Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator

I thought this game was going to get better and better, with allowing us more freedoms in running in the shop, maybe more variety, more story beats... but then the game just ends, it's over and it's so anticlimactic. I felt like my time was wasted and it all felt so rushed. I just can't recommend it.

Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator, developed by Henry's House, Oscar Brittain, and Rob Gross and published by Akupara Games, takes a surprisingly heartfelt approach to a niche hobby that many players immediately recognize. Rather than presenting itself as a traditional management simulator filled with spreadsheets and endless optimization, the game embraces the culture surrounding collectible card games and builds an experience around community, nostalgia, and the joy of discovering something rare. Players step into the shoes of Harry Hsu, who inherits a struggling card shop from his father and sets out to rebuild both the business and its place within the town of Parakeet Bay. The central gameplay loop is built around buying booster packs, stocking shelves, setting prices, and interacting with customers searching for their next prized addition. The fictional card game, Warlock, serves as the backbone of the entire experience, featuring a large assortment of cards with different rarities, conditions, and values that fluctuate over time. Opening packs remains one of the game's strongest hooks, successfully recreating the anticipation associated with real-world collectibles. Ever…

THE GOOD: the game does 1 thing right, sell unique cool looking cards. THE NASTY: literally everything else, it looks like ♥♥♥♥, the 2d artstyle is disgusting changing the look of your store,.. with stickers, lameee LAG, holly ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥, THE FCKING LAG, my game crashed a lot of time whenever i open the envelope getting all the cardboards shiny,.. torture, not even fun IN SHORT: DONT BUY THIS GAME

It's a rather simple cards shop simulator game. The charm comes mainly from the art style of both the environment and the cards. All of that is wrapped in a story that mixes the real world and videogamey-fantasy with a touch of whimsical humor set in a small Australian ocean town. A chill beats soundtrack is a cherry on the top of that sweet cake. I highly recommend Kardboard Kings. It definitely deserves more attention. Just in four days I clocked 16 hours. That says it all really.

I think it's a fun little collection/shop manager! If you are looking for something with a story this might not be for you, since it does feel a bit unfinished. I personally also was not a fan of the card game for card game island, but that could just be me.

The best card shop simulator in my opinion. kept me hooked enough to get it on pc as well as on switch. Fun story, satisfying simulated card economy. definitely recommend.