Developer: Spellgarden Games
Publisher: Spellgarden Games
Platform: PC
Tested on: PC
Thrifty Business – Review
While thrifting has become increasingly popular in the last few years, so have store simulators, as well as cozy games. So, when Spellgarden Games decides to mix these three components into one, you get Thrifty Business. A relaxing game where you get to organize and run your own thrift store, as well as host events to build a happy community of satisfied customers.
Story
We begin right away in our little thrift store, which we have taken over from a retired lady named Ingrid. She used to run the little shop until her age wouldn’t let her anymore, and she decided to enjoy a cruise and the rest of her life. After the little introduction, however, the player is left to do as they please. Of course, after a while, you get in touch with locals and regular customers who each share little bits of their own lives with you, to the point where you even have them interact with one another.
Aside from that, however, there’s not much of a story going on, as there doesn’t need to be. The backstories of your customers that you uncover throughout your gameplay are sufficient to make the world feel less flat and add some color to it, nor is it too much to feel overwhelming or like you need to remember something on your next playthrough.
Graphics
Presented in a pixelated 90’s-inspired vintage style, Thrifty Business shows off classic 2-wall rooms with 2D animated characters hopping around as they shop for the latest ‘new’ thing. Furniture, as well as most of the interior, can be placed down in one of two perspectives, whereas the thrift items can be spun around four different angles. This makes it so that the player always has a full, proper view of their store and treasures, without worrying if something is hidden or unclickable. Another fun addition to the game is that, through collecting stamps of a specific theme, the player can personalize the store to their preferred aesthetic. From sparkly rainbow colors to witchy purples and reds, Thrifty Business makes sure you get to make it your store just how you would like it.
Now, as mentioned above, the treasures you can sell are also depicted in a pixelated style. Whilst this certainly has its own charm, it also makes some items a bit hard to read at times. Bigger items, such as lamps, vases, and cooking utensils, are obviously what they are. But when you suddenly unbox a bookmark or a watch, for example, the item is so small or thin that you must almost squint at the screen to see what you are holding. Not to mention the tediousness of said item when you wish to move it onto a different cabinet or table.
As can be seen, rooms on the left are in the game’s witchy aesthetic. The room on the right is decorated with LGBTQIA+-themed wallpaper.
Aside from that, however, everything else is perfectly fine and polished as it should be. Despite the art style, everything is very readable. The UI is on theme with the vibe the game is going for, and even the characters and their text bubbles don’t feel alien once they pop up on your screen. If you are a fan of a lo-fi aesthetic, this game will definitely please your eyes.
Sound
Being a cozy game, Thrifty Business doesn’t feature too many notification sounds or variety in music. This is most likely done intentionally to keep auditory stimuli to a minimum.
During gameplay, there is a soundtrack playing in the background of eight different tracks. These are all in a genre of lo-fi mixed with smooth jazz. Though this isn’t unusual for these types of cozy games, those who don’t enjoy jazz will probably find themselves turning the music off after the third saxophone tune.
Aside from the BGM, the only other sound effects that play during your game are a little chime when your store is about to close, as well as the Animal Crossing-esque noises your customers make when they find something they like or after you help them at the register. The lack of noise in this game is ideal for those who want to sit back and enjoy some peace whilst still playing a game after a busy day, doing the cozy category justice.
Gameplay
In essence is Thrifty Business, a store simulator mixed with an organizing game. The main goal, of course, is to grow your store and expand it, all the while trying to keep customers happy by purchasing boxes with random secondhand items. There is more to just selling items, however.
You simply begin by making sure there are cabinets and tables available in your shop to place and store your ‘new’ treasures in. Once you decorate the place to your liking, it’s time to go online on your phone and buy boxes filled with people’s trash. First, you only get a glimpse of a few items inside, as well as the category of the rest that could be in there. This way, the player knows if they’re buying books, electronics, kitchenware, clothes, … It adds to the challenge of finding the right items for the right customers.
How do you know what the right items are, you ask? Well, once you get acquainted with some of the returning customers, they will text you with an item they are looking for specifically. By selling these, the mentioned character will pop up and tell you part of their life story as a reward. It isn’t mandatory to keep up with these, nor is there a time limit to completing them either. Some customers may reward you, however, with the option to host events in an extra room in your shop. These can be a queer dating event, a book club, … All types of extra social events that, in return, unlock more customers, as well as decorations to liven up your store. Something we took note of was how inclusive Thrifty Business tries to be with the customers, as well as the decorations you can get. There are a lot of references to queerness and LGBTQIA+, which is great. But occasionally, these topics are emphasized so much that it almost begins to feel like the game is coddling this demographic. Though we agree that the queer community should be included, making it certain customers’ entire personality makes the whole thing look like a caricature or aesthetic rather than a real topic.
Finally, these decorations add points to your shop’s daily score. These points are accumulated by stocking up on certain categories of items, and decorations are added as a multiplier. In doing so, you can fill in stamp cards that help you unlock cabinets and decor in the theme of your choice. Lastly, some customers are messy and will drop bits of trash on your floor, which you have to clean up after closing by simply clicking on them.
So, despite being portrayed as a straightforward store simulator, there is much to do in Thrifty Business. The best part about it, though, is that you can do everything at your own pace. There is no way to go bankrupt and “lose” the game, nor is there any deadline to reach, except for events that you get to plan yourself.
Conclusion
Thrifty Business is a cozy game that’s more than meets the eye. Aside from being a store simulator, the game allows players to express themselves by creating a safe space where they can be whomever they want to be. The game can be turned on or off at any time without repercussions, and failing objectives is nearly impossible. We find the graphics stunning and find the price justified for what you get.
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