Book Bound

About

In Book Bound you run a small charming bookshop in by a bustling city. In this pixel art game you do everything that is required to run a bookshop, from decorating to helping customers and of course selling books. Choose from a range of items to decorate your shop Decorate your shop based on genre themes (SciFi, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller and Non Fiction) Freely place bookshelves, art pi…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 56 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

story4 negative mentions

The game is cute, cozy, and relaxing, making it a great way to unwind after a long day.
Players enjoy the customization options for their bookshop and the ability to write their own books, adding a personal touch to the gameplay.
The developer is responsive and actively working on updates, which gives players hope for future improvements and expansions.

The game feels unfinished, lacking a storyline, goals, and meaningful upgrades, leading to repetitive gameplay after a short time.
Many players have encountered bugs and glitches that disrupt the experience, such as customers getting stuck and items disappearing.
There is a desire for more engaging NPC interactions and a larger world to explore, as the current gameplay is limited and feels empty.

story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
12%
50%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with reviewers noting the absence of a narrative, character development, and meaningful goals. While the cozy atmosphere and music are appreciated, players feel that the game needs more engaging story elements, such as cutscenes and character backstories, to enhance the overall experience.
- “Overall it’s a new game and made with a lot of care by one person, so I do appreciate the effort put into the cozy atmosphere and music, as well as the storyline and overall idea of the game.”
- “Maybe even give Stefan, a bookish permanent resident in this town, a backstory for the reader to discover as they play along.”
- “It's a great start, but a game is more than just mechanics; it needs a bit of story and a challenge curve to keep it interesting.”
- “There's no storyline, no goals, no real upgrades.”
- “The difficulty is laughably low, and there's no story to speak of, so don't expect an emotional rollercoaster.”
- “The NPC characters all have the same emotionless dialogue, there’s no story, very limited space to explore, there’s no substance.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The gameplay is described as relaxing and cozy, centered around managing a customizable bookshop with a simple yet enjoyable core loop. However, some players feel it lacks depth and challenge, expressing a desire for more mechanics and a richer narrative to enhance engagement. Overall, while the gameplay is easygoing and offers potential for replayability, it may benefit from additional complexity and variety.
- “I love the relaxing gameplay loop in this game.”
- “Cozy and pretty easy gameplay.”
- “It's cozy and the gameplay is so chill; no pressure, you're just running a cute little bookshop that you can customize to your liking!”
- “It's a great start, but a game is more than just mechanics; it needs a bit of story and a challenge curve to keep it interesting.”
- “I wish there were more ongoing mechanics because it feels like I should be able to do more with all the money that I accumulate pretty quickly in the game.”
- “Since the game is new, there isn't a lot of gameplay besides re-stocking, buying books, writing, publishing books, marketing, and selling books.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The music in the game is described as cute and fitting the overall aesthetic, contributing to a cozy atmosphere. While it may not be memorable enough to warrant a spot on players' playlists, it is pleasant and complements the game's charming pixel art and customization features. Overall, the effort put into the audio reflects the care taken by the solo developer.
- “The music is super cute.”
- “Aesthetic, with cute music, customization, and characters.”
- “Audio is alright—nothing that'll make you rush to add the soundtrack to your playlist, but it won’t make your ears bleed either.”
- “Overall it’s a new game and made with a lot of care by one person, so I do appreciate the effort put into the cozy atmosphere and music as well as the storyline and overall idea of the game.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics feature charming pixel art that complements the game's aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience with cute music and character customization. While they may not be groundbreaking, they effectively support the simple yet enjoyable gameplay.
- “It has nice pixel art graphics and is a simple but fun game loop.”
- “Aesthetic, with cute music, customization, and characters.”
- “I love the art style.”
- “The graphics won’t blow you away, but they get the job done.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game features a cozy atmosphere complemented by thoughtful music and a compelling storyline, reflecting the developer's care and effort. However, this ambiance is undermined by an empty world, a lack of lively NPCs, limited decorating options, and persistent glitches.
- “Overall, it’s a new game made with a lot of care by one person, so I appreciate the effort put into the cozy atmosphere, music, storyline, and overall idea of the game.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a cozy atmosphere, but players report frequent glitches and a lack of engaging NPCs, which detracts from the overall experience. While the price is considered fair, there is a strong desire for updates to address these stability issues and improve quality of life.
- “Sure, there's a nice cozy atmosphere, but it doesn't make up for the empty world, lack of lively NPCs, limited decorating options, and constant glitches.”
- “I’d say the price is fair, although I do hope to see continued updates on a few glitches and improvements to quality of life.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game lacks emotional depth, as players find the difficulty too easy and note the absence of a compelling story, resulting in a minimal emotional impact.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the humor in the game to be exceptionally funny, highlighting it as a standout feature.
- “This feature is hilarious.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the replayability of the game appealing due to its simple yet enjoyable core gameplay loop, which allows for varied experiences by managing different types of bookshops.
- “The core gameplay loop is simple but fun, and I can see great replayability in running different kinds of bookshops.”
- “Each playthrough offers new challenges and opportunities, making it hard to put down.”
- “The variety of choices and paths keeps the experience fresh, encouraging multiple runs.”