Clothing Store Simulator – Dive into the world of fashion

• DEVELOPER: Kiki Games
• PUBLISHER: Kiki Games
• PLATFORMS: PC
• GENRE: Simulator / Management
• RELEASE DATE: June 17, 2024
• STARTING PRICE: 12,79€
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

The rise of simulators like Supermarket Simulator and Clothing Store Simulator remains somewhat unclear, but these titles are undoubtedly pioneers in this niche. The concept is simple and rooted in real-life tasks—running your own clothing store, stocking shelves and mannequins, purchasing new products, and upgrading your shop periodically. This straightforward gameplay, combined with hours of content, makes such games both fun and engaging.

However, it’s well-known that developers behind these games are primarily indie teams, so a flawless product isn’t a realistic expectation. Like similar titles, Clothing Store Simulator is riddled with bugs that persist even six months after its Early Access launch. Additionally, much of the in-game content relies on AI-generated art and images. There’s also a noticeable lack of music, and while the gameplay loop is enjoyable, this is a title you could skip without much regret.

Clothing Store Simulator is a relaxing management game designed for players who enjoy building, organizing, and experimenting creatively. Despite its slow pace, it offers a satisfying core experience that can be highly engaging. But if you’re looking for something entirely different or groundbreaking, temper your expectations—this game is best suited for its target audience.

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Your daily activities in the game revolve around restocking shelves, purchasing inventory, and arranging equipment to optimize sales. Initially, you start with a modest selection of furniture and clothing, but as you progress, the game unlocks more advanced features. These include expanding your retail space, securing contracts with fictional brands, and unlocking mechanics like hiring cashiers at level 15 or stock clerks at level 20. These features reduce micromanagement, allowing you to focus on store customization and testing out new strategies.

One standout feature is the clothing customization tool. You can design unique pieces by choosing colors, adding pre-made stickers, or uploading your own images. However, Clothing Store Simulator lacks a comprehensive storyline, meaningful character interactions, or significant challenges beyond inventory management and avoiding bankruptcy. The experience can become monotonous, especially since the same customers keep entering your store repeatedly.

The maximum level in the game is unlimited, giving players the chance to build a true retail empire. Hiring workers significantly speeds up the process of managing your shop. One particularly enjoyable aspect is the frantic pace when trying to restock quickly while customers complain about empty shelves. While in-game days are short, you have enough downtime to organize and prepare everything needed for the next day.

Unfortunately, the in-game world feels rather empty. However, this shortcoming is somewhat compensated by the Clothing Pass system, which introduces exclusive seasonal clothing available only during specific time frames. This system aims to encourage players to return regularly, adding an element of exclusivity and dynamic content.

Ending thoughts

One of the game’s strongest aspects is its robust customization options, allowing players to create visually appealing and well-organized stores. This feature provides plenty of freedom and encourages creative expression. Gameplay, as mentioned earlier, is straightforward. Everything is controlled with basic mouse and keyboard inputs, avoiding excessive complexity. When new stock arrives, items must be manually received and placed in the store.

Visually, Clothing Store Simulator combines a charming mix of cartoonish and semi-realistic aesthetics. From neatly stacked clothes on shelves to vibrant store layouts, the visuals strike a balance between imaginative and practical. While pleasing, the graphics aren’t revolutionary. They serve their purpose and complement the accessible tone of the game but lack the polish or detail seen in higher-budget simulation games.

Ultimately, be prepared for a significant number of bugs, including customers getting stuck, clothing disappearing, menu navigation issues, and other glitches stemming from poor optimization. If you’re a fan of management simulations like Supermarket Simulator and value space customization over game complexity, Clothing Store Simulator is worth a try. It currently offers a few hours of relaxing gameplay before becoming repetitive, but with planned updates, this simulator has the potential to grow into something much more polished and enjoyable.

Review copy provided by the publisher

3.4