10 Best Sanrio Games

Summary

• Most Sanrio games are cozy games, perfect for relaxing.
• Sanrio is more than just Hello Kitty.
• There are a surprisingly large number of Sanrio games.

Due to social media trends popping up, Sanrio – or rather, the adorable pink bow-clad main character, Hello Kitty – has had a recent resurgence in popularity. From clothing items to small collectible trinkets, Hello Kitty and her various animal pals have been plastered all over pop culture. And this includes some adorable video games.

These games cover a wide range of genres, but primarily a game featuring the Sanrio friends is typically categorized as a cozy game. There are puzzle elements, character customizations, and usually you get to pick which Sanrio pal can become your very best friend.

10

Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Released: 2023

Originally released in 2023, Hello Kitty Island Adventure is one of the best games to replace the hype around Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The game practically functions the same, where you crash-land on a remote island with the Sanrio characters and embark with the gang on a magical adventure to restore an abandoned island to its former glory.

The main gameplay elements involve puzzle solving, cooking and crafting, cabin customization, and various mini-missions you can complete to gain more progress with the characters on the island. It’s ridiculously fun, with some pretty adorable animations from the Sanrio gang.

9

Hello Kitty: Roller Rescue

Released: 2005

There typically aren’t a lot of stakes in a Sanrio game, but Hello Kitty: Roller Rescue has ramped up the pressure on gamers, all while having the cutesy aesthetic that the mascots are known for. After his last attempt at conquering a planet, the evil Emperor Block-O stumbles upon Earth and decides to try again. He quickly utilizes his block-shaped army to invade Earth, and in the process, kidnaps Hello Kitty’s friends and family with the ultimate goal of turning everyone into a cube-shaped being like himself.

Now you, as Hello Kitty, must save your friends. Armed with a magic wand and roller skates, she completes various missions that can unlock different Sanrio characters, who all have thorough bios and unlockables you can gain. And the more you progress in the story and save the characters, the more they can join on different missions, with each friend offering different combat abilities.

8

My Hello Kitty Café

Released: 2022

Similar to the Squid Game experience within Roblox, My Hello Kitty Cafe can only be played on that server and is officially sponsored by Sanrio itself. The premise is pretty simple: build and expand a café with the help of Hello Kitty and her friends. Each character has different prebuilt layouts that you can unlock and use for your café.

The more you serve happy customers, the more coins you get that can be used to purchase various Sanrio-themed café items that you can decorate the space with, such as an adorable Pochacco serving tray. The more drinks and treats you make to serve guests, the more you progress and ultimately earn the honor of a five-star café.

7

Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams

Released: 2007

Hello Kitty has finally made it to the big city! In this game, you take control of Hello Kitty as she navigates the wonders that the city has to offer. There are two main gameplay elements to this entry: open world exploration and, of course, mini-games.

In the open world, you can explore the 3D city by checking out the various shops, streets, neighborhood characters, and you can even take public transportation, which will trigger some cute animation sequences. But by playing mini-games, you can unlock more locations to explore and help you gain friendship points which can be redeemed to earn unlockable outfits, apartment decorations, ride the bus or train, and further progress in the story. You also have to keep up with your friends by writing them letters, which will keep them happy and lend you different perks to use on Kitty’s adventure.

6

Hello Kitty Dream Village

Released: 2019

This mobile-exclusive gacha game is pretty standard for Sanrio games. The game primarily acts as an avatar styling app with Sanrio characters, but it has some pretty unique features.

In the small community of Smile Town, Hello Kitty, My Melody, Little Twin Stars, Pompompurin, and Cinnamoroll have taken up residence. They all have their own streets and different mini games that you can play to earn more Strawberry Coins, the main currency of the game that unlocks outfits and plushies to decorate your chibi avatar with. You can also host and attend different parties, complete quests, and typically there are game events that are a great way for players to gain some items for free.

5

Hello Kitty: Puzzle Party

Released: 2009

Originally launched to celebrate the 35th birthday of Hello Kitty, this game primarily focuses on puzzles – hence the name. The puzzles are surprisingly challenging and they will get your brain thinking in all sorts of different ways.

Each puzzle is primarily Hello Kitty themed, not featuring the other Sanrio characters, and the puzzles unlock different features that you can use to customize the clock and calendar for some personal style. As previously mentioned, Puzzle Party is fun and challenging for players of all ages. And since this is a party game, you can play alone or with others.

4

Hello Kitty: Fantasy Theater

Released: 2016

In Hello Kitty: Fantasy Theater, the game poses the question of ‘what if Hello Kitty was a fairy tale princess?’ Playing out popular children’s fairy tales, Hello Kitty and other Sanrio friends play out different scenes in some enchanting Renaissance-esque outfits.

The primary goal of the game is to collect the different Sanrio characters and make friends, with the main gameplay element being puzzles. The puzzles are played against these elaborate backdrops featuring the characters acting out the children’s stories, which has made the game surprisingly popular, especially in Japan, years after its initial release date.

3

Hello Kitty World 2

Released: 2020

Serving as the sequel to the extremely popular 1992 original Hello Kitty World, the sequel completely changes what the original game offered up. The first game was pretty simple, with the main mechanic being a side-scroll game that was typical at the time, and the goal is to keep Hello Kitty afloat with your balloons while you dodge different obstacles around you.

The second game completely expands on the simple gameplay from the first entry. The “sequel” is basically a standalone game because, instead of floating around on balloons, you get to build and customize a theme park. Unlock decorations, the rides, and add all the fun stuff you want in your park. On top of the customization, you can also visit other theme parks that players have built, participate in fashion battles, and customize your avatar to your heart’s desire.

2

Hello Kitty Seasons

Released: 2010

Most Sanrio games don’t have a show tie-in, but Hello Kitty Seasons does! Based on the CGI series The Adventures Of Hello Kitty & Friends, this game has players utilize their Wii remote to play as the town’s mayor and complete different seasonally-themed mini-games to progress the story.

There are the typical features present in this game that we’re used to with a Sanrio game: character customization, unlockable characters, town decorations and upgrades, and you get closer to each friend by helping them with character-specific missions or chatting with them throughout the day.

1

Hello Kitty And Friends Happiness Parade

Released: 2022

If you’re a fan of rhythm games, you’re going to love this one. Hello Kitty And Friends Happiness Parade has a pretty simple concept: tap your control stick to the beat while Hello Kitty and her friends dance along a parade route. The more you hit the rhythm just right, the higher your score.

But that’s not all. The devious Kuromi begins to get jealous of Hello Kitty’s ever-growing fanbase due to the parades and decides to sabotage each performance. As you dance each parade route, you must weave through the various goons Kuromi has placed in your way, utilizing traps to stop them from catching up to you. While you start off with My Melody and Pompompurin, the further you progress in the parades, the more opportunities you get to have other Sanrio friends join you in the performances. It’s colorful, challenging, and actually has some great songs on the soundtrack.