Best Retail Simulators to Play Tonight
Tired of the usual titles like The Sims 4 or CS:GO and looking for something a little different tonight? Why not spin the reels in Dragon Slots or enjoy a totally new game genre? If you’re in the mood for something fresh, retail simulators might be just what you need, and here are some of the most fascinating ones to try.
King of Retail
King of Retail is a shop simulator where you can sell just about anything. Want to open a trendy jeans boutique? Go ahead. Prefer to stock vacuums and tablets? That works too. But it’s not as simple as “open up and start selling.” You’ll need to decide where to place mannequins, what discounts to offer, who to hire, how to deal with rude customers, and what to do if your staff starts slacking off. You’ll also wear a marketing hat, convincing customers to grab a “second pair of pants for free,” putting up your own custom posters, and running promotions. Opened your first store? Great, but don’t get too comfortable! From there, you can expand into new neighborhoods, experiment with different formats and product lines.
Moonlighter
Moonlighter is a charming sim that blends roguelike elements with shopkeeping. You play as Will, a shop owner who sells loot by day and explores dungeons by night in search of new treasures.
Each day, you open your store, set prices, and watch customer reactions to figure out the best pricing strategy. At night, you venture into procedurally generated dungeons, battle monsters, and gather loot to sell in your shop. Profits can be invested wisely: you can upgrade counters, hire help, expand your inventory, or invest in the village itself. The more developed the village, the more trading and crafting opportunities you’ll unlock. That’s the essence of Moonlighter: strategist by day, hero by night.
Shop Titans
Shop Titans is a shopkeeping game in a fantasy world. You’ll craft swords, armor, and potions, haggle with heroes, and grow your store from a humble stall to a massive marketplace. But that’s just the beginning: you can hire and gear up heroes, then send them on raids to collect rare materials. Trade with NPCs and real players alike via a global market. Join guilds, take part in events, and build a thriving town together with other players.
Market Tycoon
This game features a realistic economy: purchase goods, stock the shelves, set prices, and monitor expiration dates.
In Market Tycoon, you build your business from scratch: hire staff, find cashiers with the right speed and personality, run sales and advertising campaigns to attract shoppers. You control the decor too: want red walls and fridges in the middle of the store? Go for it. There are over 150 products to stock, from bananas to laundry detergent. One caveat: the game has been in early access for years with no recent updates. On the bright side, modders are still adding new content!
Barn Finders
Barn Finders is a quirky antique shop sim where you and your Uncle Billy go treasure hunting in the most unexpected places. The stars of the game aren’t polished antique dealers. They’re colorful country entrepreneurs with thick accents. Abandoned barns, military bases, and even spots hinting at alien civilizations await you in a fictional country.
Gameplay mixes item-hunting with pawn shop management. You’ll join auctions, win access to new locations, and collect anything that could turn a profit from vintage clocks to rare cars. Items can be cleaned, repaired, and sold in your store to attract more customers and boost income.
Traveler’s Rest
Traveler’s Rest is a tavern sim where you turn a rundown inn into the heart of a fantasy village. During the day, you brew beer, harvest hops from your garden, grill sausages, and make sure every mug is full. At night, you level up your skills from building and cooking to magic and socializing.
You can grow your own ingredients, distill spirits, furnish the halls, befriend locals, and even accept quests. The better your tavern runs, the more guests you’ll have, along with more income and opportunities for growth. All wrapped in cozy pixel graphics and a slow-paced but deeply satisfying gameplay loop. Traveler’s Rest is still in early access but is actively being developed and has already won the hearts of those who crave a bit of peace, hops, and RPG atmosphere.
Winkeltje: The Little Shop
Winkeltje: The Little Shop is a shopkeeping sim inspired by old European charm. You start with a small room and a couple of tables and gradually grow your store into a multi-purpose shop. All goods can be bought or crafted yourself: forge swords, brew potions, sew clothes, and grow vegetables, using your own workbenches and garden beds.
Customers come with varied tastes, and demand shifts with seasons and events. You can customize the interior to make your shop both cozier and more profitable. If it all gets too much, hire helpers and level up their skills. The game is calm, warm, and draws you into the world of traditional craftsmanship from the first sales day.
