Chibi Maruko-Chan DS : Maru-Chan no Machi

Chibi Maruko-chan DS: Maru-chan no Machi for Nintendo DS is a Japan-only character game released on February 5, 2009. Developed by Hyde and published by Bandai Namco Games, it brings the television anime world of Chibi Maruko-chan to Nintendo’s dual-screen handheld. Rather than framing the license as a single adventure, the game invites players to spend time with Maruko and the familiar people around her in a collection of everyday episodes and activities.

Its central "Maruko’s Day" mode is built around anime stories and original scenarios. Players guide Maruko through a day that includes going to school, meeting friends, and keeping the promises made to the people she encounters. These requests can be modest, such as talking with someone or arranging to play together, while others involve tasks connected to school life. Completing them earns items and helps move the day’s events forward, making the game’s progress depend on following through on the small commitments that link its scenes.

The setting is filled with recognizable Chibi Maruko-chan characters, including Maruko’s grandfather and Tama-chan. Their appearances give the game the relaxed, domestic atmosphere associated with the television series, while the episode-based structure lets players see a variety of situations rather than pursuing one long plot. After a day of good deeds, Maruko can receive stamps from her grandfather; collecting them contributes to a picture mosaic, providing a continuing target across play sessions.

Nintendo DS hardware is used for more than navigation. Maru-chan no Machi includes 13 touch-pen minigames, adding short challenges alongside its story-led routine. The game also allows players to raise plants and animals in the Sakura family garden. Points gathered during play can be exchanged for different items, so visiting characters, fulfilling requests, completing minigames, and tending the garden all feed into its wider collection-focused design.

Chibi Maruko-chan DS: Maru-chan no Machi arrived as the first Chibi Maruko-chan game on Nintendo DS, extending a series that had already appeared on several earlier game systems. Its 2009 release is aimed at fans who wanted an interactive visit to the anime’s neighborhood: a gentle mix of daily-life stories, stylus activities, character encounters, and accumulating rewards. With its Japanese release and anime-specific material, it remains a distinctly Nintendo DS-era entry in the long-running Chibi Maruko-chan game catalog.