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.
Reviews
- The game offers a relaxing and enjoyable experience, especially when played with friends, making it a great co-op simulator.
- There is a lot of potential for future updates, with a variety of activities like farming, fishing, and cooking that keep gameplay engaging.
- The developers are responsive to community feedback and actively work on improvements, which enhances the overall experience.
- The game can feel imbalanced, with some players completing all content in a few hours while others struggle to progress, leading to frustration.
- There are issues with repetitive tasks and a lack of depth in gameplay, which can make it feel monotonous over time.
- The tutorial and user interface could be improved, as many players find it difficult to navigate and understand the mechanics without guidance.
- gameplay19 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of market management and farming mechanics, offering a satisfying loop that can be both engaging and relaxing. While many players appreciate the depth and charm of the game, some find the repetitive tasks and slow progression can lead to monotony. Overall, the game has potential for growth, but its current execution leaves room for improvement.
“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.”
- music14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its charm and ability to enhance the immersive experience, with many finding it relaxing and beautifully composed. However, some players feel that the soundtrack can be overly somber or repetitive, leading to a sense of monotony or even drowsiness. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, opinions on its suitability and emotional tone vary among players.
“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.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a simple, old-school aesthetic that some players find charming and relaxing, contributing to a cozy atmosphere. While opinions vary, with some noting the graphics are not the best, many appreciate the art style and sound design, which enhance the overall experience. Overall, the visuals may not appeal to everyone, but they effectively support the game's management-style gameplay and inviting vibe.
“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.”
“Graphics: not for everyone, I did like it though, 8/10”
“Ignore the graphics, ignore the graphics...”
“The graphics may be basic but the game is extremely well done!”
- grinding11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally appreciate the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it effectively combines farming, management, and cooking elements. However, some find the farming process excessively slow and repetitive, leading to early financial struggles and a sense of stagnation in progress. Overall, while the grind can be enjoyable for fans of the genre, improvements in farming efficiency are desired.
“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.”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally considered lacking, with players noting a need for more depth through random events, side missions, or mini-games to enhance engagement. While some find the initial missions interesting, the quest system can be frustrating due to its non-auto-completion feature, which may confuse new players. Overall, the game is seen as more enjoyable when played with friends, despite its narrative shortcomings.
“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.”
“What kind of bothered me was that the quests in the top-right wouldn't auto-complete if you did them before a quest you finished, but I assume most new players wouldn't run into this.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is 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?”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game effectively evokes the charm of an old-school market, creating a visually appealing atmosphere. However, the choice to start in winter may contribute to a sense of loneliness 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.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a high level of stability, noting that the game is largely bug-free and free from any game-breaking issues.
“Bug-free; I have yet to encounter any game-breaking bugs in the slightest.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it allows for an immersive experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional impact, characterized by beautiful music and a wholesome atmosphere, creating a calming and uplifting experience for players.
“A chill game with beautiful music, simple graphics, and an overall wholesome vibe.”
