| Total | 3 minigames, all in Hyrule Town |
|---|---|
| Cucco Roundup | Anju, south-east Hyrule Town: 10 rounds, free to play, prizes up to a Piece of Heart |
| Simon’s Simulation | 10 rupees a try; a Piece of Heart the first time you clear it (after the Fortress of Winds) |
| Chest Mini-Game Shop | 10 rupees a try; a rupee-doubling gamble (after the Fortress of Winds and the Ocarina) |
The Minish Cap has three minigames, all in Hyrule Town: Anju’s Cucco Roundup, Simon’s Simulation and the Chest Mini-Game Shop. The Cucco Roundup is the one worth finishing for a 100% file, because its ten rounds pay out Mysterious Shells, three red Kinstone pieces and a Piece of Heart. Simon’s Simulation also gives a Piece of Heart on your first win.
Quick reference
| # | Minigame | Where | Cost | Requirement | Best prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cucco Roundup | Anju, south-east Hyrule Town | Free | Pegasus Boots for later rounds; Flippers for round 10 | Piece of Heart (round 10), red Kinstone pieces |
| 2 | Simon’s Simulation | Green building in the town centre | 10 rupees | Fortress of Winds finished | Piece of Heart (first clear) |
| 3 | Chest Mini-Game Shop | Hyrule Town | 10 rupees | Fortress of Winds and the Ocarina | Up to 999 rupees |
Anju’s Cucco Roundup
Anju, the red-haired woman by the blue house in the south-east of Hyrule Town, has lost her cuccos. Talk to her to start a round: bring the stated number of cuccos back to the pen before the clock runs out. Pick each one up with R (a thrown cucco flies a short way) and roll after the fast ones. When a round is done she asks you to try again, so you can play all ten in a row. The Cucco Roundup itself costs nothing, and on top of the round prize you earn rupees: a white cucco is worth 10 and a golden one 50. See Ascent to Mount Crenel for the first round.
| Round | Cuccos | Time | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 25 s | 10 Mysterious Shells |
| 2 | 3 | 25 s | 10 Mysterious Shells, plus rupees |
| 3 | 4 | 30 s | 20 Mysterious Shells |
| 4 | 5 | 45 s | 20 Mysterious Shells, plus rupees |
| 5 | 5 | 50 s | 30 Mysterious Shells, plus rupees |
| 6 | 5 | 45 s | 30 Mysterious Shells |
| 7 | 6 | 50 s | Red Kinstone piece, plus rupees |
| 8 | 7 | 60 s | Red Kinstone piece, plus rupees |
| 9 | 2 | 55 s | Red Kinstone piece, plus rupees |
| 10 | 3 | 55 s | Piece of Heart |
Rounds 1 to 3
The early rounds are easy enough to win on your first visit to Hyrule Town. Round 1 asks for two cuccos in 25 seconds and pays 10 Mysterious Shells. Later in the story, round 2 (three cuccos in 25 seconds) pays 10 shells and 80 rupees. Take the shells to the Carlov figurine shop, which uses them as currency. See Getting the Pegasus Boots.
Rounds 4 to 6
Each of these rounds asks for five cuccos. Round 4 pays 20 shells and 90 rupees, round 5 pays 30 shells and 90 rupees, and round 6 pays 30 shells. The Pegasus Boots make the cuccos much easier to catch. See Anju’s Cucco Roundup.
Rounds 7 to 9
Round 7 asks for six cuccos and pays a red Kinstone piece with 150 rupees. Round 8 asks for seven in 60 seconds and gives another red Kinstone piece with 240 rupees. Round 9 is only two cuccos in 55 seconds, but they run a long way. It pays a third red piece and 20 rupees. If the clock runs out, talk to Anju again and retry.
Round 10: the Piece of Heart
The final round asks for three cuccos in 55 seconds, and one of them ends up across the river, so you need the Flippers. Bring all three back to receive a Piece of Heart. Anju still lets you play afterward, and rounds can be repeated for rupees. See Heart Piece Locations.
Simon’s Simulation
Simon’s Simulation is the green building with a ghost on top, in the middle of Hyrule Town. It opens to the public once you have finished the Fortress of Winds. Pay 10 rupees and lie down in the bed: you wake in a purple arena filled with monsters. Defeat every one to win. Your first win gives a Piece of Heart; later wins pay out smaller prizes, from rupees upwards. If you lose all your hearts you lose the attempt. See Simon’s Simulation.
Chest Mini-Game Shop
The Chest Mini-Game Shop is run by Borlov in Hyrule Town and opens after you have beaten Mazaal and have the Ocarina of Wind. Each try costs 10 rupees. In the back room are two chests: one doubles your stake, and the other takes the stake and any winnings. You can stop and take the money after each win, or risk it for another double. A run of straight wins reaches the top prize of 999 rupees. It is a gamble with no item prize, so skip it if you are only after 100% completion.
Related activities
The shells you win here are spent at Carlov’s figurine machine, which gives 136 figurines (see Figurines and Mysterious Shells). Kinstone pieces from Cucco rounds are fused with townspeople for the Kinstone fusions list.
