Sorry We're Open
- February 17, 2023
- oates
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Sorry We’re Open" is a visual novel game where players manage a small café while forming relationships with a diverse cast of characterful employees. Balance customer needs, café maintenance, and personal relationships to build a thriving business and discover heartwarming stories. With rich narrative choices and multiple endings, each playthrough offers a unique, cozy experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of horror and humor, effectively capturing the mundane yet eerie atmosphere of working in retail.
- The resource management combat system is engaging, requiring players to strategize and make tough decisions about their party members.
- The storytelling and environmental design are well-crafted, providing a relatable experience for those who have worked in retail, with multiple endings to discover.
- The game can become too easy as players accumulate money, diminishing the challenge and strategy involved in combat.
- Navigation can be confusing due to the lack of an in-game map, leading to frustration when trying to progress.
- Some players found the ending unsatisfactory or lacking in closure, and certain gameplay mechanics were not clearly explained.
- story46 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging narrative and deep environmental storytelling, effectively blending corporate horror with RPG mechanics. Players appreciate the subtlety and symbolism woven throughout the plot, which unfolds gradually and encourages exploration. While some find the plot progression occasionally convoluted, the overall atmosphere and lore contribute to a compelling experience that keeps players invested.
“There's such a deep understanding of what makes corporate/workplace horror so compelling, everything from the storytelling to the environments and sound design.”
“It's an abstract experience with a brilliantly told subtle story; every so often I come back to play it just to steep in its atmosphere, the long days working in a crowded store or the unsettling graveyard shifts surrounded by an unnatural emptiness that is as serene as it is haunting.”
“It has an amazing aesthetic, fun gameplay, and an interesting story that is slowly revealed.”
“This mainly ties in with its symbolism and story, which I'll get into later, but after the first hour, you know what to expect, which truly lets the fear of what's going to happen next settle in.”
“A narratively driven RPG that has interesting (if not particularly difficult) combat, and a sometimes convoluted plot progression.”
“My only complaint is that it's lacking a few quality of life features, like some kind of quest tracking system or in-game map, or really just anything that would help you keep track of where you are (literally and story progression wise), or an indication when you've collected all of the key items or completed all of the side quests for a certain area.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of horror and RPG mechanics, effectively conveying the dread of retail work while incorporating unique puzzle-solving elements. While some players appreciate the thematic depth and atmosphere, others find that the gameplay can disrupt the flow of the narrative and becomes simpler as the game progresses. Overall, it offers a compelling experience for those interested in exploration and story, despite its short length and occasional mechanical shortcomings.
“The gameplay is excellent, the setting is fantastic (really hits if you've worked retail before).”
“It has an amazing aesthetic, fun gameplay, and an interesting story that is slowly revealed.”
“I also really enjoyed the puzzle-solving aspect of the gameplay loop, finding keys and items to progress and solve side quests.”
“Otherwise, it's a short (about 5 hours) horror RPG with simple mechanics and constant dread.”
“If you've played their previous games like No Delivery or Nobody's Home, then you will see some familiar gameplay with some text adventure thrown in there.”
“Love how the mechanics kind of force you to make the manager treat your workers as disposable too.”
- atmosphere26 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, effectively blending horror with the mundane experience of working for an indifferent, eldritch retail company. Players appreciate the creeping dread and unsettling serenity that permeate the environment, enhanced by strong writing and aesthetic choices. The atmosphere not only supports the narrative but also evokes a sense of existential dread, making it a compelling and thought-provoking experience.
“It's an abstract experience with a brilliantly told subtle story. Every so often, I come back to play it just to steep in its atmosphere, the long days working in a crowded store or the unsettling graveyard shifts surrounded by an unnatural emptiness that is as serene as it is haunting.”
“The atmosphere of the game slowly drip-feeds you a creeping dread as more and more of the terror matches up with what our reality looks like - employees feeling like they're trapped in their job, conditioned to accept their horrible situation as 'part of life,' and the incapability of achieving individual dignity within the confines of the corporate ladder, no matter which rung you're on.”
“The charm and slight mother-esque quirk of all the dialogue while still maintaining an uneasy overall atmosphere really made for a fun and enjoyable short 6-hour experience.”
“The only food you have to eat are doughnuts, expired candy bars, and cigarettes - there's tons of produce in the grocery sections, but I don't think it's 'fresh.' The atmosphere of the game slowly drip-feeds you a creeping dread as more and more of the terror matches up with what our reality looks like - employees feeling like they're trapped in their job, conditioned to accept their horrible situation as 'part of life,' and the incapability of achieving individual dignity within the confines of the corporate ladder, no matter which rung you're on.”
“It feels like a logical extension of the same kind of 'resource-based combat' from No Delivery and Nobody's Home with its own twists to keep things fresh, and is dripping with both comedy and a horrifying atmosphere.”
“One was simply how confusing remembering the layouts could be sometimes, but that does feel to be a design intention due to the liminal horror atmosphere the game takes on, so it's something that while at times confusing or frustrating is minor enough that it's easy to excuse.”
- humor19 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as dark, witty, and deeply relatable, particularly for those who have experienced the challenges of customer service jobs. It effectively combines RPG elements with horror, delivering comedic yet unsettling scenarios that resonate with players. Overall, the game is praised for its clever corporate humor and unexpected moments that balance fun with a critique of societal issues.
“I'm not a fan of this playing type, but it's super funny and really shows the reality in a comedic way of customer service and how the world treats workers in customer service.”
“A very fun RPG and a deeply unsettling horror experience paired up with a dry and witty sense of humor that will make anyone who has ever worked a minimum wage job laugh and then immediately sigh in abject horror.”
“It's loaded with funny yet accurate scenarios, lots to explore, and lots of moments that caught me off guard and made me gasp.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a unique, chunky 8-bit style that effectively conveys a spooky atmosphere, enhanced by chromatic aberration effects. While some players experienced freezing issues, the overall aesthetic and art direction received high praise for their creativity and alignment with the game's themes. The visuals contribute significantly to the immersive experience, complementing the engaging exploration and storytelling.
“It has an amazing aesthetic, fun gameplay, and an interesting story that is slowly revealed.”
“I love analogue, corporate, capitalist horror, and its chunky, 8-bit, chromatic aberration reliant graphical style is fantastic.”
“The dev has this unique art style and storytelling (strongly recommend checking out all of his stuff).”
“The only problem I really had with this game was that the graphics would freeze, but the game was still going on if the sound effects I heard were to go by.”
“Sorta aesthetically spooky as opposed to regular spooky.”
- music8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's music has been described as a nostalgic soundtrack reminiscent of 90s corporate videos, with one standout muzak track played at varying tempos. While some players appreciate its catchy nature, others question the effectiveness of using a single song throughout the game, finding it a bold yet potentially divisive choice. Overall, the music leaves a lasting impression, often getting stuck in players' heads.
“Thank you Oates for making this wonderful little game, and if you're reading this, I just want to say that the store music is gonna be stuck in my head for weeks thanks to you!”
“(This sounds like a meme, but I'm actually uncertain whether having a single muzak song playing at different tempos as the entire soundtrack was a good play or not. It's bold, if nothing else.)”
“(this sounds like a meme, but I'm actually uncertain whether having a single muzak song playing at different tempos as the entire soundtrack was a good play or not. It's bold, if nothing else.)”
“Also has a killer soundtrack that brings me back to the 90s corporate videos every job has made me watch during orientation.”
“Thank you Oates for making this wonderful little game and if you're reading this I just want to say that the store music is gonna be stuck in my head for weeks thanks to you!!!”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers a surprisingly high level of replayability for a five-hour horror experience, thanks to its engaging human themes and numerous suspenseful moments that encourage players to revisit the story.
“Despite being a horror experience, this really does have a solidly human message to it... along with a lot of moments of 'oh dear... oh no, no, no' that make it more replayable than it should be for a 5-hour game.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its intense emotional impact, leaving players feeling profoundly affected and, in some cases, emotionally drained after just a short playtime of five hours.
“A great little five-hour morsel of a game that will leave you emotionally dead inside.”
