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Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator

Kardboard Kings is a surprisingly active business management simulator that kept me entertained throughout my time with the game. However, it ends too early and there isn’t much to do afterwards other than collecting cards.
Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator Game Cover
72%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, optimization
71% User Score Based on 292 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCTabletPhoneWindows
Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator Game Cover

About

Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator is a single player casual role playing game with comedy, economy and business themes. It was developed by Akupara Games and was released on February 10, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"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.

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71%
Audience ScoreBased on 292 reviews
story34 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions

  • Engaging and quirky story that keeps players entertained.
  • Beautiful card art and unique character designs enhance the overall experience.
  • Addictive gameplay loop of buying and selling cards, reminiscent of real-life trading card markets.
  • The game ends abruptly, leaving many storylines unresolved and feeling incomplete.
  • Limited gameplay mechanics lead to repetitive actions and a lack of depth in the shop management aspect.
  • Bugs and glitches can disrupt gameplay, including issues with NPC interactions and card deliveries.
  • story
    200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging initially but ultimately feeling it is short, disjointed, and lacking resolution. While some appreciate the quirky characters and comedic elements, others criticize the writing quality and abrupt ending, suggesting that the narrative feels incomplete and serves more as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a fully developed plot. Overall, players express a desire for more substantial story content and character development to enhance the experience.

    • “I loved the first two hours or so before the main plot of the game suddenly ended.”
    • “The story is very comedic and well written; one of your favorite customers will be a Pomeranian that comes in who never seems to know the prices of what he's got.”
    • “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.”
    • “The 'story' is barebones and made worse by the characters themselves, who are unpleasant to look at and speak like an AI was fed Tumblr posts.”
    • “The story jumps all over and ends so abruptly it caught me off guard.”
    • “The story felt very rushed with what seems like a forced outcome.”
  • gameplay
    114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Kardboard Kings" is characterized by a simple yet addictive loop of buying and selling cards, which many players find enjoyable despite its repetitive nature. While some mechanics, such as the reputation system and dialogue interactions, are criticized for being frustrating and poorly balanced, the core trading experience is often described as engaging and relaxing. However, the lack of depth and innovation in gameplay, alongside a short story, leaves some players feeling that the game could benefit from additional content and mechanics to enhance its longevity.

    • “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/selling cards while trying to pay attention to, and plan around, changes in the market can get a bit addictive.”
    • “This is a game with good mechanics, an enjoyable play structure, a lot of charm and character.”
    • “I hate to say I don't recommend this game because this is a game I should like, but I found myself getting frustrated at multiple gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The biggest problem is that the gameplay is too simple, yet simultaneously frustrating to manage reputation.”
    • “The gameplay is practically nonexistent - I expected more store-management sim aspects, and had hoped there may even be some simplified card play to make use of your collection.”
  • graphics
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and diverse art styles, with many users highlighting the gorgeous card designs and unique visual themes across different sets. While the overall aesthetic is appealing and contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, some players feel that the visuals lack polish and that the gameplay experience is somewhat shallow despite the attractive artwork. Overall, the art style is a standout feature, though it may not be enough to sustain long-term engagement.

    • “I also need to note that the game is just really nice to look at and the art style is another thing that makes the game stand out.”
    • “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.”
    • “The game has charming visuals and an entertaining story.”
    • “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).”
  • humor
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring quirky characters and funny dialogue that some players find charming and enjoyable, while others feel it can be hit-or-miss, with moments of cringe and annoyance. The game includes adult humor and irony, particularly in its premise of a card shop owner who doesn't know how to play their own game. Overall, while many appreciate the humor and unique writing style, some players desire more depth and consistency in the comedic elements.

    • “Has some funny moments and some quirky characters.”
    • “I thought the story and characters in the game were charming and hilarious.”
    • “It's really charming and funny, with a definite Aussie sensibility that I love.”
  • music
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, featuring a delightful lo-fi soundtrack that is both relaxing and engaging. Players appreciate the variety of tracks available, with many noting the joyful and immersive atmosphere created by the sound design. Overall, the combination of well-crafted music and appealing visuals contributes significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.

    • “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 can be distracting and doesn't always fit the game's tone.”
  • grinding
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 as players are forced to engage in monotonous tasks without significant rewards.

    • “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.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has been criticized for poor performance, particularly during short 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.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 deemed poor, leading to a disconnect with the characters as the game progresses.

    • “The character designs are visually appealing and showcase a unique artistic style that draws inspiration from various influences.”
    • “The character development is engaging, allowing players to form a deeper connection with the characters as their stories unfold.”
    • “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

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report no glitches during gameplay, others encounter bugs such as freezing when using certain features or inconsistencies in transaction values. Despite these issues, the game remains enjoyable and engaging.

    • “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, the price they ask for can be higher than what you actually pay when you hover over the bought value.”
    • “Fun game, but it's a bit buggy and needs some more content.”
    • “I ran into no glitches while playing the game, thankfully.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the game to be heartwarming and visually appealing, contributing to a wholesome emotional experience.

    • “It's a wholesome and aesthetic experience that truly resonates with the heart.”
    • “The emotional depth of the story left me in tears, connecting me to the characters in a profound way.”
    • “Every moment felt genuine and heartfelt, making the journey unforgettable.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for feeling like a cash grab, with users expressing disappointment in its simplistic narrative and overall execution, suggesting that it lacks depth and innovation. Many feel that the game could have offered much more but instead prioritizes profit over quality.

    • “Very bare-bones narrative and feels like a cash grab; I would have 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

    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 a decent initial playtime, many users express that the lack of additional content diminishes long-term engagement.

    • “I think you get your money's worth from what is currently included as of this review date, but even after 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.”
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5h Median play time
6h Average play time
4-6h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator is a casual role playing game with comedy, economy and business themes.

Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Phone, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator.

Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator was released on February 10, 2022.

Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator was developed by Akupara Games.

Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator is a single player game.

Similar games include Discounty, Coffee Shop Tycoon, Potionomics, Hundred Days, Bear & Breakfast and others.