Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://www.keymailer.co

---

Tobacco Shop Simulator is a simulation game where you step into the role of a tobacco shop owner. You can play by yourself or have friends join you in co-op, and the developers are working hard to improve the game, and it shows. Tobacco Shop Simulator is a quality purchase that monopolized my time on the Steam Deck.

So you start by naming your shop, and after that, it’s time to grow it into a thriving business. There’s a lot that Tobacco Shop Simulator does to break the mold, and one of my favorite things is how shipping is done and how boxes are carried. You can store boxes in your hotbar or keep them outside, and frankly, this hotbar is just an amazing addition. It makes stocking shelves and storage so much easier. Speaking of storage, you don’t have to pay to get a special spot in the store to hold shelves. You can expand it by paying a fee, but I didn’t have to do that until I was a few weeks into the game. 

Product licenses are here too, and each license will get you multiple products to add to your shop. Now, you’re working with more stylized modes of storage, so you have to be careful in the early game because it is very easy to run out of room. I like this method of display, though, because it makes the store pop in a way that other simulators with more classic shelving styles don’t. 

You can adjust all of your prices, too, and while I never went more than a dollar over what the recommended was, I can say that it is easy to make money in this game. While making money, you level up, and that portion of the game is extremely slow. That is my only gripe with this game; it feels like it takes far too long to make any meaningful progress. There are other features too, such as cleaning your store, which takes no time at all. They also made it extremely easy to adjust prices based on market conditions. All in all, the mechanics are what you would expect from a simulator game with a more refined edge that makes this game a lot more enjoyable than the rest. 

Product selection is what makes this game enjoyable. I love setting up my store to specifically sell cigarettes and lighters just for aesthetic reasons. Later, I did bring in other products, but my point in mentioning this is that it is fun and relaxing to thematically decorate your store. 

Tobacco Shop Simulator is a fun take on the simulation genre that hides what it borrows from other games well. I am giving it a Golden Coin.