There are few genuine mysteries left in gaming, but a forgotten classic from the 32-bit era finally making its way west is certainly one of them. XSEED Games has announced the re-release of Milano’s Odd Job Collection, a charming PlayStation classic that was exclusively available in Japan back in 1999.
This isn’t just a straight port; it’s a completely updated, expanded release that will land on practically every modern platform on December 9, 2025, for just $14.99. It’s also the game’s first English language release.
Milano’s Odd Job Collection: Summer job chaos
The premise of this pixel-art gem is immediately captivating. You play as 11-year-old Milano, who is sent to spend the summer with her uncle while her mom is in the hospital. The problem? Her uncle is on vacation. Left to her own devices for 40 days, Milano decides to make the most of it by taking up a series of bizarre and wonderful part-time jobs around town.
This summer is all about the hustle. Milano will be doing everything from delivering pizzas and nursing sick patients to, apparently, milking flying cows. This highly replayable adventure is built around fun, charming characters and gameplay that caters to both retro fans and casual players.
It’s not work if you love to do it
The core loop of Milano’s Odd Job Collection centres on eight unique mini-games where you earn money and upgrade Milano’s stats.
- The Odd Jobs: These jobs include curing diseases as a nurse and catching falling fruit in an orchard. The key is to manage Milano’s skill, mood, and energy in the evenings. The tougher the challenge, the better the payout, encouraging you to unlock higher difficulty levels.
- Work-Life Balance: When she’s not working, Milano can spend her hard-earned wages styling her uncle’s house with new furniture and decor. At night, you can enjoy quiet downtime, stargazing, or hanging out with her uncle’s cat.
This blend of earning money through engaging mini-games and customizing her home life is what makes this unique gem of the 32-bit era so replayable.
Nostalgia gets a modern polish
This first-ever western release of the game is packed with quality-of-life upgrades, ensuring the nostalgic gameplay feels right at home on modern consoles.
- Full Localization: The game features fully localized English text and English voiceovers, though fans can still choose the original Japanese audio with new English subtitles.
- Modern Features: The re-release includes support for modern resolutions, trophies and achievements, improved load times, and essential emulation features like save states and a rewind feature.
- Total Access: The game is launching across a huge range of systems: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch (with a free Switch 2 Upgrade Pack coming later), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC via Steam, GOG, and the Windows Store.
This is one of those genuinely unique classics that deserved an international release 26 years ago. On December 9, 2025, we finally get it. For more information, visit the official Milano’s Odd Job Collection website.
Are you looking forward to milking some flying cows for a quick payday?
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
