Old Market Simulator
- October 3, 2024
- Alcedo Games
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Old Market Simulator" is a cooperative bazaar adventure game where you and a partner can build and manage your own marketplace, carefully selecting and placing products to attract customers and maintain a competitive edge. Farming and expansion options add depth to the gameplay, providing a fully immersive commerce simulation.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game is a fun and relaxing shop simulator that is best enjoyed with friends, offering a variety of activities like farming, fishing, and cooking.
- The developers are responsive to community feedback and actively work on updates, showing great potential for future content and improvements.
- The game has a charming aesthetic and engaging mechanics that keep players invested, making it easy to lose track of time while playing.
- The game suffers from balance issues, where players can complete all content in a short time if played efficiently, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
- There is a lack of a comprehensive tutorial and user interface clarity, which can make it difficult for new players to understand game mechanics and progress.
- Single-player mode can be frustrating due to the game's design being more suited for co-op play, with challenges like managing multiple tasks and limited resources.
- gameplay38 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of market stall management and inventory control, offering a satisfying loop that can become monotonous after a few hours. While the mechanics are simple yet effective, some players find the lack of guidance and the slow progression due to waiting mechanics to be drawbacks. Overall, the game has potential with its charming art and addictive elements, but it may not fully resonate with everyone due to its repetitive nature and certain design choices.
“Unique gameplay: running a market stall, managing inventory, and trying to predict customer trends was surprisingly fun.”
“The game’s mechanics strike a perfect balance between challenge and relaxation.”
“What really sets the old market simulator apart is the depth of its gameplay.”
“Repetitive tasks: after a few hours, the gameplay loop can feel a bit monotonous.”
“Gameplay: meh.. 6/10 why not.. I feel like this game can evolve into something amazing, but for now, it does not hit the spot.”
“The downside of having two players is that once you find a rhythm to the gameplay, you will inevitably reach a lull in the middle of the day where you are not bringing in new stock nor preparing for the next day.”
- music28 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and ability to create an immersive atmosphere, with ambient sounds enhancing the experience. However, some players find the soundtrack to be overly somber and repetitive, leading to feelings of sleepiness rather than engagement. Overall, while the music contributes to the game's charm, opinions vary on its suitability and emotional impact.
“The background music and ambient sounds—like chatter, haggling, and the clatter of stalls—really pulled me into the world.”
“This is a really charming game and has some insane detail that has to be appreciated, like the props and music that add to the mood when an event comes around.”
“A chill game with beautiful music, simple graphics and an overall wholesome vibe.”
“The music also makes you sleepy.”
“The music was a bit too doom and gloom for my liking; possibly someone else might like it.”
“Cons: the background music is a bit redundant and a bit too somber.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as simple and basic, which may not appeal to everyone, but they effectively contribute to a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. Many players appreciate the art style and aesthetic, noting that it enhances the overall experience, making it easy to immerse oneself in the game for extended periods. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are well-suited to the game's old-school market vibe and management gameplay.
“The art style and sound design give the game a warm, cozy feel, which makes it easy to get lost in for hours.”
“A chill game with beautiful music, simple graphics and an overall wholesome vibe.”
“Ignore the graphics, ignore the graphics...”
“The graphics may be basic but the game is extremely well done!”
“Graphics: not for everyone, I did like it though, 8/10”
- grinding22 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally appreciate the grinding aspect of the game, particularly the farming mechanics, which are seen as a fun addition that complements other gameplay elements like management and cooking. However, many feel that the farming process is excessively slow, leading to financial struggles early on, and suggest the need for improvements such as faster growth options or better resource management to enhance the overall experience.
“Farming takes far too long; there needs to be some kind of fertilizer or bone meal to make the process faster. You'll buy a bag of seeds for 800 and wait like 5 in-game days for it to grow, and you'll go bankrupt early game before you yield.”
“The gardening is a bit too grindy.”
“It's already feeling quite grindy in the first month, wherein we're just breaking even each day rather than accumulating enough savings to buy upgrades.”
- story12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is perceived as lacking depth, with players suggesting that it would benefit from additional random events, side missions, or mini-games to enhance engagement. While some find the initial missions interesting, the overall narrative experience feels minimal, especially when playing solo. Additionally, there are frustrations with quest completion mechanics that could confuse new players.
“The first time I bought it, I completed all the missions then refunded, but I bought it again because I saw potential and found it interesting.”
“Completing the initial missions, like buying a farm and a horse, increases the daily tax, which makes the game more challenging in the beginning.”
“Definitely better with a friend as it is pretty lacking in any story, but I'm sure solo isn't bad either.”
“Adding more random events, side missions, or mini-games could help keep things fresh.”
“Completing the initial missions, like buying a farm and a horse, increases the daily tax, which makes the game harder in the beginning.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game is generally well-optimized, offering good performance and charming art assets, with a satisfying gameplay loop and plenty of content. However, players are advised to lower shadow settings to medium or low for significant performance improvements.
“Good performance, charming art assets, gameplay loop is satisfying and has a lot of content to grind out.”
“Very fun and chill game, but make sure to turn shadows down to medium or low for massive performance gains.”
“Predicting future performance based on patterns?”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game effectively evokes the charm of an old-school market, creating a visually appealing atmosphere. However, the winter setting can contribute to a sense of loneliness, particularly for solo players.
“Atmosphere & aesthetic: the game beautifully captures the vibe of an old-school market.”
“The game starts in winter, which creates a very lonely atmosphere for those playing solo.”
“One thing I didn't like was that the game starts in winter, which creates a very lonely atmosphere for those playing solo.”
- stability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users consistently report that the game is stable and free from any game-breaking bugs, indicating a smooth and reliable experience.
“Bug free; I have yet to see any game-breaking bugs in the slightest.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional impact, characterized by beautiful music and simple graphics that create a wholesome and calming atmosphere. Players find it to be a soothing experience that evokes positive feelings.
“A chill game with beautiful music, simple graphics, and an overall wholesome vibe.”
