Discounty Review: RETAIL HELL NEVER FELT SO COZY
I’m not gonna lie, the thought of playing a job simulator usually sends a shiver down my spine. But every now and then, a game comes along that makes you question your own sanity for enjoying virtual labor, and Discounty is one of those games. Set in the quirky harbor town of Blomkest, this supermarket management sim drops you in a position of power over your very own store. You'll find yourself organizing shelves, managing stock, and working the checkout line, all while trying to uncover the town's secrets. It’s a beautifully simple, deeply engaging loop that somehow makes the grind feel great. I spent hours telling myself "just one more day" until the sun came up, and I haven't regretted a single second of it.
More Than Just Piles of Frozen Fries
What truly elevates Discounty above the endless ocean of job sims is its story and characters. My shopkeeper is a young hijabi who came to town at her aunt's request to manage her old store. The narrative is surprisingly deep and impactful, tackling serious topics you wouldn't expect from a game with such a cute, pixel-art aesthetic. The writing nails that sweet spot between humor and existential dread, making you genuinely care about this bizarre corner of the world.
A lot of the thrill comes from building relationships with the locals and turning them into loyal customers. You get to explore Blomkest after business hours and get to know the townsfolk. You’ll also need to gain the trust of manufacturers to strike trade deals, as the people of Blomkest don't take well to newcomers. The town is struggling with a dwindling population and an encroaching smog, facing corruption and corporations trying to seize land. The game’s story challenges you by touching on these complicated subjects and sometimes making NPCs angry at you for decisions you didn't even make. And let's be clear, inclusivity is a good thing, and anyone with a problem can go dream of rainbows forever.
The Management Side of Madness
The management side of things is where you can really get lost. You have complete control over the layout of your shop, deciding where to put shelves and products. The goal is to create eye-catching and efficient aisles to encourage purchases. Keeping shelves stocked, floors clean, and the storage room organized are all part of your daily chores. I found running the place to be quite addicting. At first, you have to manually enter prices for each item at the register, but you eventually unlock a scanner that makes things much easier and quicker. I actually enjoyed the cashier minigame; it kept me busy and helped me refresh my questionable math skills, which isn't necessary as the game helps you out if you're not into that shit. (Thank god)
The daily challenges are also a clever way to keep you hooked. You get points for completing them, which you can use to unlock new items or skills. Local suppliers have their own challenges, too. If you sell enough of their items, you can earn a skill point for a discount or more stock from them. It’s a smart system that gives you a reason to keep grinding without making you feel too stressed about it. The downside to all of this, however, is that making money is a slow burn and you can spend a lot of days just keeping the store afloat. Even if an item doesn't sell well, once it's unlocked, customers will expect it to be stocked every day, which can be a real pain in the ass.
SOME QUESTIONABLE Design Choices
No game is perfect, and even a gem like Discounty has its flaws. My biggest complaint is the daily recap screen that pops up after every shift—you can't skip it. It's nice at first, but once you've got a massive inventory, sitting through the slow crawl of a stock report every single day feels like being stuck in a particularly mundane corner of hell. I also found the controller support to be a bit finicky. While the d-pad and stick move the character, you often have to push directly into an object with the stick to interact with it. And when multiple things are on the same tile, like a character and a crate, it’s a frustrating fight to interact with the right one.
The game runs well for me on the Steam Deck, with no real issues and only a slight lag when leaving buildings, which isn't a huge bother. However, I did notice that when the story dries up between narrative beats, there isn’t much else to do. The town of Blomkest, despite its lovely visuals and chiptune music, felt a bit lame during this downtime. The game could have used some short minigames to keep me engaged and make me feel more connected to the townsfolk during off-hours.
The Verdict
All that said, I still enjoyed my time with Discounty quite a bit. It’s an addictive game that perfectly blends the chill, satisfying loop of a management sim with a surprisingly compelling and heartfelt narrative. The town of Blomkest is in desperate need of a hero, and it’s you that gets to shine a light on the smog encroaching upon this secluded bit of land. It's a fantastic experience with a lot of charm and depth, even if some of its design choices can be a little bit frustrating.
Score: 8.1/10 - Like finding a winning lottery ticket in a bag of frozen fries.
We at NLM received a key for this game for free, this however didn't impact our review in any way.