Not all gamers want to save the world or take violent revenge on the people who killed their partners. Some just want their own corner of the world, selling goods and providing attentive customer service. That’s how it is life of an innkeeper. There are many in video games, but they are mostly relegated to the NPC roles and are mostly nondescript.
Secure video games, however, put these innkeepers in the spotlight and let players take the role. Sure, it’s not quite as adrenaline-packed as diving into the abyss of hell and waging war against demons, but it’s its own form of adventure. In addition, managing stores and businesses can also be stressful. So for players looking for a quieter life in video games, running your own business works just as well as it does in real life.
8 Ravenous Devils
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Year of publication
: 2022 -
Platforms
: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5
Ever watched Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd? Ravenous Devils is the video game version of that horror movie. It is a horror game where players lure customers to their shop and then kill them so that they can turn their carcass into food to be served to other customers.
The business structure is questionable, and it raises some concerns about health standards, but it should fit right in with most franchise businesses. Of course, there are several challenges in running a retail store where the primary inventory is a steady conveyor belt of human limbs and torsos. In a way, this horror game still offers good, challenging fun.
7 beunhaas
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Year of publication
: 2018 -
Platforms
: Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Google Stadia, Android
beunhaas is another game where players have to work hard to not only manage their store during business hours but also to maintain it. During the day, players run their medieval fantasy shop suitable for adventure gear. At night, the players collect this adventure gear themselves by digging in dungeons and subjecting themselves to danger.
Again, not exactly a sustainable business structure for one person, but that’s why beunhaas is part Roguelike. Will, the player’s character, admittedly does this because he also secretly dreams of being a bona fide adventurer too. But to get there, he will have to take care of his finances and stability, hence the store and also the game title.
6 The Red Strings Club
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Year of publication
: 2018 -
Platforms
: Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Classic Mac OS
For another brand of inn, players can look at: The Red Strings Club. Here, the players are tasked with being a bartender in a story-driven cyberpunk game. That setting should be enough to grab attention, as cyberpunk titles lean more towards the action-packed aspect of the setting.
It differs from the usual innkeeper tasks as the game does not place the management and maintenance tasks on the players. Instead, the game explores philosophical and existentialist themes through its story with the players at the forefront. And what better way to experience the raw human emotions of others than being their bartender?
5 Recettear: the story of an item store
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Year of publication
: 2018 -
Platforms
: Microsoft Windows
Recettear is an underrated shopping game that teaches players about the depths of the economy and how to manipulate the market to their advantage. Don’t be fooled by the cute anime look, this game is the more hardcore version of beunhaas.
The game explores Recette’s struggles. After waking up one day, Recette finds that she must now manage a store built in her house to pay off her father’s huge, crippling debt. But she’s not alone since Recette recently befriended a fairy who also helps her restock her shop.
4 Shop: The Shop
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Year of publication
: 2022 -
Platforms
: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
shop offers something more relaxing for players who don’t want to worry about maintenance or replenishing supplies through manual labor. It is a straightforward fantasy shopping game in which players can organize, manage and run their business without too much worry.
Admittedly, players will still have to worry about the financial growth of their store. It is still a game where players can conquer the market through economic acumen, but will sell potions, swords and other magical equipment for some lucky adventurers.
3 The Sims 4
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Year of publication
: 2014 -
Platforms
: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Macintosh operating systems, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Cloud Gaming
The Sims 4 is primarily a social single-player game where players can recreate their favorite sitcoms, but some of the biggest expansions have introduced a new way of playing. The Working expansion allowed players to set up shop and try their hand at retail or services.
There is a wide variety of business players to choose from depending on their preferences. It can also get a bit heavy on the management side and players can even spend all day of their sims running the business. Decoration is also a big part of this expansion; players can even turn their shops into secondary or main residences.
2 Travelers rest
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Year of publication
: 2020 (early access) -
Platforms
: Linux, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh operating systems
Travelers rest is comparable with Stardew Valley except it puts more emphasis on being an innkeeper. Players take on the role of a literal innkeeper who, for the most part, will have to run the shop single-handedly. That means everything from collecting supplies to selling goods or even decoration and renovation is up to the players.
The graphics come in the nice 16-bit rural core that: Stardew Valley popularized. Players will have to work especially hard to keep their inn’s beer supply up to scratch – after all, it’s what keeps the money flowing. Keep in mind that Travelers rest is still in early access, so don’t expect a complete experience.
1 Another brick in the mall
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Year of publication
: 2016 -
Platforms
: Microsoft Windows
Another brick in the mall offers a larger scale of inn in the form of keeping and running shopping centers. In that respect, it is a strategy and simulation game where the players expand their shopping centers and plan the locations and allotments for the many companies that will establish themselves within today’s megastructure.
Hiring and managing staff is also up to the players, as is keeping track of the many data available for analysis. In this way, players can micromanage most of the essential and in-depth parts of running what could be arguably the greatest enterprise of them all.
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