Pricey, But Clean- Miniclip Sushi Go-Round Review

While I’m recognized (and often reviled) for my love of first-person shooters and Japanese role-playing games, sporadically I find satisfaction in unexpected pursuits. One of those unanticipated pastimes is the time management simulation, where a few rounds of Sally’s Salon can convey a sense of accomplishment as passionate as the procuring of an elusive Xbox achievement. Obviously, some primal forces are at play within the genre; a detail that’s been exploited by a multitude of diversions that task players with overseeing bakeries, diners, airports, and markets. With SouthPeak’s recent release of Sushi Go-Round, now players can manage a quaint Japanese eatery.

As each business day starts, customers will trickle in and take a seat at the sushi bar. After giving each ravenous patron a menu, the guests will order one of the game’s edibles by displaying an emblematic icon above their head. For each of the ten recipes, players drag and drop the appropriate ingredients for each sushi type. California rolls- for example, are composed of three units- rice, a nori wrapper, and a dollop of fish eggs.  After all the components are gathered, players sweep the stylus across the bamboo preparation mat, rolling the sushi and sending it along a conveyor belt. Customers automatically grab their roll as it scoots by, and leaving their plate on the counter as they exit the restaurant. 

That studious look character is a boss, with a vicious appetite. Beware!


Challenge arises from two elements- memorizing an increasingly varied menu, and maintaining a sufficient supply of ingredients. Initially, patrons will request only a few types of nourishment; by the fortieth level of the game, players will have to be fluent in a repertoire of recipes to satisfy every short-tempered customer. Fortunately, gamers are given two sushi cups, which can cool the ire of the most impatient guest. When supplies run low, players may order additional ingredients via the restaurant’s telephone, with the option for normal or expedited (for an additional 50 yen) delivery. Inventory management at the end of the each stage is particularly important, as players may not want to purchase an entire allotment of shrimp for a concluding customer.

Beyond additional recipes and levels, a few negligible variations make this adaptation of Sushi Go-Round slightly different from the Miniclip’s version. Forbidden Mode prohibits players from rolling two types of sushi, otherwise they’ll be sent to the game over screen. Endless Day presents a perpetual stream of customers, while Time Attack tasks players with maximizing their income during a single day of operation. Likely, players will only attempt each deviation once or twice; there’s just not enough disparity between the modes to sustain a gamers interest.


Apples’ have a ravenous appetite. iPhones eat through a full battery charge in minutes.


A handful of graphical improvements have been made over Sushi Go Round’s Flash-based predecessor. While the original game’s edibles had a pixelated charm, the DS iteration wisely offers a more realistic depiction, making for easier ingredient and roll identification. Players who own a DSi may use the portable’s photographic capabilities to customize the visage of the restaurant’s patrons. Sadly, Go-Round’s musical accompaniment emulates the repetitive strains of the Miniclip game. There’s needs to be a government agency that ensures workers don’t listen to the same tune all day long. Periodically, the background will change, but your clientele deviates little except for the occasional boss character.

While Sushi Go-Round is fun and oddly gratifying in short doses, there’s not enough variation in the game to warrant extended play periods. Like Sally’s Salon and Airport Mania, the ability to use your profits to purchase new additions would have been a welcome alternative. While gamers seeking a solid time management games on the DS have a few options (Diner Dash, Cake Mania, and Burger Island), Sushi Go-Round ranks as one of the better, if not slightly pricey restaurants in town. Gamers may want to wait for the title’s $29.99 MSRP to drop before making a reservation.

About Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

26 comments

  1. They should have a brothel simulation. Try to get customers in and out. Keep condom and lube supplies stocked. Make sure there’s toys for the people to use.

  2. Deagle, I didn’t know you played these kinds of games. Respect -2. Just kidding!

  3. Sushi Academy is $14.99 at GS right now. Not a bad game.

  4. Something smells fishy. Desert likes to play Sally’s Salon?

    What do you like better doing the nails or hair? HAHAHA

  5. Are the cat heads includes or do you have to use the DSi to get those?

  6. Its morelike Cooking Mama. My GF has it and it’s decent.

    http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=74118

  7. There’s something wrong with that California Roll recipe!

  8. $29.99 for a slight enhancement of a flash game? C’mon SouthPeak!

  9. These games are fun every once in a while. After a while, I don’t even notice or care if I’m coloring hair or baking cookies.

  10. Needs a drop the “tuna on the floor if they get pissed off” button.

  11. LOL. I liked the iphone joke!

  12. Someone needs to post a screen showing on-school NWA at the Sushi bar.

  13. A big pass on this one. These games are fun for ten minutes or so. That’s whythey work as flash (and free) game.

  14. Someone should make a rule, you cant sell carts based on a free flash game for more than $20.

  15. Sushi is kind os expensive these days. $30?

  16. Maybe if it came with a freeze dried bag of edamame or something. $30 is too steep, I might grab it for $10.

  17. Primal Ice Cream

    So this isn’t like cooking mama, really?

  18. I just want to know why a sushi restaurant runs out of rice three times a day.

  19. LOL.

    Good review. Maybe you should do some Sally’s Salon/Spa cosplay, Desert.

  20. So what the best time/resource management game on the DS and iphone right now?

  21. Intelligent Zombie

    Seems like it should be a DSI download for cheaper. I bet the cart size is pretty small.

  22. That cat is freaking me out!

  23. Is it a Japanese game at least?

  24. I like the more casual games, so I just want to say thanks for the review.

  25. I like casual games, but this seems just decent.

  26. Let me off the Sushi Go Round!