King of Retail
- September 14, 2022
- Freaking Games
- 29h median play time
Get on Steam"King of Retail" is a business simulation game that puts you in charge of managing your own retail store. You'll be responsible for selecting and ordering products, hiring and training staff, setting prices, and managing customer satisfaction. Success requires strategic planning, smart decision making, and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions. Engaging and challenging, "King of Retail" offers a unique and rewarding gaming experience for fans of the genre.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Highly addictive gameplay that keeps players engaged for hours.
- In-depth management mechanics allow for detailed customization of stores and employee management.
- Regular updates from developers show commitment to improving the game and adding new content.
- The user interface can be clunky and unintuitive, making navigation and management cumbersome.
- AI pathfinding issues lead to customers getting stuck, causing frustration during gameplay.
- Some players experience bugs that disrupt gameplay, such as employees not performing tasks or items not being restocked properly.
- gameplay92 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally described as engaging and addictive, with simple yet deep mechanics that mirror real-life retail challenges. While many players appreciate the core gameplay loop and the potential for automation and expansion, some criticize the lack of polish, clunky mechanics, and insufficient tutorials that hinder the overall experience. Despite its early access status and visual shortcomings, the game shows promise for improvement and offers a satisfying management simulation for those willing to invest time in learning its systems.
“Addictive gameplay, automation + expanding your store + seeing your wealth grow / good game to chill with Netflix on the side.”
“The core gameplay loop is engaging and feels pretty well balanced.”
“Very impressive gameplay, kind of super realistic, but still a fun game.”
“Unfortunately, this remained unfulfilled, since it was pushed to 1.0 at some point, while still feeling very basic and clunky during gameplay.”
“The user interface and the game mechanics stopped me from even playing this game, and I asked for a refund 30 minutes in.”
“The game suffers from being a little non-intuitive, particularly with its menuing, which is the majority of the actual gameplay.”
- graphics72 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as mediocre or outdated, with many reviewers noting that they lack polish and could benefit from further development. While some appreciate the game's aesthetic and find it functional, others feel that the visuals detract from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, many players emphasize that the engaging gameplay compensates for the graphics, making it a worthwhile experience, especially considering its indie origins.
“Albeit there are games out there with better graphics, better optimization, etc., I have to remember this was a passion project made by one person from the start.”
“The graphics really look better in-game than they do on the promo screenshots/videos.”
“For what looks like a small game, it's very in-depth, managing stock levels, making sure customers are served, having enough shelves on the shop floor and store rooms, shifts for staff, having enough staff. It's not the most graphics-intensive game, but there are some very nice details like realistic reflections.”
“Graphics look a bit old school.”
“The concept of the game itself is interesting and well thought out but the graphics and the controls of the game made it hard to play.”
“The graphics are a little lackluster and the voices are clearly robotic, but this game shows a lot of potential if the developers decide to get some voice acting and do more work on the graphics.”
- stability27 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. Many feel that the game is still in an early access state, lacking essential quality of life improvements, and express frustration over the developers' focus on a sequel rather than addressing these issues. While some players find the game enjoyable despite its flaws, the consensus is that it requires substantial fixes to reach a stable and polished state.
“I can get the basics done, but as soon as I make some money over a few days, every time I try to place a rack or decorate the walls or floor, it just won't let me. Even though the area is green for the racks, I click and nothing happens. It looks like yet another EA game will sit in my list until it has enough patches to make it stable and less buggy.”
“I really enjoy the concept of this game, but the buggy mess and lack of quality of life systems ruin it.”
“The game is a buggy mess, yet a sequel is planned.”
“I find a game even buggier than the early access version, with a ton of unfinished, buggy, and poorly explained features that make the experience significantly worse.”
- story26 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a lack of a cohesive story in the game, with many users noting that there is either no story or only a minimal narrative framework. Some players mention a "pseudo-story mode" that feels disconnected from traditional storytelling, while others express frustration with mission objectives that fail to register properly, impacting the overall experience. Overall, the narrative aspect appears to be underdeveloped and not a focal point of the gameplay.
“Once satisfied, you can jump into either a single story mode or campaign mode.”
“All that being said, I've only played corporation mode (a pseudo-story mode where all the money, I believe, feeds into the entrepreneur/creative mode).”
“Another example, I got to the required known level to clear the quest but it never recognized that I reached that threshold.”
“There is one particular contract mission that is impossible to beat, because one of the stated objectives refuses to register as complete.”
“There is story mode then a mode where you just have your own shop and that's all you do.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress. While some enjoy the grind and find it rewarding, many describe it as monotonous and frustrating due to clunky controls and limited guidance. The experience can feel like a chore, leading some to suggest that it demands an excessive time investment.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“But it's very monotonous and tedious.”
“You can't manually save a backup to return to if your corporation or store fails, after you've spent hours grinding contracts to be able to start your first store.”
- music13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as catchy and fitting for a retail environment, though some players find it lacks originality, with recognizable royalty-free tracks. While some appreciate the non-intrusive background music and the option to change genres, others feel it could be improved and express a desire for more diverse and engaging tunes. Overall, the music is a mixed bag, with some players opting to turn it off despite its potential appeal.
“The music is amazing, the products in this game are detailed, and the amount of free will allowed is truly unique.”
“Non-intrusive background music, with the option to change genre.”
“Because the music is so good, I want more! Thank you, devs!”
“The music is not the best.”
“It does feel a bit rough around the edges, but I came across royalty-free music that I recognized, which hit the originality a bit. Most of the time, I turn the game music off anyway.”
“Why in the ambient sound with the music off is there a sound like a woman with coronavirus coughing her guts up?”
- optimization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally poor, with numerous bugs and performance issues, particularly during late-game scenarios. Players report minor performance hiccups and low frame rates even on capable hardware, suggesting that the game requires significant optimization improvements. While the passion behind the project is acknowledged, the current state reflects typical early access challenges that hinder overall gameplay experience.
“Albeit there are games out there with better graphics and optimization, I have to remember this was a passion project made by one person from the start.”
“While it sometimes suffers from minor performance hiccups, it is more than worth it to watch your store expand and feel like you're making something of it.”
“Remove unnecessary content in the game; don't make the outside world too big. I never really find myself going out of the store that much, so keep it performance-friendly.”
“The optimization is poor and the bugs in this game are plenty.”
“I'm running it on an older PC, and despite the lack of intensive graphics (and with the settings turned to the minimum), there are still minor performance hiccups and low frame rate performance when looking directly at activity.”
“It also suffers from the usual early access lack of optimization.”
- monetization10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with players noting the extensive focus on advertising and hiring staff to manage various store operations. While the game offers a wide range of customization options for store layout and employee management, the heavy emphasis on ads and corporate mechanics may detract from the overall experience. Players can engage in various monetization strategies, including negotiating delivery deals and utilizing different advertising formats, but this complexity can feel overwhelming and profit-driven.
“A real shame, but as a few others have noted, it just looks like a cash grab.”
“You can hire employees to run the cash register, stock products, and generate local ads, but it feels like the game is pushing you towards spending more money to progress.”
“In corporate mode, you can negotiate deals with delivery companies, but the constant need for advertising and upgrades makes it feel like a never-ending cycle of spending.”
- humor3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted to be present but somewhat lacking, with players mentioning that while there are some amusing elements, they feel something is missing. Additionally, early access bugs provide a few humorous quirks, but overall, the comedic aspect does not fully resonate with all players.
“It's funny, but I'm missing something.”
“Some funny quirks due to early access bugs, but very few.”
“I started as a manager at home, but now it feels like I'm never home, and starting anew is a little bit unfunny. Please add cloud saving.”
“The jokes in this game fall flat and often feel forced, making it hard to enjoy the humor.”
“I expected a lot of laughs, but the humor is so stale that it feels more like a chore than a source of entertainment.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's significant replayability, noting that it remains enjoyable even after extensive playtime. While the initial learning curve may be slow, once mastered, the game offers a rewarding grind that keeps players engaged.
“I have been playing since very early on in the development, and this game has come a long way while still remaining fun with significant replayability.”
“A lot of great ideas and very replayable.”
“However, the replayability and fun are off the charts. Don't let the first hours of learning bore you; once you get the hang of it, you're in for a grind.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate dissatisfaction with character development, particularly criticizing the character design as unappealing and the color selection process as frustratingly complicated. Users express a desire for a more straightforward and visually appealing customization experience.
“The character design is awful.”
“The color wheel is annoying; why can't I just pick a color?”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express a desire for more emotionally charged interactions in the game, highlighting a lack of realistic emotional degradation similar to experiences in real-life retail jobs. There is a sense of anticipation for future updates that may introduce these elements.
