Depending on when you were born, you may have experienced different generations of video games and consoles over several eras. To make up for the periods that you missed, Japanese indie management sim Sunset Game Shop Shayou takes you through over 25 years of video game history from the inside of a pixelated local game shop.
Though the games you are selling are fictional, Sunset Game Shop Shayou covers real events from 1985 to 2010, including the NES-era boom in the early 1990s and the release of iconic games like BioWare’s Mass Effect 2. Based on changes in the industry, you must manage your shop via a turn-based system (one turn equals one month passed) without going under.
Managing your local game shop starts with checking the news. Based on hype levels and early reviews, you can predict which titles will do well and which ones are likely to flop. Using that information, you must decide which titles to purchase and how many copies to stock up on. The end goal is to offset your costs, turn a profit, and make sure your business stays afloat.
Unfortunately, not everything will go as planned. Games with high hype levels might not end up reviewing well; small titles that you thought wouldn’t sell can start flying off the shelves; and market crashes are bound to happen. Amidst industry changes, you’ll also have to adapt to local issues such as troublesome customers and increasing shop costs.
Despite its unpredictable nature, Sunset Game Shop Shayou doesn’t leave you to fend for yourself. Shop owner skills, employee promotions, shop improvements, and other upgrades help make your everyday job easier, but often come at a cost. On the other hand, shop rivals and one-time visitors will test your abilities and help you become a better manager.
Though the gameplay seems very numbers-heavy, Lobstudio assures that Sunset Game Shop Shayou is also about people. Inspired by one developer’s question as to why so many local game shops have disappeared over time, the game is their way of preserving their memories.
Sunset Game Shop Shayou is set to release on April 22 for Windows and macOS (Steam). A free demo is also available.
