HELLMART

About

HELLMART is a single player survival simulation game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by GAZE IN GAMES and was released on January 28, 2026. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

KEY FEATURES A blend of supermarket simulator and horror. Strange customers and situations add variety to each playthrough. Three different endings that depend on your choices. Your actions matter: the fates of your customers depend on the decisions you make throughout the game. DAYTIME — ALMOST A NORMAL STORE- Hit your daily sales quota - Restock shelves - Keep the store and surround…

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78%

Audience ScoreBased on 428 reviews

gameplay29 positive mentions

optimization8 negative mentions

Unique blend of supermarket simulation and horror creates a fresh, engaging gameplay experience.
Atmosphere and horror elements are well-executed with effective jump scares and a creepy tone.
Multiple endings and character interactions provide some level of replayability and intrigue.

Game is short in length with limited content, leaving many features and mechanics underutilized.
Performance issues such as crashes and bugs affect gameplay, and optimization is inconsistent.
Upgrade system and simulation depth feel shallow and lack meaningful impact on gameplay outcomes.

gameplay
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
64%
8%
Hellmart’s gameplay features a satisfying and varied core loop combining supermarket simulation with horror elements, offering easy-to-learn yet challenging mechanics and moderate replayability through multiple endings and random events. However, many reviewers found the gameplay repetitive, shallow, and lacking depth or escalation, with limited content beyond the initial 3–5 hours, making multiple playthroughs feel grindy. The game’s strengths lie in its fun, casual approach and effective scares, but overall it would benefit from more unique content, extended modes, and polish to enhance long-term engagement.
- “It has a satisfying gameplay loop and offers a moderate amount of replayability through its randomly generated experiences and varying gameplay mechanics that are easy to learn and difficult to master.”
- “However, Hellmart stacks game mechanics (manifested as in-game store responsibilities) magnificently, increasing the challenge but not overwhelming the player and still allowing for a very enjoyable and surprisingly rewarding experience.”
- “There are lots of different mechanics, so the gameplay feels varied, and it almost never feels like boring routine — something’s always happening.”
- “While the game itself is pretty decent, the day shift loop is generally slow and boring; you pretty much spend the entire day shift waiting for the night shift, which seems to be less than half the time of the day shift. Unless you want to know the honestly pretty generic lore of the game, the game is not worth purchase. If you just want to experience the gameplay loop, do yourself a favor and download the demo. You'll get generally the same experience, if not a better one because (if memory serves) the demo has an endless mode which, for some reason, was removed in the full release.”
- “The gameplay lacks depth and the comparison to supermarket simulator in its advertising and early gameplay loop feels misleading.”
- “The sim elements of this game already felt shallow, but a second playthrough where I didn't take anything seriously only made it worse. You have to play through the game fully 3 times to get all 3 endings, since it's based on a hidden karma system of how nice you are to customers, so you have to go through the exact same gameplay for each ending.”
story
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
54%
6%
The story is engaging and features unique, offbeat characters that keep players invested, with multiple endings adding replay value. However, it is often considered short, somewhat confusing, and incompletely developed, leading to calls for a longer campaign, more lore, and additional modes like an endless play option to enhance the narrative experience. Overall, the story effectively complements the horror atmosphere but could benefit from deeper development and more gameplay integration.
- “I was immersed in the story from start to finish; the fact that your choices matter and that there are multiple endings make you really lock in to the game.”
- “The story is genuinely solid, and the cast of weird, offbeat characters kept me invested in a way I wasn’t anticipating.”
- “Overall the 'characters' in this game are unique and enjoyable and the story is engaging.”
- “The story mode is pretty weak and I would have preferred to see a longer, more prolonged campaign.”
- “The story and lore to this game felt incomplete even reading the notes left around.”
- “I will say, however, that the story was super lackluster and ultimately just super confusing.”
humor
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The humor in the game is a mix of quirky, meme-filled, and horror-themed jokes that many players find funny, especially through references, easter eggs, and character interactions. However, some humor relies on cheap jump scares or awkward moments that not all players enjoy, leading to a divisive experience. Overall, the game’s humor adds charm and levity to the eerie atmosphere but may feel inconsistent or limited for those expecting more developed comedic writing.
- “I loved the scares and loved looking around for references from horror movies as well as a certain cameo that had me cry laughing while in terror of eerie customers.”
- “It feels like devs really enjoyed developing the project: even though it’s a horror game, I was laughing my ass off because of all the hidden easter eggs, memes, and little details.”
- “Hellmart knows exactly what it is and leans into it hard—funny, creepy, ridiculous, and cool all at once.”
- “I don't know if I've become overly cynical and jaded, but there's just something about painfully unfunny jokes that make me instantly hate games.”
- “One last thing: the game has a guy jerking it in the corner of your store for no reason other than to make a sad, annoying attempt at making you laugh, but it's not funny at all and I hate it.”
atmosphere
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
42%
10%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie, creepy, and tense qualities, effectively creating a disturbing and immersive horror experience through its setting, sound design, and pacing. While some note it can become predictable or rely on sudden scares, overall the atmosphere successfully maintains dread and engagement, blending horror with simulator elements to appeal to fans of weird and unsettling games.
- “For what it's worth, I think that the store setting, the aesthetic of it, and the eeriness of the customers do a lot to contribute to a creepy atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is thick with dread, the sound design keeps you on edge, and the pacing never lets things get stale.”
- “Then night falls, and the atmosphere instantly shifts: eerie sounds, creepy encounters, and tense moments that snap you right back into fear.”
- “The atmosphere and animation aren't as good, and I hope they can optimize the game and later include options to make it look more like the cinematic.”
- “The screenshots and the first trailer sell a concept and atmosphere that the actual game never delivers.”
- “A game with a disturbing atmosphere and meme situations, following the trend of b-movie creepypasta games.”
optimization
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
60%
29%
Optimization in the game is generally inconsistent, with frequent reports of stutters, freezes, and performance drops, especially in early sections and during scene transitions. While some minor improvements were made via patches, many users still find it poorly optimized, requiring lower settings even on mid-range hardware to run smoothly. However, a few note decent optimization after initial hiccups or recommend playing at specific resolutions to mitigate issues.
- “Performance, at times, felt a little iffy, but after day one, I didn't really notice any issues anymore.”
- “My only negative point is that there were some performance issues right at the start of the game at the bus stop and going through the tunnel on the bus - after this short section I had zero problems.”
- “The game is well-optimized and bug-free, but in the opening scene and when starting the day or night shift, the game sometimes freezes.”
- “Really (and I mean really) poorly optimized, the game has a lot going on all at once, but is also slow as hell.”
- “The game definitely needs a lot of patches and optimization.”
- “Stutters and bad performance all around, the game doesn't look terrible but shouldn't have these issues.”
replayability
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
67%
11%
The game offers moderate replayability primarily through its three distinct endings, randomly generated events, and varying gameplay mechanics, though many find it limited by its short length and lack of modes like endless or new game plus. While some players enjoy replaying for the varied experiences and horror elements, others feel the content is insufficient and progression shallow, impacting long-term appeal. Overall, it is replayable but may benefit from additional content and features to enhance lasting engagement.
- “It has a satisfying gameplay loop and offers a moderate amount of replayability through its randomly generated experiences and varying gameplay mechanics that are easy to learn and difficult to master.”
- “The game is surprisingly well done and has some level of replayability due to the three distinct endings which requires you to start from scratch and the randomness of characters that visit the store.”
- “Amazing horror simulation from start to finish, well worth the purchase with tons of replay value!”
- “Replay value alone is not enough when the underlying systems lack depth and meaningful progression.”
- “As for the gameplay, it's the same as the demo and although I enjoy the gameplay loop, I feel there is much to be improved upon and the fact that there are only three endings makes the game hardly replayable.”
- “No replay value, no continuing to run the store.”
graphics
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
48%
12%
The game's graphics are generally praised for creating a strong, eerie atmosphere with a distinctive art style that complements its creepy theme, though some users find the visuals slightly rough or uneven, particularly the monster design. Performance issues are noted on lower-end hardware, with crashes on devices like the Steam Deck unless settings are lowered, and the lack of customization options for graphics considered a drawback. Overall, the graphics deliver an effective indie aesthetic, enhancing the mood despite occasional technical hiccups.
- “Overall the graphics are beautiful, the characters are a bit silly and the lore is interesting.”
- “I really love the art style, the uncanny animation style is great for that.”
- “Its a really good game and people say that it's short but they are wrong because there are 3 endings and some achievements that you could get and the dev(s) are trying to add more to it and plus the graphics are super good!”
- “If you're playing on Steam Deck, turn graphics down to low, otherwise it will crash constantly.”
- “This is one of those games where you really need a gaming PC or else nothing will work; graphics wouldn't load and neither would the controls.”
- “There are serious hitching issues with the graphics, and there are practically no customization options for both the controls and graphics.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
82%
The game generally offers stable performance with smooth gameplay and minimal bugs for most users, though some experience occasional crashes, freezes, and minor glitches like softlocks and graphical issues. Developers appear to be addressing these launch-phase bugs, improving overall stability.
- “One of the best games I've ever played, the graphics are great, the game isn't buggy, it tells you exactly what to do and when, everything is explained properly, it's fun, there's always something going on so you can't get bored, and it has a pretty long game time, around three and a half hours.”
- “No glitches, challenge is just about right.”
- “Other than it being a bit buggy (black screen when I first started it up and it was not responding) and my PC crashing while playing it once.”
- “However, the drag & drop option can be buggy and may even softlock the player.”
- “The game is well-optimized and bug-free, but in the opening scene and when starting the day or night shift, the game sometimes freezes.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The game's music is generally praised for enhancing atmosphere with catchy and fitting tracks, including clever use of in-game store speakers. However, opinions vary as some find certain spooky sound effects irritating and disruptive to the pacing. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point with room for refinement in balancing tension and ambiance.
- “The music in the game and the main menu is a bop!”
- “The fact that the creepy music actually comes from the speakers in the store is a nice touch.”
- “I liked the atmosphere and the music, and I got hooked on arranging the products and cleaning.”
- “There’s some classy ambient indoor music, but then you get these loud, forced wannabe spooky stingers that feel cheap.”
- “Relying on sudden volume spikes and intense music to create tension isn’t atmospheric; it just breaks the pacing and any feeling of balance.”
- “But no worries, developers are really eager to get more money from their 'fanbase' by releasing soundtrack and artbook for you to buy.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users criticize the game's monetization for misleading advertising that showcases a bigger, more engaging experience than the actual shallow gameplay delivers. They feel the promotional images and ads do not accurately represent the game, leading to disappointment despite the marketing push.
- “The gameplay lacks depth and the comparison to supermarket simulator in its advertising and early gameplay loop feels misleading.”
- “Finally, the advertising images on the store page at time of posting do not match the gameplay experience.”
- “Ads and pictures don't match what the game is.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game involves repetitive tasks like stocking shelves and shoveling snow, which some find tedious but not overly so, maintaining overall fun gameplay. However, others criticize the game for its grind-heavy replayability and shallow mechanics, feeling it becomes boring and lacks meaningful improvements in updates.
- “Stocking shelves with new products as the days progress, shoveling snow, ensuring the generator is fueled—tasks that aren't intrinsically fun in real life are just as tedious in-game.”
- “Crashing, performance issues, shallow gameplay mechanics, pitiful length, focus on grindy replayability, boring bosses, etc. Future updates didn't really improve anything in a way that matters, which is a pity.”
- “I would have liked more of the waiting for people to knock on the door gameplay and less of the oddities hunting in the store, but it still didn't feel tedious.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a lighthearted and nostalgic response, with players appreciating humorous and relatable references that create a wholesome and enjoyable experience.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is primarily reflected through intense and striking character designs that leave a strong impression on players, contributing to the game's eerie atmosphere.