Working in a retail store seems like an under-explored setting for games, considering so many people do it. While we've seen horror titles explore the terrors of staffing night shifts, this upcoming game, InKonbini, looks like an earnest effort to capture the bright side of tending to a shop.
Announced for PS5 and launching sometime in 2025, the game has you playing a young woman working at a Japanese convenience store. It's a narrative-driven, low-pressure experience with an emphasis on character interaction and dialogue. As well as speaking with the shop's clientele, though, you'll be restocking shelves, arranging items, making phone calls, scanning goods through checkout, and so on. It's aiming to capture a nostalgic 90s feel and provide a relaxed experience.
We quite like the look of this peaceful game, but what about you? Are you interested in putting in a shift with InKonbini? Check the stock room in the comments section below.
[source gematsu.com]
Comments 12
Ah, kombini - one of my favourite places in the world 🍙. I will surely keep this on my radar.
To anyone interested in knowing more about these amazing Japanese shops I recommend the short novel “Convenience Store woman” by Sayaka Murata. It’s really about conformal rules and society expectations but it does offer some views on how kombini really work.
"Working in a retail store seems like an under-explored setting for games, considering so many people do it."
Because as a retail wage slave myself, the absolute last thing that I want to do with my free time is to playact as being a retail wage slave. Although at least here I do not have to listen to three months worth of Christmas music on a 5-track loop so there's that I guess.
This seems interesting, will definitely be keeping an eye on this one. I believe I've visited a Konbini store before when I went to Bristol, looked nothing like this shop though lol
"Working in a retail store seems like an under-explored setting for games, considering so many people do it"
Probably because people play games to escape the hassles of real life, I couldn't find anything worse than doing a job and then getting home and playing a game about doing that job.
@UltimateOtaku91 @LifeGirl Believe me, I get it! I spent nearly five years in retail and it can be hellish. I just mean there are simulators that gamify so many other occupations, it's surprising to me we haven't seen one for retail work. I suppose they may exist on Steam, we just don't hear about them.
Love games like this, let's gooo
Konbini wa doko desu Ka? Ps5... so desu ne.
Oh wow, they had me at that first 3 seconds of the trailer music.
Yeah, I'm into this.
Has a Lake vibe
Looks great, feels pretty unique too.
We'll see. Hopefully the game's a little more lively than the trailer. Slice of life doesn't mean boring, it's just chill.
@MidnightDragonDX I still have that one in the seal. Let me first start and finish that one i love the style of the game and the colors.
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