Early Access Review - Tabletop Game Shop Simulator

AD Twindad
2 hours ago
3 min read

Developer: Ludogram

Publisher: Knight Fever Games

Available on: PC

Review system: PC

So You Want to Run a Game Shop?

After the viral success of TCG Card Shop Simulator, it feels like we’re officially in the era of “running a nerdy store” sims—and honestly, I’m here for it. I missed the initial card-shop craze, but when a tabletop-focused spin-off showed up, my inner dice goblin had no choice but to jump in.

I’ve played my fair share of Warhammer Fantasy, Warhammer 40K, and even Blood Bowl over the years, so the tabletop scene is very much my comfort zone. Combine that with my soft spot for small businesses, and Tabletop Game Shop Simulator hits a lot of familiar (and fun) notes: selling products, growing your store, and eventually hiring employees so you don’t have to live behind the register forever.

Sell, Paint, and Play

You’re dropped into the world of Forge Wars, the hottest tabletop miniature game in town. The initial setup can feel a bit slow and checklist-heavy, but once you start leveling up, the customization really opens up. Over time, your humble shop starts to feel like an actual community hangout instead of just a storefront.

You’ll unlock things like merchandise shelves, posters, gaming tables, painting stations, and plenty more I still haven’t reached yet. On the sales side, you’re stocking miniature packs, paints, rulebooks, and even novels tied to the Forge Wars universe. Expanding your shop and storage to keep up with customer demand becomes a big part of the experience.

One of the best parts? Cracking open miniature packs yourself. You can collect figures from multiple armies, assemble them, paint them, and either sell custom-painted minis or sit down and actually play Forge Wars with customers. That hobby-to-business loop feels very authentic and scratches the same itch as real-world tabletop collecting.

Retail Life Isn’t for Everyone

Early on, the gameplay loop is simple and pretty repetitive. Order stock, stock shelves, run the register, repeat. The customers aren’t exactly lifelike, but that’s fine; the real fun doesn’t kick in until you can hire employees and free yourself from cashier duty. A nice bonus is that the game runs well without needing a beefy PC.

That said, if you’re trying to escape a real-life retail job, this might hit a little too close to home at first. Leveling can feel grindy, and the tutorials for playing Forge Wars could use some polish. After a few matches, though, things start to click, and the game flows much better.

There are also a few systems I’d love to see added things like shoplifters, returns, unhappy customers, or the occasional no-show employee. Nothing too stressful, just enough chaos to keep things interesting. That said, I don’t necessarily want a perfect retail simulation either, so there’s a fine balance to strike.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a tabletop fan who’s ever dreamed of running your own local game store or just enjoy chill management sims, then Tabletop Game Shop Simulator is easy to recommend. It’s not perfect, but the foundation is solid, and the price point makes it a great value.

Once you get past the early grind of stocking shelves and ringing up customers, the game really starts to shine as a blend of business management and tabletop hobby love. With a few tweaks and quality-of-life improvements, this could easily go from “fun time sink” to something truly great.