TCG Card Shop Simulator

98%
Game Brain Score Based on 25,515 reviews
  • gameplay
  • grinding
  • graphics
TCG Card Shop Simulator Game Cover
Starting at $12.99Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store

TCG Card Shop Simulator is a trading card game shop simulation where you manage a shop, sell booster packs, and collect cards to build your business. Design your store, stock popular products, and host card games to attract customers and expand your business. Find rare cards in booster packs to sell for a profit or complete your own collection. Keep your store clean and adjust inventory to cater to customer demands.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

98%
Audience ScoreBased on 25,515 reviews
gameplay335 positive mentions
grinding329 negative mentions
  • gameplay864 mentions

    The gameplay of the card shop simulator is characterized by a simple yet addictive loop involving buying, stocking, and selling items, alongside opening card packs. While many players find the mechanics engaging and the overall experience enjoyable, there are concerns about repetitiveness and a lack of depth as the game progresses, particularly in its current early access state. Future updates are anticipated to enhance gameplay variety and introduce new features, which could address some of the existing criticisms.

    • “In its current state, it already offers a good gameplay loop that can entertain you for hours.”
    • “The gameplay loop is incredibly satisfying, and with updates rolling out almost every other day, it’s clear the dev is extremely active, which is fantastic to see.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is so simple, satisfying, and so addictive!”
    • “As described in the examples above, there are a lot of features, but they don't have any real influence or impact on gameplay, which makes them feel meaningless.”
    • “Very slow and the gameplay loop is very basic: buy something -> sell it for the money -> wait until you level up -> buy better stuff for more money.”
    • “I understand that it is in early access right now, but the gameplay is very repetitive as of this moment.”
  • grinding343 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that while the early gameplay is enjoyable, it becomes increasingly tedious and repetitive after reaching around level 20. Players often mention the slow progression and the need for extensive grinding to unlock new features, which can detract from the overall fun, especially in the late game. However, for those who enjoy grind-heavy experiences, the game offers a satisfying loop of collecting and managing cards, making it appealing to fans of the genre.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Average amount of grinding.”
    • “I'm not sure I would use the word 'fun' as it is very, very grindy and repetitive.”
    • “The game has potential, but in its current form you need to spend a lot of time grinding to make progress.”
    • “It's a fun game until you reach about level 30 then comes the extremely tedious grind, it's a very boring gameplay loop that is amazing when things are coming fast and you can feel progress, but when you have completely flushed out the mechanics within the first few hours of play and have a routine.”
  • graphics268 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally described as charming and cute, particularly the artwork on the cards, which many players find appealing. However, there are criticisms regarding the simplistic and generic nature of the overall visual design, with some assets appearing to be sourced from the Unity asset store. While the graphics are functional and contribute to an enjoyable gameplay experience, players hope for more variety and polish in future updates.

    • “The artwork on the cards is amazing and the graphics are super adorable.”
    • “The graphics are charming, and the gameplay is both intuitive and challenging, striking a perfect balance.”
    • “The graphics are bright and colorful, capturing the vibrant world of TCGs.”
    • “In terms of graphical style, the world and customer models are straight from the Unity Asset Store, but I guess early access is the usual excuse for that.”
    • “This game also maxed out my graphics card, a GTX 1060 mini, and ate up nearly 50% of my CPU - an i7-4790k - despite its low graphical quality and simplistic gameplay.”
    • “Same assets as the others, choppy graphics, bad modeling and animations, and terrible pay system.”
  • humor145 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, particularly for its quirky mechanics involving "stinky" customers that players must manage by spraying them with deodorant, which adds a comedic twist to the gameplay. Many reviewers find the interactions with NPCs and the absurdity of the situations—like dealing with smelly gamers—hilariously entertaining, contributing to an overall charming and engaging experience. While some players feel the humor can become repetitive, the game's lighthearted approach and satirical elements keep it enjoyable and addictive.

    • “The addition of quirky challenges, like dealing with 'stinky' customers, adds a humorous twist that keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
    • “There's something humorous about walking up to a stranger, spraying them with deodoriser, watching them recoil in disgust, but their addiction means they know you know they'll still be buying your crack afterwards.”
    • “The quirky, humorous touches add personality to the game, and while there’s a bit of pressure in managing your bills and shop, it’s all part of the fun.”
  • story101 mentions

    The game lacks a substantial narrative, with most players noting that it primarily revolves around managing a card shop without a defined storyline or campaign. While some express a desire for more quests and progression elements, the overall gameplay experience remains enjoyable despite the absence of a traditional story. Many reviewers emphasize that the fun lies in the mechanics of the game rather than in any narrative depth.

    • “The story has me hooked, and the combat mechs truly are clean.”
    • “In a world filled with high-octane action and dramatic storytelling, this trading card shop simulator dares to venture into the thrilling life of a trading card shop owner.”
    • “Here is a prime example of why a game doesn't need to be a AAA, visually stunning, mechanically intensive, story-rich masterpiece to be fun.”
    • “There's no storyline or anything, just jump right in.”
    • “There's no real narrative aside from owning a card shop, and while a story isn't strictly necessary, having some progression or events with future updates would be a nice touch.”
    • “There’s no real storyline in this simulator.”
  • music95 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and fitting for a casual gaming experience, allowing players to enjoy it while multitasking or listening to their own music. However, many users note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, leading to a desire for more variety or the option to customize the music. Overall, the music enhances the chill atmosphere of the game, but improvements in diversity and customization are highly requested.

    • “This game is great to chill and listen to music and vibe, no stress, no anger, just chilled vibes.”
    • “The music is relaxing, the art of the cards is amazing, and overall the game is a good way to relax in your free time.”
    • “Honestly, this game is just a fun game to relax and enjoy music while playing, nothing too serious or anything alike.”
    • “The music is really annoying after listening to it on repeat for a few hours.”
    • “The only drawback, the music can get a little repetitive, but you can just mute the audio and play some YouTube or your own music to remedy that.”
    • “Would love a way to change the shop music, as the current track reminds me of The Sims and does trigger a sense of drowsiness while mindlessly opening packs to increase shop profit.”
  • optimization61 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and minimal bugs, others criticize it as poorly optimized or in need of significant improvements. Some users enjoy the engaging gameplay and customization options, suggesting that with further optimization, the game could reach its full potential. Despite these concerns, many players find the experience enjoyable and recommend it for its solid performance on various systems.

    • “I got super hooked in the demo and the amount of customization, small decisions, and optimizations you can make are really engaging.”
    • “The game can be a calm, casual, semi-AFK experience, or a risky, frantic rush if you want to aim for maximum optimization.”
    • “I get a solid 144fps on high settings which really makes the game more enjoyable without being hindered by performance.”
    • “Regardless, this game is either horribly unoptimized, or has something more malicious going on under the hood.”
    • “Game is poorly optimized and unplayable without mods.”
    • “Despite the game's simplicity, it is extremely poorly optimized.”
  • stability59 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting minor glitches and bugs, particularly during pack openings and controller use. While some users have experienced significant issues, such as freezing and unresponsive controls, others find the game generally stable and enjoyable, especially given its early access status. Frequent updates from the developers have been noted as a positive sign for future improvements.

    • “Honestly, the best game I've played in a long time considering I main PvP games. Simple gameplay runs great even on my low-spec laptop.”
    • “For an EA title, this game runs great.”
    • “Great simulator for those who want to chill; runs great on the ROG Ally X.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game, but this is way too buggy to play.”
    • “Edit: the latest patch seems to have made my game unstable as it freezes every time loading up a game or new game.”
    • “Unplayable, I don't know if it's because I'm using a controller, but it constantly glitches out within the first 5 minutes and will not register any button pushes.”
  • monetization48 mentions

    Overall, the monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback. While players appreciate the absence of microtransactions and in-app purchases, which fosters a level playing field, there are concerns about potential advertising partnerships that may detract from the game's integrity. Many users hope the developers will continue to focus on quality content rather than resorting to cash grab tactics, especially given the game's promising early access foundation.

    • “I actually paid the $10, I think it was, for the no ads manager auto restock stuff on the mobile version of this game months ago when I first discovered it, and it's been absolutely amazing!”
    • “No in-game purchases and everything is free in-game.”
    • “Love the fact that there are no in-app purchases, which puts everybody on the same playing ground.”
    • “But a lot of red flags; this is just another low-quality cash grab.”
    • “It feels a lot like Speedrobo was looking for some cheap advertising for their unknown board games, and the dev took the bait.”
    • “Which is odd because the dev just celebrated selling 400k+ copies; I don't understand why they felt the need to also take some shady company's advertising money on top of their success.”
  • replayability29 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it surprisingly engaging and filled with potential for endless activities, especially with future updates and features like a playable trading card game. However, others criticize its linearity and grindiness, suggesting that once completed, there may be little incentive to replay. Overall, while many see significant replay value, others feel it could benefit from additional content and reduced grind to enhance the experience.

    • “Should they follow through with the development plan, this will be one of the most replayable games to come out for a long time.”
    • “It's a solid simulator with great replay value, especially for fans of trading card games.”
    • “Overall, it's got tons of replayability.”
    • “Not sure how replayable this game is though, I don't imagine I'd ever feel the need to start over again for a different experience as it is very linear and grindy enough that there's no real reason to play it again once you've beaten it.”
    • “The replayability is close to 0.”
    • “Adding more content and goals would boost the replayability.”
  • emotional19 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game resonates deeply with players, evoking feelings of nostalgia and connection through its wholesome gameplay and community engagement. Many users express a mix of joy and frustration, highlighting the emotional highs of gameplay alongside the disappointment of luck in card packs. Overall, the game fosters a strong emotional bond, both with its content and the community surrounding it.

    • “10/10 would cry again.”
    • “Beyond the immediate financial implications, this experience has struck a deep emotional chord within me.”
    • “TCG card shop sim definitely tickles that TCG addiction that most of us had as kids or still have (hello, MTG!) and perfectly underlines the ridiculous emotional and financial relationship we have towards a bunch of paper pieces.”
  • atmosphere18 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for being fun, engaging, and relaxing, contributing to its addictive nature. Players appreciate the peaceful sound design and vibrant community feel reminiscent of real card shops, though some note that the owner's presence can detract from the overall experience. Suggestions for improvement include adding quirky elements, like a radio, to enhance the shop's ambiance further.

    • “The graphics are simple but clear, and the sounds add to the peaceful atmosphere of your little card paradise.”
    • “The quality of life features, the sound, the music, and the atmosphere are all top notch.”
    • “This game captures both the atmosphere and the core concept incredibly well.”
    • “This game almost has an atmosphere.”
    • “Visited recently and while the selection of cards and accessories is great, the atmosphere is ruined by the owner.”
    • “The game offers a relaxing atmosphere with unrealistic card pulls; you are not going to go into debt, but the card pulls for packs can yield cards that should be worth a lot.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is characterized by cute and quirky designs that enhance the game's lighthearted atmosphere, contributing positively to the overall player experience.

    • “The character designs are cute and quirky, adding to the game’s lighthearted feel.”
    • “The depth of each character's backstory makes them feel real and relatable.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, showcasing their growth and development.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I was disappointed by how little the characters evolved throughout the game; their arcs felt predictable and uninspired.”
    • “Despite the interesting premise, the characters remained one-dimensional and failed to grow in meaningful ways.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy TCG Card Shop Simulator

Play time

12hMedian play time
20hAverage play time
6-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 161 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games