Who doesn’t love a business simulator? From lemonade shops to theme parks, we’ve had plenty of great ones over the years. The latest one for PlayStation 5 is Neoludic Games’ Tiny Bookshop, which has you moving to a coastal town and operating a mobile bookshop attached to your car. Filled with plenty of charm and riding the wave of “cozy” games, there’s a lot to like about this one.
The main gameplay loop is simple. You buy different types of books, drive to different parts of the town and attempt to sell them. Occasionally, customers will ask for a recommendation as they’re unsure to pick up, and you get the opportunity to sell some extra books if you can find one that fits their criteria. Each location has its own favorites — a place with lots of children will want more kids books, while a tourist section will have travel books moving well, so there’s some solid depth there as well as gaining more inventory and displays over time.
However, what really makes Tiny Bookshop a rad game is all of the little touches. From interactable objects in the environment, such as recyclable trash or animals, to the relationships you build with named customers, there’s a lot beyond just the management aspect of the game. A lot of the storylines payoff nicely with special scenes, allowing you to really feel like a member of the community.
There’s also a great layer of customization. You can purchase different additions to the outside and inside of your shop, such as a coffee machine and charms that help sell certain types of books, allowing you to boost your income. Coming up with an effective strategy in each area is a lot of fun and it takes full advantage of you having a mobile business. There’s a good amount of variety as you go throughout the seasons and it’s charming all the way through.
Tiny Bookshop (PS5) Review: Final Verdict
Tiny Bookshop is a pretty standard business simulator at its core, but its little details and willingness to go beyond the basics are what make it special. You develop real bonds with your regular customers, get to know the tastes of certain areas, and really connect with the town of Bookstonbury. Full of charm, you’ll have a great time and get some fantastic book recommendations along the way.
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Charming customers and story
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Satisfying business simulation
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Lots of customization and side content
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User interface can be slightly confusing on consoles
Disclosure: The publisher provided a digital copy for our Tiny Bookshop PS5 review. Reviewed on version 1.001.003.
