Software:Chibi-Robo!

Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder, known as Chibi-Robo! Let's Go, Photo! in Europe and Australia, is a video game for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console via the Nintendo eShop. It is the fourth installment in Chibi-Robo! game series developed by Skip Ltd. and published by Nintendo.

Unlike past entries in the series, Photo Finder doesn't focus on cleaning or performing helpful tasks, but rather, a brand-new mechanic that involves the 3DS's augmented reality capabilities. The game revolves around collecting everyday objects, known as NostalJunk, and placing them on display in a museum. The game still has cleaning functions, as with Chibi-Robo: Plug Into Adventure! and Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol, but Photo Finder turns said cleaning sections into missions Chibi-Robo can access at any time using the Chibi-PC. These missions are jobs that several of the supporting characters send via email, and include cleaning out a garage, or blasting wasabi into various sushi on a conveyor belt. The player is awarded Happy Points based on performance, which function once again as the game's currency. Happy Points can then in turn be traded in for silhouette films that show outlines of household objects, which can be purchased from the shop, which can also be accessed from the Chibi-PC.

Once a film is purchased, the player is then able to shoot a photo with the 3DS's built in camera. The screen will show the silhouette of the household object, and the player's goal is to find an object that matches the outline. After lining the object up with the outline, the player has ten tries to take a picture that most matches the outline. The object's quality is measured by a percentage in the top right corner. If an object is below 60%, it won't transfer. If it's between 60% and 99%, it has a chance of either being transferred, or becoming a NostalDud. If the object has 100% accuracy, it will not only transfer no matter what, but all following objects created with the film will be cutouts, which means that an object won't have to match the outline of the film.

The game also involves exploration stages that can be accessed after unlocking new jobs. These areas allow the player to dabble in more traditional Chibi-Robo gameplay. Rather than unlocking or buying new items in order to better clean and traverse the area, necessary tools are received upon entering the area. Trash and dust piles litter the vicinity, and Chibi-Robo has the option to either clean it up, or just explore the area. In order to leave the area, Chibi-Robo must dispose of the collected refuse in a Recycling Machine located near the exit. The compactor will then reward the player's efforts; the more trash they pick up, the more Happy Points are rewarded.

Like before, Chibi-Robo relies heavily on battery power. Due to his limited battery size, he must constantly watch his Watts meter and conserve his energy by all means possible. Once Chibi-Robo loses all of his Watts, he will power down and collapse on the spot. If this happens during a job, Chibi-Robo will be returned to Mr. Curator's desk and receive no Happy Points. There are two ways to recharge: by plugging into the outlet on Mr. Curator's desk, or by finding a battery hidden in one of the many explorable areas.

Plot

In the beginning, Chibi-Robo appears in a ventilation system within a museum, with a semi-glowing red button in front of him. After pressing it, a trap door goes off in the floor, and Chibi-Robo falls through. He lands in the Curator's office, where he meets the Curator and a cell phone-like robot named Telly, who is Chibi-Robo's manager. The Curator explains that Chibi-Robo's purpose to collect photos called NostalJunk using silhouette film to help increase the museum's popularity. While performing this task, Chibi-Robo meets living toys and objects around the museum (consisting of Drake Redcrest from the first game, a toy alien named Miss Clayra, small versions of Chibi-Robo called Chibi-Tots, two toy chefs named Ketschburg and Mostardin, a bear-shaped sponge named Joshy Bear, a lion fountain statue named Laroque, a toy squid named Squid Vicious, and three lion toys named Moppi, Moppo, and Moppa) and helps them with their duties in exchange for silhouette film. At one point, the Curator is asked to speak in front of an audience (which doesn't go well due to his stage fright) and later decides to write a book about his museum. In the end, the museum becomes a thrilling success, with the Curator giving Chibi-Robo credit for his efforts.

Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash

Main article: Software:Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash

Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash is a Nintendo 3DS game. It was released in Japan and North America in October 2015, and in Europe and Australia in November. Unlike past games, Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash is a sidescrolling platformer with emphasis on combat and exploration. In this game, Chibi-Robo uses his tail-like cord as a whip to attack enemies and latch onto objects. Certain collectibles can increase the length of Chibi-Robo's cord. A Chibi-Robo amiibo was also produced to interact with the game. Developers of Zip Lash believed that this game might be the last game in the Chibi-Robo! series if this game did not meet sales expectations, and the game was not received well critically and commercially, considered to be a commercial failure.

Future

Due to Zip Lash being a critical and commercial failure, it is theoretically considered the final game in the series, with Skip Ltd. having not made any games since 2015. In August 2020, it was widely speculated that the company had closed down, with evidence such as an HTTP 403 error when opening the company website, the CEO of the company removing the website from his Twitter profile, and new occupation of the company building potentially pointing towards this.

Nintendo tweeted a picture of "Fiery Chibi-Robo" in January 2018, which is of Chibi-Robo using the fire ability. This led to speculation that a Nintendo Direct was close and a new Chibi-Robo game was going to be announced. A Nintendo Direct Mini was released the next day, without a new Chibi-Robo game, although the image of "Fiery Chibi-Robo" has become a meme in the Nintendo community as representation for excitement for a Nintendo Direct.

In July 2024, Tiny Wonder Studio, a new company established by key members of Skip, Ltd., announced the action-adventure game koROBO, which also centers around a small robot. During the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2nd, 2025, it was revealed that the original Chibi-Robo! game would be re-released on Nintendo Switch 2 via the Nintendo Classics service.