Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator

About

"Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator" is a game where you run a card shop, buying and selling cards to build a successful business. With over 100 unique cards to collect and an ever-changing market to master, each decision you make affects your success. Build relationships with customers, design your shop, and uncover a mysterious plot in this card-game simulation.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator screenshot

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 268 reviews

story28 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

Charming art style and engaging character designs that enhance the overall experience.
Addictive gameplay loop of buying and selling cards, reminiscent of real-life trading card markets.
Humorous and quirky writing that adds personality to the characters and story.

The story ends abruptly, leaving many plot threads unresolved and feeling incomplete.
Gameplay can become repetitive after a few hours, with limited long-term goals and content.
Several bugs and glitches can disrupt the experience, including issues with saving and NPC interactions.

story
176 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
79%
5%
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its brevity and abrupt ending, often feeling like a prologue rather than a complete narrative. While some appreciate the quirky characters and comedic elements, others criticize the dialogue as cringy and poorly written, leading to a disjointed experience. Overall, players express a desire for more substantial story content and character development, as the existing narrative feels incomplete and unsatisfying.
- “I love the mini-storyline, which contains humor but is a bit short, along with the unique characters, cards, and decorations for your card shop.”
- “The story has amazing setup and provides nice world-building.”
- “I'm enjoying the buying and selling/general shop management aspect but I didn't expect to be drawn into the story as much as I am.”
- “When gameplay isn't satisfying, sometimes the story takes over, but this isn't the case either.”
- “The story felt very rushed with what seems like a forced outcome.”
- “The story ends anticlimactically but gosh the gameplay loop is so addicting.”
gameplay
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
72%
6%
The gameplay of "Kardboard Kings" is characterized by a simple and repetitive loop of buying and selling cards, which some players find addictive despite its lack of depth and innovation. While the core mechanics are straightforward and enjoyable, many reviewers criticize the game for its poorly balanced reputation system, minimal decision-making opportunities, and an underdeveloped story that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a cozy, laid-back atmosphere but leaves players wanting more complexity and variety in its mechanics.
- “The core gameplay loop of running the store is excellent, and it's very easy to fall into that 'just gonna play one more day, ahhh okay one more' mindset.”
- “The gameplay loop of buying cards when they're low and selling them later for a profit is quite fun, and the plot has some interesting hooks.”
- “The gameplay is solid - the stock market approach to the cards, buying and selling, and trading all remind me of paper Magic: The Gathering, which is fun.”
- “The biggest problem is that the gameplay is too simple, yet simultaneously frustrating to manage reputation.”
- “The actual gameplay is repetitive and doesn't inform the player enough for what they need to do.”
- “The gameplay loop itself is fine, though I wish it had some extra depth.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
53%
9%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming and unique art style, featuring a mix of pixel art and distinct card designs that evoke a nostalgic feel. While many players appreciate the gorgeous artwork and character designs, some note that the visuals can feel unfinished or lacking polish, with certain elements appearing out of place. Overall, the aesthetic appeal is a highlight, though some players wish for more depth and functionality in the visual aspects of gameplay.
- “The art style is amazing, the characters look great, the animations look great, the shop is highly customizable with different wallpapers, small items, big items, curtains, and wall decorations, which are all available through the shop, finishing weekly shop tasks and collecting a full set of cards in your binder.”
- “The game has charming visuals and an entertaining story.”
- “The art style is great, with a mix of pixel art, orthographic 3D, and great card art.”
- “The dialogue sprites have a very 2014 Tumblr look to them that is entirely out of place with everything else about the game aesthetically.”
- “Graphics and interface were pretty rough looking, lacking some polish.”
- “It has a decent gameplay loop, the art style is fine, but it feels unfinished; many things are missing (card battles, a way to actually make pack opening enjoyable, better management of furniture and stuff).”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
81%
5%
14%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its chill, lo-fi soundtrack that enhances the overall relaxing experience. Players appreciate the variety of tracks available, with many noting the high quality of both the music and the accompanying art. The engaging characters and humorous dialogue further complement the enjoyable auditory experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The soundtrack is incredible, too!”
- “The art and music are extremely well done by the developers from Akupara Games Studios.”
- “The music is groovy and fun to listen to, the characters all seem to have a personality to them, as well as events that actually make them feel like real people instead of bland NPCs.”
- “The dialogue and characters are also rather engaging, and I felt mostly immersed apart from getting upset at the soundtrack once or twice when it was blasting bass over the radio.”
- “The lo-fi music is underwhelming and doesn't add much to the overall experience.”
- “While I love the art style and straightforward mechanics, the music feels repetitive and lacks variety.”
humor
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the funny card names, charming characters, and witty dialogue, while others find the humor inconsistent, with some jokes landing well and others feeling forced or cringe-worthy. The game's quirky premise and Australian sensibility add to its comedic appeal, though some players desire more depth in the storytelling and character interactions. Overall, it offers a blend of amusing moments and frustrating misses, making it a hit or miss depending on individual taste.
- “I thought the story and characters in the game were charming and hilarious.”
- “How funny you find the following... irony in a card game shop owner not knowing how to play their own product, streamers being loud, and the number 69 being funny on its own, will tell you how much you'll like this game's humor.”
- “It's really charming and funny, with a definite Aussie sensibility that I love.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly when managing booster packs and interacting with the reputation system, which slows down gameplay. While the initial grind may be enjoyable, it quickly becomes stale and lacks a clear goal, leading to frustration and a sense of monotony. Overall, those who appreciate store management games should be prepared for a significant amount of repetitive tasks.
- “The reputation system is tedious to interact with.”
- “Low reputation leads to fewer customers, which slows down the gameplay loop, making everything more tedious.”
- “The early grind is fun, but it becomes a bit stale and tedious once the main storyline is finished.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Character development in the game is criticized for its lack of depth, with initial charm quickly fading as characters become repetitive and forgettable. While the art and gameplay are appreciated, the dialogue and overall character design are seen as subpar, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The character designs are visually appealing and showcase a unique artistic style.”
- “The characters are well-developed, with rich backstories that enhance the overall narrative.”
- “The progression of character arcs is engaging, making players feel invested in their journeys.”
- “I enjoy the gameplay and the art, but the dialogue and character design/development is abominable.”
- “The characters are very endearing for the first hour or two, but you may grow to hate them as they quickly become soulless husks of repeating dialogue the more you play, and you completely forget their character development.”
- “The character designs look like Lainey Molnar found Tumblr.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report no significant glitches, there are notable bugs, such as freezing issues when using boosters or interacting with certain characters. These stability concerns suggest that while the game is enjoyable and engaging, it could benefit from further refinement and content updates.
- “I ran into no glitches while playing the game, thankfully.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or bugs.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it really enhances the overall experience.”
- “There are bugs in the game; sometimes opening boosters freezes the game, or when the female ninja character asks to compare decks, it freezes. I also found it odd that when buying a card from one of the NPCs, they state a certain amount, but the price is lower than what was asked when you hover over the bought value.”
- “Fun game, but it's a bit buggy and needs some more content. It's addicting and enjoyable, but the stability issues detract from the overall experience.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is criticized for feeling like a cash grab, with users expressing disappointment in its simplistic design and lack of depth, suggesting that it prioritizes profit over quality and innovation.
- “Very bare-bones narrative and feels like a cash grab; I would've rather spent my money on a plate of Panda Express.”
- “There's just so much this game could be, but they unfortunately left it at level one basic, almost as a cash grab to take advantage of a fad.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with players feeling that once the main story is completed and card collection is finished, there is little incentive to revisit the game. Despite an initial sense of value from the content, many users find that after approximately 14 hours of gameplay, there isn't much left to engage with.
- “I think you get your money's worth from what is currently included as of this review date, but even at 14 hours, I am finding the replayability a bit low.”
- “Replay value is lacking - once the main story is finished and card collection is complete, there's not really anything left to do.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's optimization has been criticized for poor performance, particularly during in-game cutscenes, which experience noticeable loading issues.
- “The game suffers from poor performance during short in-game cutscenes, leading to frustrating loading times.”
- “Optimization issues are evident, especially with the loading times of brief cutscenes.”
- “There are significant performance problems, particularly when rendering small in-game cutscenes.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and aesthetically pleasing elements, which evoke positive feelings and a sense of warmth in players.
- “It's a beautifully wholesome experience that resonates on an emotional level.”
- “The game's aesthetic and storytelling evoke deep feelings and connections.”
- “I felt a range of emotions throughout the game, from joy to sadness, making it truly memorable.”