Cosy capitalist exploits the people of a small seaside town.
QUEST LOG #39: TINY BOOK SHOP (DEMO)
Opinions on this title are based on the demo, not the full release so it’s all subject to change.
On the face of it, Tiny Book Shop, developed by Neoludic Games and published by Skystone Games is an incredibly simple title - you visit a new town, open a tiny mobile book shop, and sell books, but there is depth to the mechanics and more to the game than meets the eye - although much of the game’s potential can only be gleamed through the narrow experience offered by the demo, which even by demo standards is very short.
You start out by driving your little trailer into an idyllic coastal town, parking up on the seafront and setting out your stall. Click the windows and door to open up, and the day will progress. Patrons and general bookish people will wander past, browse your selection, and, if you’ve stocked the right titles, make that all important purchase.
The actual gameplay is incredibly laid back, with a day of sales drifting by with little stress - as it should. An in-game day involves choosing your pitching location, aiding customers in choosing or helping them find certain titles, and generally enjoying the atmosphere and scenery afforded by the beautiful cartoonish graphics. You can interact in some ways with your surroundings too, speaking to NPCs, finding bits and bobs to decorate your shop with, or learning more about the particular location you’re in.
Once a sales day is done, you have the opportunity to decorate and customise your shop by repainting it and placing or moving your furniture about. You are also able to buy new stock and items from the paper, which is also a useful tool for planning your next day - judging the weather and keeping track of events, both of which can affect your sales. Furniture and decorative items can do this too, so depending on what you want to sell and where you’re selling it, you can increase your chances by choosing different décor. You can also restock your bookshelves between days too, choosing where to place certain genres and how many of each kind you stock for the next day.
The overall aesthetics are lovely in this game, and the general vibe of the gameplay really suits a lazy day, sipping a nice hot coffee and vicariously living and enjoying the lifestyle of your virtual bookseller. Settling down with a cosy game like this is an absolute joy and the limited scope of the demo only made me want to explore it more - damn clever people!
Have you given this one a go? If so, what did you think? Are you into cosy and wholesome games? Or do you need to shoot someone in the head to enjoy videogames? Check out my THOUGHTS ON cosy games if you’re looking for more snug places to visit in the virtual worlds.
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Jamie B