For me, working in retail was a highlight of my life. Not knocking anyone who works in retail, but I felt my career was meant to go in a different direction. That said, after watching Daz Games and Jacksepticeye play Retro Rewind: Video Store Simulator, and then Jacksepticeye and Gab Smolders play ReStory, I was oddly drawn to these retail simulators, which is ironic, since I can’t stand them in real life.
When I started playing these two myself, I was like, I wonder if they are for me, so I’ll give them a couple hours to hook me, and they had me by the scruff of my neck and playing for hours at a time. So, you know, when I stumbled across TCG Card Shop Simulator that I wasn’t going to skip the chase of running my own TCG Card Shop.
A huge thank you to OPNeon Games for providing me with a copy of the game on PC to cover for you all. With the recent release of update 1.0, I get to cover the game at its best and with loads of new content that wasn’t available prior to this update. So, without further delay, let’s get to it.
At first glance, the concept of running your own trading card shop, ordering stock, putting it on shelves, serving customers, opening card packs, making money and expanding your store doesn’t sound like the type of game that would keep you enticed for hours at a time, but here I am writing a review telling you that it does. TCG Card Shop Simulator is a trading card shop simulation where you sell card booster packs to earn money and build your card shop business.
You will open your own local game store where you’ll stock shelves with the latest booster packs, or crack them and collect the cards for yourself. You will manage your shop from the design and organisation of the shelves and card packs to make the customers’ shopping experience smooth and easy.
On top of this, you will need to set the prices of your stock to make a profit, hire staff, host events and, of course, play the games very own TCG game Tetramon. I loved the fact that I got to build my own card collection. You get to open booster packs yourself to find rare cards to keep in your collection, use in your deck or sell to make a small fortune. On top of that, you can host games in your store to bring in customers.
You get to set the format and fee, but be mindful that hygiene needs to be kept in mind while your shop is open to the masses. Make sure to keep stocked up with all the amazing products and keep track of popular trends so that you bring in the most profit. Make your empire yours by expanding your store space, unlock new card sets as well as upgrades that will bring in even more customers and increase revenue.
What makes this game so enjoyable is that it takes a very straightforward concept and builds a surprisingly satisfying gameplay loop around it. You start with a small shop and limited resources, and gradually turn it into the kind of card shop you’d actually want to visit in real life. It is incredibly satisfying to watch my store grow with every day that passes.
The Gameplay Loop
Where TCG Card Shop Simulator truly shines is with its gameplay loop. It’s as simple as ordering stock, putting it on the shelves, waiting for customers to buy it, making money, reinvesting that money into more stock and upgrades, and repeating the process. It is literally what you do in a real retail job however, when you put it into game format, it’s a million times better.
Don’t get me wrong, it does sound repetitive, but when put into practice, it is incredibly addictive and time can pass in no time. Even something as small as unlocking a new product I could stack on my shelf made me giddy with joy. The excitement, as well, when you get to rearrange the shop when you get new space and upgrades, adds to the satisfaction you get from TCG Card Shop Simulator.
Don’t forget the card packs, and let’s be honest, opening TCG packs in real life is super fun, as you don’t know what you’re going to get, so when they implement this feature into a game, you know it’s going to be just as fun. It can also lead to slippery slopes, as you got with that “I’ll just open one more”, then that snowballs into opening much more.
Though the excitement of seeing what you’ve pulled added to your collection adds another layer to the game. It is exciting to not only own a card shop but to be able to partake in collecting the cards and also playing it too. It’s this clever combination that makes it feel like you’re enjoying a hobby, not just running a business.
Running the Shop
The shop management side is probably what surprised me the most. As I mentioned above, I used to work retail and didn’t like it, but there is something genuinely enjoyable about doing it in video game form. You basically start with one shelf, a till and a dream. Then, as I grew my empire, I gained more room, opportunities and a love for my shop as its owner.
By keeping track of trends, restocking and prices for single cards and packs, you can control just how much profit you bring in. The game does a good job of making these relatively simple decisions feel meaningful. It also gave me a sense of progression as there was always something to work towards.
The Customers
It wouldn’t be a card shop simulator without the customers, who each bring a lot of personality to the shop. Watch as they admire your store, browse the products and buy the products you have on sale. This helps make the store feel alive rather than just being a collection of menus and numbers. They also help reinforce the feeling that I’m running a shop and not just simply clicking a button to receive money.
If you don’t have the right products, prices and stock, they won’t buy anything, and you lose out on income. It brings me joy when customers pick products off the shelf and say that they are happy with the prices and write positive reviews. I know it sounds silly because it’s just a game, but it’s these little things that make this simulation game shine.
The Card Collecting
You can’t run a TCG card shop without talking about the cards. These are the stars of the show, and even more so when the devs have made it a proper card game within the game. Introducing the world to Tetramon. Collecting all the cards is a huge part of the appeal to me. Even though I know I’m meant to be selling the stock to customers, I also want to scratch that itch of opening packs and seeing what I can pull.
If you do manage to pull a good value card, you can even send it off for grading, which could increase the value of the card tenfold. This is such a great feeling, it also creates contrast between being a business owner and a collector. You then have to start thinking whether you want good profit margins and stock on the shelves or whether you want to complete your collection.
This element is so much fun, and I also like the fact that you can sell off bulk cards in blind boxes after you get the workbench to add another source of income when you have multiples of certain cards.
The Progression
In the early stages of the game, it can feel like a grind until you get your first big break and then progression becomes fun, and I feel like it’s something that TCG Card Shop Simulator does well. You don’t get immediate access to everything you can get. Instead, the game gradually introduces new products, upgrades and possibilities as you continue playing.
This helps not overwhelm the player as you find your feet running a shop. It gives you a goal to work towards, and most importantly, the progression doesn’t feel like a chore. Most upgrades actually feel useful and worthwhile, which helps the shop grow.
You’re not bombarded with everything at once and get new things in drips and drabs, which for a simulator is important because you don’t want too much complexity straight out of the gate and instead want to work towards it as a mid to late-game element.
The Atmosphere
Another thing I love about TCG Card Shop Simulator is how relaxing it is. I adore the fact that I can come home after a hard day of work and switch off while playing this game. There is a constant pressure forcing you to rush through everything, you can take your time organising your shop, stock and opening packs. All while simply walking around and looking at the store you’ve created.
Don’t worry, there is still enough going on to make it so that the game doesn’t feel completely passive. It just has a good balance of relaxation and rewarding you, which is the game’s biggest strength in my opinion.
What Could Be Better?
The biggest potential issue is that the core gameplay loop can become repetitive, I know, shock horror. If you don’t enjoy management or simulation games, there is a good chance you’ll eventually find yourself doing the same basic tasks repeatedly and getting bored of it. The game relies heavily on the satisfaction of progression, but once you’ve played for a long time, some of that initial excitement naturally starts to fade.
Like when you have a deck that is beating every customer that comes into the store, or you just seem to be rolling in money and can get everything with ease. It makes that early game magic of building your store feel like a distant memory. To the point where I have restarted the game after a playthrough to get that same buzz again.
The shop-management side of things, I would like to see more depth put into it, as there is so much potential here. Things like more customer types, additional events or deeper employee management. If this could be combined with more customisation options and even more ways to make the shop feel uniquely mine, it could take this game even further. It would also be nicer to customise the appearance of the store in greater detail.
I would love more control over the layout, decorations, walls, floors, signs and overall theme. It would help make my store feel more unique to me. This is only my opinion, as it will add more elements to the simulation side of the game.
Why I Keep Coming Back
The biggest compliment I can give TCG Card Shop Simulator is that it keeps me wanting to play. That is ultimately what matters. A game that keeps me wanting to come back for more. It doesn’t need to give me a complex story or a massive open world. A simple gameplay loop which ticks all the boxes, and that’s what OPNeon Games have done with TCG Card Shop Simulator.
You have a simple objective that lets you gradually build towards end-game content, and it is so nice to go from day to day and unlock new packs and expansions for the story. Another good thing is that what feels like 20 minutes has passed is actually like 2 hours, with how much fun you get out of the game. And that’s exactly what I want from a simulation title.
Final Thoughts
TCG Card Shop Simulator is a fantastic game that manages to make something as simple as running a card shop surprisingly addictive. The progression, shop management and card collecting all work really well together, and there is always something to work towards. Whether you’re expanding your shop, restocking shelves, unlocking new products or opening packs hoping for a great pull, the game constantly gives you a reason to play just a little bit longer.
It isn’t perfect. The gameplay can become repetitive after a while, and I’d love to see more shop customisation, customer variety, events and long-term goals added in future updates. However, those are small criticisms compared to how much fun I’ve had with the game.
If you enjoy management games, card collecting or simply like watching a small business grow, TCG Card Shop Simulator is absolutely worth checking out. Just be prepared to say “I’ll play for an hour” and suddenly realise you’ve been playing for five. For these reasons, I’m giving TCG Card Shop Simulator a score of 9 out of 10.
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The game was provided to us for the express purpose of reviewing.
Review Q&A
Is TCG Card Shop Simulator worth playing?
Absolutely. Its addictive gameplay loop, shop progression and card collecting make it a fantastic choice for fans of simulation and management games.
What do you do in TCG Card Shop Simulator?
You run your own trading card shop, order stock, manage prices, serve customers, hire employees, expand your store and collect cards by opening booster packs.
Can you collect cards in TCG Card Shop Simulator?
Yes. You can open booster packs, collect rare Tetramon cards, build your collection, use cards in the in-game card game or sell valuable pulls.
Does TCG Card Shop Simulator have its own card game?
Yes. The game features Tetramon, an in-game trading card game that lets you collect cards and use them to play against customers.
Is TCG Card Shop Simulator relaxing?
Yes. It offers a relaxing shop-management experience without constantly pressuring you to rush. You can organise your store, restock shelves and open booster packs at your own pace.
What are the biggest problems with TCG Card Shop Simulator?
The gameplay can become repetitive during longer sessions, while shop management, employee systems, customer variety and customisation could all benefit from additional depth.
What score does TCG Card Shop Simulator get?
TCG Card Shop Simulator receives a 9/10. Despite some repetitive elements, its addictive gameplay, rewarding progression and card collecting make it an excellent simulation game.
