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Winkeltje: The Little Shop

Winkeltje: The Little Shop Game Cover
89%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
grinding, story
89% User Score Based on 943 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
Winkeltje: The Little Shop Game Cover

About

Winkeltje: The Little Shop is a single player casual shooter game with fantasy and business themes. It was developed by Sassybot and was released on April 22, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

Winkeltje: The Little Shop is a management game where you run your own fantasy shop, buying and selling a variety of items, including alchemical elixirs and food, to make a profit. Decorate your shop and impress customers with furniture and displays to increase sales. Play at your own pace and become the master of your very own shop.

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89%
Audience ScoreBased on 943 reviews
gameplay55 positive mentions
grinding82 negative mentions

  • Winkeltje offers a charming and relaxing shop management experience with a variety of customization options.
  • The game features a satisfying gameplay loop that keeps players engaged, with crafting, farming, and decorating elements.
  • The developers are responsive and actively update the game, adding new content and addressing community feedback.
  • The game can become repetitive after a few hours, with limited endgame content and objectives.
  • Some mechanics, such as restocking shelves and managing inventory, can feel tedious and cumbersome.
  • The tutorial lacks depth, leaving players to figure out important mechanics on their own, which can lead to confusion.
  • gameplay
    195 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Winkeltje" is characterized by a simple yet satisfying loop of buying, crafting, and selling items, which many players find engaging and addictive, especially for casual play. However, the repetitive nature of the mechanics and lack of depth can lead to boredom over time, with some players expressing a desire for more varied gameplay elements and clearer explanations of mechanics. Overall, while the game offers a cozy and polished experience, it may not hold long-term interest for those seeking more complexity or challenge.

    • “Simple but satisfying gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay loop is simple and fun, one of those games where you can multitask.”
    • “Winkeltje removes much of the tedium that plagues the shop sim genre and focuses instead on streamlined, yet satisfying building, decorating, crafting and stocking gameplay loops, all powered by objective and progression systems that reward you with new furniture, new craftables and new cosmetic unlockables.”
    • “In the end, Winkeltje seems to be quite repetitive with no real new mechanics being introduced, no story, just nothing surprising happening.”
    • “The gameplay loop is very repetitive and there are too few crafting options.”
    • “The game feels unfinished; it has a core gameplay loop, but no content, so after 2 hours, it feels like you have seen and done everything that game holds.”
  • graphics
    92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cute aesthetic, contributing to a relaxing gameplay experience. While some players note that the visuals are low-poly and not modern, they still find them appealing and fitting for the game's theme. Overall, the graphics enhance the game's atmosphere, making it enjoyable despite some minor performance issues and repetitive elements.

    • “Everything about it is lovely, from the beautiful graphics to the well thought-out pacing and balance of crafting and selling items.”
    • “The graphics are excellent, the gameplay is chill, and the controls are mostly easy enough to figure out.”
    • “The graphics are lovely and the gameplay is great for any age level.”
    • “The graphics gave me motion sickness.”
    • “The graphics leave a lot to be desired, but that's easy to get over when it comes to smaller games like this.”
    • “The graphics are somewhat cute, but that's really all this game has going for it.”
  • grinding
    83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, often leading to a repetitive and tedious experience, especially in the late game. While some players appreciate the grind for crafting and farming as part of the shopkeeping experience, many find it frustrating and lacking in substance, with a desire for more engaging mechanics and variety. Overall, the game's potential is overshadowed by the grindy nature of its progression and crafting systems.

    • “I appreciate the grinding aspect of the game as it allows me to strategize and plan my resource management effectively.”
    • “The grind is rewarding; every effort feels meaningful as I see my progress reflected in the upgrades and achievements.”
    • “I enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from grinding, as it keeps me engaged and motivated to reach my goals.”
    • “The trailer looks nice and I thought I'd give this game a try, but it's too repetitive and grindy for me.”
    • “Once you get past your first week, the game gets very grindy with very little substance.”
    • “There were high hopes for this game, but after a while, it's mostly tedious and repetitive with little reward or excitement.”
  • story
    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of "Winkeltje" is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many players noting that it feels repetitive and devoid of meaningful narrative elements. While the game allows for player-driven goals, it lacks a cohesive storyline or character interactions, leading to a sense of stagnation and missed potential for richer content. Players express a desire for more quests, character development, and an overarching plot to enhance the gameplay experience.

    • “There's no pressure to keep playing through some plot twist or scene, and it's easy to hit pause and switch to doing something else for a while before coming back.”
    • “A lovely little game, but needs more characters to give it content, challenges, or storyline after you pay off your debt.”
    • “Finding a routine without the fear of missing a story beat is nice.”
    • “In the end, Winkeltje seems to be quite repetitive with no real new mechanics being introduced, no story, just nothing surprising happening.”
    • “There's zero story and it quickly goes stale, which is a shame as I love games like this.”
    • “There is no real story (although there easily could be), the events feel flat (even though they could be super interesting), and the gameplay is smooth, easy-to-understand, and bug-free (there just isn't a lot to actually do!)”
  • music
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally described as pleasant, relaxing, and charming, enhancing the overall atmosphere with its soothing background tones and sound effects. However, many players note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, with some expressing a desire for more variety in the music. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the gameplay experience, its limited range may detract from long-term enjoyment.

    • “Honestly, this has become one of my favorite games; the music is delightful!”
    • “The music is very pleasant; it doesn't take a whole lot of thinking to do things efficiently, and you can have fun customizing your shop.”
    • “The gameplay and the music are simply so charming; I always end up having the music stuck in my head long after playing.”
    • “The soundtrack is annoyingly repetitive and there is nothing for the player to do except grind away toward the next level to unlock the next currency sink.”
    • “The audio is nice, although once you’ve heard the background music for a while it does get really repetitive.”
    • “The music gets old really fast though and I wish they added more medieval suitable music.”
  • replayability
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, opinions on the game's replayability are mixed. While some players appreciate the customization options and find decent replay value, others feel that the game lacks depth and becomes repetitive after a few runs, suggesting it may not be worth the full price. Several reviewers recommend waiting for a sale, indicating that the game's replayability may not justify its cost for many players.

    • “It knows exactly what it is, what it wants to be, and it offers a lot of customization and a lot of replayability.”
    • “Super cute game with, in my opinion, lots of replayability.”
    • “Good replayability; you can customize the shop in a couple of different ways.”
    • “Game is alright, might not recommend it at full price, because you do not get any replay value out of it; after you make a fully developed shop, that is kinda it, the whole game.”
    • “The only downside I would say about this game is that there isn't much replayability.”
    • “The above means that after just under 40 hours of gameplay (including AFK), there is little replayability currently.”
  • atmosphere
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful aesthetics, relaxing ambiance, and immersive medieval setting. Players appreciate the combination of lovely graphics, rewarding gameplay, and wonderful music, which together create a captivating and enjoyable experience. Overall, the atmosphere enhances the game's appeal, making it a delightful choice for light play and progression.

    • “The aesthetics are beautiful as you continue to grow your store and the atmosphere is incredibly relaxing.”
    • “The atmosphere is fantastic, the gameplay is rewarding and fun, the assets are lovely.”
    • “Been playing it for a while and I can honestly say that it surprises me with its content and atmosphere.”
    • “For some light play and progression with a calm atmosphere and without too much trouble: this scratches a very nice itch.”
    • “I appreciated the general atmosphere of the game.”
    • “This is a first-person role play game that is set in a medieval atmosphere.”
  • optimization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is well-optimized, running smoothly without significant bugs or performance issues. Players appreciate the seamless gameplay and effective mechanics, although some feel that certain specializations, like farming, may lack depth compared to others. While the art style is pleasant, the repetitive soundtrack and limited activities can detract from the experience.

    • “I haven't really had many bugs; the game seems to be optimized, and no characters are getting stuck or anything.”
    • “This game scratched that itch for economic and production optimization.”
    • “I might have simply approached it wrong, but playing the farmer specialization seems a little less optimized than the other options, and in fact choosing it unlocks cooking as well, which makes sense but makes me think it's not fully ready to stand on its own.”
    • “Winkeltje has a pleasant art style and didn't give me any performance issues, but the soundtrack is annoyingly repetitive and there is nothing for the player to do except grind away toward the next level to unlock the next currency sink.”
    • “This can be the end, or you can really dive deep into optimization and micromanaging your shop, if that's what you crave in a management game.”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing clunky mechanics and occasional glitches, while others find it generally stable for an early access title. While there are reports of minor bugs and issues with action sequences, many users feel that the game is in decent shape overall, with only a few notable problems affecting gameplay.

    • “This game looked like it could've had a lot of potential, but in my opinion it's super clunky, buggy, etc. My first playthrough was my last playthrough, so the time I have is just one session.”
    • “It seemed to suggest things out of sequence, and would randomly block certain actions, making it a buggy experience.”
    • “There's some weird bug that needs me to open the game from the files instead of Steam to start, but beyond that, I don't think it's very buggy, not that it was buggy the first time I played it either.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the game is praised for its absence of daily quests, microtransactions, and paywalls, making it feel genuine rather than exploitative. Reviewers liken it to "Shop Titans," but emphasize that it avoids the pitfalls of being a cash grab.

    • “It's like Shop Titans if it were a real game instead of a cash grab.”
    • “Like Shop Titans but without being a shameless cash grab.”
    • “No daily quests, no microtransactions, no paywall nonsense.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing late-game mechanics, such as customers tossing their money on the floor instead of using the register, which adds a quirky and entertaining element to the gameplay.

    • “The money scales are funny in the late game.”
    • “Customers who buy from displays throw their money on the floor instead of coming to the register, which I found quite humorous once I figured it out.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, feeling a sense of nostalgia and comfort, particularly when it evokes memories of home. The design flexibility enhances this emotional experience, allowing players to experiment without the fear of costly mistakes.

    • “This game made me feel like I was back home in Den Haag.”
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18h Median play time
29h Average play time
10-40h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 21 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Winkeltje: The Little Shop is a casual shooter game with fantasy and business themes.

Winkeltje: The Little Shop is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 29 hours playing Winkeltje: The Little Shop.

Winkeltje: The Little Shop was released on April 22, 2022.

Winkeltje: The Little Shop was developed by Sassybot.

Winkeltje: The Little Shop has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Winkeltje: The Little Shop is a single player game.

Similar games include Tavern Master, Travellers Rest, Blacksmith Master, King of Retail, Ale & Tale Tavern and others.