Summary
- Tiny Wonder Studios, formed by Chibi-Robo developers, is creating an indie successor, koROBO, a 3D platformer with a similar premise.
- Chibi-Robo franchise has a cult following, but no new entries are planned. The last game, Chibi-Robo Zip Lash, received mixed reviews.
- KoROBO, directed by Kenichi Nishi, features a small robot helping a boy. Fans can support the game through a Kickstarter campaign.
Tiny Wonder Studios, a studio made up of former Chibi-Robo developers, has announced an indie spiritual successor called koROBO, a 3D platformer with a similar protagonist and premise. Chibi-Robo is one of the most niche Nintendo franchises, but it retains a cult following to this day. The original title launched in 2005 for the Nintendo GameCube. In it, players control a tiny robot and navigate around their owner's household to collect "Happy Points," either by completing household chores or solving the problems of the fractured Sanderson family.
According to the director of the series, the Chibi-Robo series' status is a bit bleak, as there appear to be no plans for a new entry in the cult classic series. The last entry in the series was 2015's Chibi-Robo Zip Lash, which garnered a very mixed reception among fans and critics. Common complaints include the shift to a 2D side-scrolling platformer instead of the series' classic gameplay, along with clunky mechanics and poor controls on the 3DS. With Chibi-Robo currently on the backburner for Nintendo, some of the original developers have gotten together to form Tiny Wonder Studio, looking to create a spiritual successor.
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Tiny Wonder Studio includes a number of industry veterans and directors who worked on the Chibi-Robo series. Kenichi Nishi, the former co-founder of Skip and the co-director of the original Chibi-Robo, is the director of koROBO. The first trailer of koROBO was revealed during BitSummit, and showed off the game's story and gameplay loop. The titular koROBO is a small robot who is gifted to a boy named Tom for his birthday, who lives in a fictitious version of Brooklyn, New York called Brocklyn, New Yock. Much like the original Chibi-Robo, players are tasked with keeping the house clean, helping Tom out with his homework, and even fighting a mysterious enemy who travels through time. Their time in the game is limited by the battery on KoROBO's back, though unlike Chibi-Robo, they can recharge using patches of sun.
KoROBO is a Spiritual Successor to Chibi-Robo
Tiny Wonder Studio has a Campfire and Kickstarter campaign for koROBO opening on July 22, with players being able to directly help fund the development of the game. Depending on the success of the campaign, the game will not only be released on PC, but potentially consoles as well. Many fans were excited about koROBO, believing that it looked like a proper successor to one of Nintendo's most niche franchises.
Tiny Wonder Studio released a message after the game's reveal, with Ishi stating that koROBO is intended to be a cozy indie game for players to enjoy. The core of koROBO is bringing people together and "working towards a better tomorrow," with Ishi also asking for fans' support with the Kickstarter and Campfire campaigns when they go live.
Chibi Robo
- Released
- February 8, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
Chibi Robo is a Nintendo GameCube exclusive platforming adventure game developed by Skip Ltd. This 3D adventure guides players through a family’s homestead, helping them to complete tasks. The game features a robot protagonist, item collecting, platforming, and puzzle solving.
