Skating Rink Story Review

I’ve recently looked at Pro Wrestler Story, and I enjoyed its simplicity and the colourful pixelated action. Accordingly, when I was offered Skating Rink Story, I had high hopes that it would capture my attention and be a joy to play. Thankfully, it ticked those boxes as it was casual, easy to master, and it had a few layers of depth.

Kairosoft developed this pixelated simulation experience. It is a single-player game that offers 2 areas of management. You’ll focus on the ice rink and the outer zone. This multi-faceted approach was interesting while adding a classic Kairosoft edge. Therefore, if you’ve tackled any title from this much-loved developer, you’ll feel right at home.

Skating Rink Story tells no story…ironic, I know.

The irony that Skating Rink Story tells no plot wasn’t lost on me. However, like every other game from this developer, I didn’t expect it to have a powerful and Oscar-worthy plot. Instead, it is the action and character interactions that move the game forward.

This wasn’t an issue for me as there were enough customisation and management elements to keep me focused. Moreover, there are staff to hire, recipes to discover, and important competitions to win. On top of this, you must transform your sports arena into a bustling and attractive area for world-class skaters and their fans.

Better than other games from the series.

Skating Rink Story has a bit of a clunky UI, but navigating any of the core areas and managing your roster of staff and stars was a walk in the park. Alongside this, you’ll concentrate on designing and redesigning your sports arena. As new elements are unlocked, you’ll want to maximise the flow of your retail space.

This appeals to gamers who love to build an empire. Although it isn’t the most in-depth management title, it offers enough variants to keep you going. Additionally, there are research points to improve your instructors and master new tricks. There is also social media to manage and new facilities and cities to experience.

This progression system gives the impression of loads of new content, but it is a little rinse and repeat. Consequently, you’ll be rebuilding your world as you move through the new areas.

Skating Rink Story is vibrant and pixelated.

I adore the colourful nature of every Kairosoft game. The colour palette is outlandish, and the character models are blocky and pixelated. However, this is part of its charm. If you want polished and clean visuals, Skating Rink Story won’t be the game for you. The audio sets a relaxing atmosphere that opposes the stereotypical winter sports theme. Instead, it leans into synth and electronic sounds for a minimalist but suitable soundtrack.

The controls are easy to master, but the clunky UI is a sticking point. Once you get used to the button layout and the layers of submenus, you won’t worry. Yet, before that happens, you’ll make plenty of errors as you try to select the correct item. This is a casual game, and there is a distinct endgame. However, the midpoint is somewhat repetitive. The new locations and arenas don’t help this. Therefore, this must be played in relatively short bursts.

Skating Rink Story offers pixelated and almost mindless action.

If you want a mind-bending and challenging experience, then Skating Rink Story won’t be for you. However, if you want something that fills a gap, then this relaxing title should suffice. It is colourful, entertaining, and perfect for short, sharp gaming moments. Accordingly, I like it and recommend grabbing a copy from the Xbox store!