RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike is a strategy arcade roguelite releasing March 31st on PC. With publishing by Playstack (Abiotic Factor, Balatro), developer Doraccoon brings coin pushing to a digital scale with a plethora of unique bits and bobs. You can pick it up only over on Steam.
Like at the Carnival, But Better!
I was always curious around the coin pusher games at the carnival. Mostly because I wanted the free tokens that would randomly fall. These days I see one on occasion at the gas station or travel center, and usually toss in a quarter or two if I have one on me. RACCOIN looks to be a more manageable for my wallet. So how does it play? Well check out the review below and I’ll let you know my thoughts!
Gameplay
RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike is a coin pushing strategy arcade-style game that adds flourish to simple mechanics. Your primary objective, as in most games, is to win by reaching higher and higher score. To do so you must utilize a combination of coins, prizes, modifiers, and more. As with most roguelites, the more you play the game – the more you unlock and are able to use in the machine. Progressing through the game also unlocks different characters to play as and they also provide unique variations on the gameplay itself.
I think I’m giving up on trying to keep “roguelite” and “roguelike” separate. They get used interchangeably it seems, so much so that it’s even in the name of RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike. But I digress. Coins are just one of the many variables at your disposal to convert to points and tickets which allow you to buy additional bonuses and useable items. Different types of coins modify the contents of the machine in a variety of unique and interesting ways. For example, a seed coin can be watered and fertilized using the respective coins to grow a coin tree. Other examples include cat and wolf coins that track and hunt prey coins across the play area. Coins with these types of interactions generally increase in value over time in the machine which greatly helps reaching that target score.
Prizes for Winners
Prizes, gadgets and modifiers also drive you toward the target score by introducing their own flavor of variables. Prizes are generally event types of actions that modify the front area of the machine. Modifiers, however, are a bonus that can be applied to any special coin in your clip. Just like the coins, modifiers have a large variety of possible applications. Gadgets are items that can be used or placed into the play area to change or modify it in a more subtle way. Variety is king in RACCOIN and making use of whatever you can in the moment can be a challenge. Sometimes your best preparations can go completely out the window at a moment’s notice. To top it off, racking up combos gets you a spin of the wheel, with the chance at crazy stacks of coins like seen above.
Graphics & Audio
RACCOIN is only available via Steam for PC. Of course that didn’t stop me from checking out this pixelated beauty on my Steam Deck too. The CRT kind of pixelation adds a nice charm to pushing coins. The game also provides the ability to adjust the sharpness of pixelation for a smoother experience if desired. It truly looks great though and the art style is really fitting for the game’s arcade style.
Music and sound effects in RACCOIN are also on point. It makes you feel just like you’re playing a machine at the arcade. Wonderous is also the sounds of both the coins stacking and falling, either from the chute, tower, or into the scoring abyss. Not tot mention all of the sounds seems to keep in line with the pixel aesthetic by appealing to the 8-bit/chiptune tones.
Longevity
There is a lot going on in RACCOIN and I am barely scratching the surface. Unlocking everything will take a significant amount of time. Though the count of 23 for achievements doesn’t seem very high, I’m sure it includes completing a run with each character. I don’t know that I’ve gotten past level eight or nine yet so I already know I’m in trouble!
Final Thoughts
If you enjoy games like Balatro and Nubby’s Number Factory then I highly recommend checking out RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike. It has a certain amount of charm that combines visual style and engaging and rewarding mechanics. If nothing else, it is at least easier on your wallet (and more exciting) than playing a coin pusher in real life. I’m definitely going to have to go with the Thumb Culture Platinum Award for this one!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
If you enjoy this review, be sure to check out my other reviews here.
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