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.
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and engaging combat system where money acts as mana, adding a fresh twist to traditional RPG mechanics.
- The narrative effectively balances humor and horror, providing a relatable and unsettling depiction of retail work that resonates with players who have experienced similar environments.
- The game features a rich atmosphere and intriguing world-building, with plenty of exploration and multiple endings that encourage replayability.
- The lack of quality-of-life features, such as a quest tracking system or in-game map, can lead to confusion and frustration when trying to progress through the game.
- Some players found the combat to become too easy as the game progresses, diminishing the challenge and strategic elements that were initially present.
- The maze-like design of certain areas can make navigation cumbersome, leading to a disjointed experience as players struggle to find their way.
- story24 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging narrative and deep environmental storytelling, effectively blending horror with workplace themes. While some players noted a lack of quality-of-life features for tracking story progression, many found the plot compelling and the atmosphere hauntingly immersive. Overall, the storytelling is considered a standout aspect, with a unique art style and interesting lore that enhances the gameplay experience.
“The overall story arc was engaging, the combat was fun, exploring and uncovering more of the game was enjoyable.”
“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.”
“Always more going on in the game than what meets the eye, gameplay and story-wise.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of horror and RPG mechanics, effectively conveying the unsettling atmosphere of retail employment while incorporating unique puzzle-solving elements. While some players appreciate the thematic depth and engaging story, 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 its themes, though it may not satisfy players seeking complex mechanics.
“A great horror roguelite that uses its atmosphere and game mechanics to convey the terror, while at the same time, the mundanity of working for an indifferent, eldritch retail company.”
“The gameplay is excellent, the setting is fantastic (really hits if you've worked retail before).”
“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.”
“Always more going on in the game than what meets the eye, gameplay and story-wise.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, effectively blending horror with the mundanity of working for an indifferent, eldritch retail company. Players appreciate the creeping dread and unsettling serenity that permeate the experience, enhanced by strong writing and aesthetic choices. The atmosphere not only supports the narrative but also evokes a sense of existential dread, making exploration both engaging and thought-provoking.
“A great horror roguelite that uses its atmosphere and game mechanics to convey the terror, while at the same time, the mundanity of working for an indifferent, eldritch retail company.”
“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 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'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.”
“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.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of dark, dry, and witty elements that effectively highlight the absurdities of customer service and the experiences of minimum wage workers. Players find the comedic aspects both hilarious and unsettling, with a mix of RPG and horror elements that enhance the overall experience. The game's ability to evoke laughter while addressing serious themes is praised, making it a unique and engaging title.
“This one plays like an RPG and is quite hilarious.”
“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.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their unique 8-bit aesthetic and atmospheric qualities, contributing to a genuinely funny and spooky vibe. While some users experienced freezing issues, the overall visual style, characterized by chromatic aberration, is considered fantastic and enhances the exploration and storytelling elements.
“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 anything to go by.”
“Sorta aesthetically spooky as opposed to regular spooky.”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's music has been described as a nostalgic soundtrack reminiscent of 90s corporate videos, with one user expressing that the store music is catchy enough to linger in their mind for weeks. However, opinions are mixed on the choice of using a single muzak track played at varying tempos throughout the game, with some considering it a bold but questionable decision.
“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 going to 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.)”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers a surprisingly high level of replayability for a five-hour horror experience, thanks to its compelling human message and numerous suspenseful moments that encourage players to revisit the story.
“Despite being a horror experience, this game really does have a solidly human message to it, along with many moments of 'oh dear... oh no, no, no' that make it more replayable than it should be for a 5-hour game.”
“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.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game delivers a brief yet impactful experience that profoundly affects players, often leaving them feeling emotionally drained.
“A great little five-hour morsel of a game that will leave you emotionally drained.”
“The story hit me hard, making me reflect on my own life choices and relationships.”
“I was not prepared for the emotional rollercoaster this game took me on; it left a lasting impact.”
