Showa American Story scatters playable diversions through its world, and completing them is one of the routes to unlocking new abilities for Chigusa Choko. The publisher's copy promises dozens of unique minigames and stat-boosting daily activities, from fully playable arcade machines, hopscotch and dumbbell training to, in its own words, loads more. Only a handful have actually been named or shown, and this page lists those rather than the promise.
Minigames unlock gradually as the main story progresses, in the same way side quests do. Official copy describes them as packed with era-specific nostalgia and unexpected surprises. A 2024 developer statement said minigames and side missions raise stats as well as being diversions, which is why they also appear on Progression.
The Two Named Arcade Games
Two in-universe arcade games have official English names: SpaceBunny and ShowaRun. Both are described as fully playable cabinets rather than set dressing, and both keep the camel casing they are printed with. As of September 2026 no third minigame has been named in any official material, and no rules, controls or scoring have been published for either of them.
What Has Been Named or Shown
Minigame | What it is | How it is known |
|---|---|---|
SpaceBunny | A fully playable in-universe arcade cabinet | Named in official copy |
ShowaRun | A fully playable in-universe arcade cabinet | Named in official copy |
Hopscotch | A short standalone minigame | Named in official copy, and playable in the gamescom 2026 demo build |
Dumbbell training | An RV routine that doubles as a minigame, see Daily Activities | Named in official copy, and playable in the demo build |
Bathing | Another RV routine that doubles as a minigame, see Daily Activities | Seen in the demo build |
An unnamed bicycle prank | Letting the air out of a bicycle's tyres, attached to a mischievous side quest | Seen in the demo build only |
The Bicycle Side Quest
One diversion in the build shown at gamescom 2026 was hung off a side quest and involved letting the air out of a bicycle's tyres without being caught. A suspicion meter tracked passers-by while the deflation was in progress, and getting noticed opened dialogue options to talk your way out of it. The minigame has no published English name, so it is not given one here, and like everything else in that build it may not reach the finished game in the same shape.
Cabinets and Cartridges
Retro arcade cabinets stood in the Foothill Shopping District on Mount Neo Yokohama in the demo build. Separately, a 2024 developer statement described in-world games as collectible objects: cartridges that can be picked up out in the world and then played back inside The Guren Express. The creative director declined to give a number, saying only that a fair few are provided.
A motorcycle maintenance routine has also been described as another of these activities. That has never been confirmed in official copy, so it is noted here as unconfirmed rather than listed above.
What Is Not Documented
As of September 2026, rules, scoring, high-score tables and strategy have not been published for any minigame in the game, including the two named cabinets. The total count is unknown as well: dozens is the publisher's own word and no more precise figure has been given. Gameplay has the wider tour of the systems these sit inside.