosy Autumn Harvest update". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on November 2, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Musgrave, Shaun (September 27, 2023). "TGS 2023: Hands-On With Bunny Collecting Sim 'Usagi Shima'". Touch Arcade. Archived from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Dellosa, Catherine (August 8, 2023). "Usagi Shima is a cosy bunny-collecting game coming to iOS and Android on September 1st". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Usagi Shima welcomes five new bunnies in Bunny Paradise update, along with special merch collection". Pocket Gamer. June 8, 2024. Archived from the original on March 3, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Dellosa, Catherine (May 16, 2024). "Usagi Shima puts carrots on sale and opens CBT sign-ups for next big update". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d Fujiwara, Hideaki (June 13, 2022). "Bunny collecting game Usagi Shima takes inspiration from Japan's "Rabbit Island"". Automaton. Archived from the original on March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c Dellosa, Catherine (September 1, 2023). "Usagi Shima review - "Cuteness overload by bunny overlords"". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Lada, Jenni (September 9, 2023). "Review: Usagi Shiima Improves on the Neko Atsume Formula". Siliconera. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Ghiurca, Andreea (December 6, 2023). "Usagi Shima lets you collect surfing bunnies in latest beach update". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  11. ^ Lada, Jenni (September 6, 2023). "Here Are All the Usagi Shiima Bunnies". Siliconera. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  12. ^ Dawe, Liam (August 19, 2024). "Get ready to collect some Rabbits in Usagi Shima: Bunny Island". GamingOnLinux. Archived from the original on March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  13. ^ "Usagi Shima - First Gameplay Trailer". IGN. June 11, 2022. Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  14. ^ Thomas, Russell (February 14, 2021). "Japan's rabbit island Okunoshima has a dark and deadly history". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  15. ^ "Usagi Shima - Official Release Date Trailer | Wholesome Direct 2023". IGN. June 10, 2023. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  16. ^ Martino, Giulia (September 11, 2023). "Usagi Shima, la recensione del gioco mobile in cui si coccolano adorabili coniglietti giapponesi". Multiplayer.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  17. ^ "Pocket Gamer Awards 2023". Pocket Gamer. December 13, 2023. Archived from the original on March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
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