Viva Piñata is a 2006 life simulation game developed by Rare and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360. The game revolves around the player tending to a neglected garden on Piñata Island, in which different variations of piñatas based on animals must be bred whilst fending off disruptive interlopers.
SimulatorStrategy
Viva Piñata is a 2006 life simulation game developed by Rare and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360. The game revolves around the player tending to a neglected garden on Piñata Island, in which different variations of piñatas based on animals must be bred whilst fending off disruptive interlopers. The project was headed by Gregg Mayles and the team behind the Banjo-Kazooie series, based on an idea from Rare co-founder Tim Stamper. Microsoft wanted the game to become a key franchise for the platform, and developed a tie-in television series to accompany the series.
Upon release, Viva Piñata received critical acclaim, with video game journalists praising the game's graphics, color palette, soundtrack, replay value, numerous types of piñatas, and strategic gameplay. Viva Piñata was nominated for several awards, including those from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the Parents' Choice Awards. Since its initial release, Viva Piñata has been regarded as an underrated title by numerous critics, with many noting it for aging well compared to modern video games, and is often remarked as a cult classic. In retrospective, the game is often celebrated as one of the best titles for the Xbox 360.
A Windows version of Viva Piñata, handled by Climax Group, was released in November 2007. A direct sequel, Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise, was released on 2 September 2008. A portable version, Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise, was released on 8 September 2008. Viva Piñata was also included in the Rare Replay compilation video game, released on 4 August 2015.
Trailer. Watch on YouTube
| Platform | Region | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox 360 | North America | 2006-11-09 |
| Xbox 360 | Australia | 2006-11-29 |
| Xbox 360 | Europe / PAL | 2006-12-01 |
| Xbox 360 | Japan | 2007-01-11 |
US$49.99 at launch
Made in limited numbers, later replaced by a standard case without the extras.
Two-disc release sold for a limited time.
| Service | Tier | Added | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Game Pass | Console | 1 Jun 2017 |
Playable offline todayYes
Single-player only, with no online features.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Playable offline today: campaign | Yes |
| Playable offline today: local multiplayer | Does not exist |
Plays offlineYes
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