Despite the expectations laid on it, TCG Card Shop Simulator is a satisfying and addictive simulator game that lets you live out your dream of owning a physical card shop.
Developed by O.P.Neon Games, TCG Card Shop Simulator is available on Steam, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and the Nintendo Switch 2. While the game was available in early access for a while, the 1.0 release adds a slew of content that gives new and returning players a booster box filled with hours of gameplay.
Scalpers No Scalping
Simulator games are extremely common now, with there being a simulator for practically every occupation or hobby. TCG Card Shop Simulator’s topic of focus is self-explanatory, but what sets it apart from most other similar games is just how detailed it is. From being able to set the prices of individual cards or packs to holding awesome events, the game gives players so much freedom that it may not be a stretch to call it one of the best simulator games out there.
Gameplay
The gameplay aspect is where TCG Card Shop Simulator really shines. From deciding the layout of your shop to filling all of the shelves with products, you’re in charge of everything. Deciding what price you want to put on the packs, boxes, and loose cards you purchase makes up a good majority of the game’s overall gameplay loop.
I found myself getting so invested in what stock to order and what prices to set at the end of every day that I genuinely started looking forward to spending my hard-earned virtual money.
Speaking of setting the prices, you can decide how high or low the price of your stock should be. Setting something much higher than the market price could give you a better profit, but selling the stock could be a pain. On the other hand, you can set the price lower than the market price to get rid of your stock quicker, but you won’t make as much profit in the process.
Aside from the basic expansion and decoration, there’s also serving customers. Receiving payment is as simple as taking cash and returning the right amount of change or entering the right numbers on the card machine. But the overall loop here is genuinely satisfying and addictive.
It’s a little odd, actually. I’d stock a shelf and set the price. Someone would buy the item and give me money, leading to me unlocking something new when my shop levels up. I’ll buy the new item and repeat the process. Before I knew it, three hours had flown by, and I wouldn’t even feel it.
Progressing in the game unlocks new ways to expand your business. From hosting tournaments to setting up events, TCG Card Shop Simulator has a lot for players to unlock and do. The best thing is that it does everything while staying true to its TCG simulation roots, ensuring immersion is the game’s highest priority.
Be the Very Best Like No One Maybe Was
As someone who didn’t play TCG Card Shop Simulator before the 1.0 update, I assumed that the Tetramon cards were only intended for collecting and selling. But I was proven wrong when I discovered that I could actually challenge my own customers to battles.
The deck-building and playing mechanics aren’t too technical, and some may also find Tetramon fairly easy, but it’s nice to be able to actually play the card game. This also gives players another incentive to open packs instead of just aiming to sell off the ones that are worth a good amount.
Admittedly, the card game’s simplicity may turn some dedicated TCG gamers off. The Tetramon game serves as a nice extension to the card shop simulator. But it can’t compete against most dedicated deckbuilders. It doesn’t take long to experience most of what Tetramon has to offer. Ultimately, things could get pretty repetitive pretty quickly.
Still, opening cards is as satisfying in-game as it is in real life. It also helps that my bank account doesn’t suffer from my totally healthy addiction. In a way, the toughest decision I had to make in TCG Card Shop Simulator was whether to open the packs I bought and risk them going to waste or just keep them as inventory to sell to customers. With over 4,000 cards to collect, collectors have their work cut out for them.
Graphics & Audio
TCG Card Shop Simulator’s visuals are simple, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The game aims to provide a relaxing experience, and the straightforward visuals help with that. With that being said, the artwork on some of the game’s Tetramon cards is genuinely impressive, especially with the new Ascension set. Pair all of this with the fact that the shop is highly customizable with decorations and furniture, and you essentially control what you see when running the shop.
The game does have some performance-related issues. Certain textures load in blurry, or NPCs occasionally walk erratically, but it’s nothing that takes away from the game’s immersion.
Then, there’s the audio. It would have been nice if the game had environmental audio, since you can really feel its absence. A shop doesn’t feel complete without some chattering and footsteps. General shop ambience would help the game feel more alive. Still, the music that constantly plays is serviceable enough.
Longevity
It isn’t a stretch to say that TCG Card Shop Simulator is a collector’s dream. With 4,436 cards to collect, it’s easy to get well over thirty hours out of the game. That too, while feeling relaxed every step of the way. The gameplay loop is engaging enough to even help some players get hundreds of hours out of the game.
Not to mention, the 1.0 version adds more reasons to launch the game. Building decks and participating in tournaments are all mechanics that didn’t exist before the full release, giving long-time players a reason to return. Add factors such as shop expansion and employee management, and there are enough short-term goals to keep you occupied while you work toward your long-term ones.
Naturally, the endgame becomes fairly grindy. When the shop becomes more developed and you’ve collected much of what you want, there isn’t a traditional objective pushing you forward. Fortunately, the developer has confirmed that 1.0 isn’t the end of TCG Card Shop Simulator’s development, so that’s something to look forward to.
Final Thoughts
TCG Card Shop Simulator delivers more than it promises. The gameplay is satisfying, and there’s a bunch of content to experience. If you want an engaging, relaxing game to lose hours, TCG Card Shop Simulator is the way to go. It may not do anything groundbreaking, and there are some performance-related issues. But TCG Card Shop Simulator is definitely a game I’ll keep coming back to.
It’s for this reason that I give it the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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