Discounty was a surprise, a refreshing mix-up on a familiar genre that adds a lot of depth and complexity to a genre that was starting to feel a bit stale. Somewhere between Stardew Valley and Supermarket Simulator, I highly recommend giving this gem a try.
While it might be considered as a small and insignificant game for some, those of you who'll choose to invest your time in Discounty will find a satisfying and cozy managment sim that might not provide a big challenge or captivating story, but will surely keep you addicted to its gameplay.
Who would have thought that running a supermarket could be this much fun!? Discounty is a great new take on the 'cozy' genre, with shop management front and center, but never to the point where it feels like too much. Don't get me wrong. That shop management aspect is brilliant in itself, with a core gameplay-loop that sees you going about designing the layout of the shop, serving your customers and more than what initially meets the eye. But what really surprised me is the whole world around it. The Town of Blomkest and its curious inhabitants. The story is intriguing and the dialogue heartfelt. It really captures that 'small town drama' in the best way possible. And once the day-to-day hustle and bustle first got its grips in me, I couldn't stop. Just. One. More. Day... What a gem ****, Discounty, well worth the price of admission!
These issues feel like small bumps in what was largely a pleasantly hectic time. It was hard for Blomkest and its residents to not grow on me, as well as the day-to-day of dashing around a supermarket ensuring I had enough fish sticks or pads stocked. The game understands what it wants to get across, that growing a business is a lot of work and, even when it does finally grow, the taste can be more bitter than sweet given the accompanying moral conundrums and human costs. Discounty confidently executes that message, stumbling more with overall polish than what’s at the heart of its content.
To be completely honest, there is really not much I would change here. Certainly not everyone will fall for a little "cosy management sim", or however you choose to position the style and genre, and in the midst of the early autumn action frenzy, Discounty may tremble a little in the shadow of the big titles that are bursting out of the starting blocks. But I'm happy to argue that this little Danish gem is worth your time and money, because Crinkle Cut Games has really hit on something here.
Discounty blends laid-back supermarket management with a surprisingly sharp story and charming humor. Minor flaws aside, it’s a cozy game you’ll happily sink hours into.
Discounty is a charming & "cozy" supermarket management simulator with an intriguing narrative, simple but fun gameplay and a colorful cast of characters. There are a few bugs and glitches here and there as well as some controller issues, but overall it’s a decent story-driven supermarket management title that brings more to the table beyond just simply running a shop.
With some caveats, I'd recommend Discounty. The story will make you regularly feel like you're the bad guy in all this, and technically you are even if it's no fault of your own. But it's easy to ignore the riffraff and the trouble you're causing your fellow citizens in your constant pursuit of bringing a factory-level of efficiency to your growing supermarket, and driving up profits for the sole purpose of buying upgrades that will let you drive profits even further. Maybe Stardew Valley's JojaMart had the right idea after all.
Notice - this is a super cozy game with great sound design, but at this moment looks more like a beta with tons of content not available / used. You run a shop in a sleepy city with working behind the counter being an absolute joy (it would be nice to have to option to switch between manual price input and the scanner, because while it's also cool, I'd revert to it instantly, if it was possible - just pure joy :) ). It's around 15-20hrs long at this moment, but has no replay value (I wonder if that mine is just a jab at **** or a future feature?) and it's quite simple.
It shouldn't be compared to **** Valley, as the latter is more complex game, especially in regards to farm management. Here we are just stocking shelves and working at the counter. In terms of the UX - please make the dialogues skippable, because they often tend to last forever :) Music is awesome, dialogues quite often really fun and the overall feel of the game is positive, but it just feels unfinished at the moment and I feel that should be written on the wall, not something to experience halfway through the game..
SummaryManage your own supermarket! Organize and restock your shelves, check customers out, make local trade deals, and befriend a quirky cast of characters. Start a new life as a local entrepreneur in this cozy management sim Discounty! Use every tool at your disposal to build up a business empire, but be warned: too much growth might upset y...