Retail Mage

They made a tech demo with AI and charge money for it.

This was fun, especially with friends, can get pretty chaotic

I missed the tutorial completely, but I was able to figure things out fairly well from my first shift. I'd love some more information about how to increase my abilities, but I think after a few more games I'll get it down!

there isn't enough of a game, this was genuinely a huge disappointment for me. I bought the game for me and my girlfriend and yeah, we enjoyed the concept, and it seemed like it had the makings of a great retail sim... but there wasnt much of anything there, you play 1 night and then, shop closes congrats thats the end heres how ya did. I woulda liked more. what it did well, I think the idea of using AI to be able to warp and change objects however you like in order to try and meet customer demands was awesome, although it did feel a little like "say the right buzzword on the right object" it was a really cool concept for a retail sim like this. I just wish you made your store, got to customize things, upgrades, progression, unlocks, more than 1 day on the same run. cool concept the execution just feels incredibly lazy and incomplete. added note: I took the survey on their main menu The second page of survey questions dont even feel related to the game or your "playstyle" (as they put it) in any fathomable way, which comes across as lazy and incredibly disingenuous to sum it all up, this had potential to be the greatest of a genre, but it just ended up a shell of what it could have been, this doesnt even feel like an early access of a game. if this changes I will update this review, but otherwise, I wont be back.

Its fun for short bits but needs more content. Like a campaign and currency to work with. Feels like a day is rushed making it difficult to learn the area without ignoring people. I do lie the dialogue and open ended magic. Imbue a fire extinguisher with some kind of buffing magic and your set.

I am glad to see the game is being sold at a lower price point, as the base price was I believe twice as expensive when I originally purchased it (though I got it on sale). The game is very short and while it has some replayability, I don't think it was worth it's original price. I like the idea of this game, and the premise of "fantasy ikea" is kinda fun, though finding the right type of item can be a pain unless you memorize the store layout. Some items can be found in several places, while others just exist in one specific place that you'd better hope you remember offhand (or can trick the AI by "finding" the item in a chest). I did find it interesting that you could ask the other NPC employees for help and some of them would actually try to help you, though not always successfully. Maya in particular would always try to help and then bring me something random. I do wish you could talk to the NPC directly instead of having the AI reformat your dialogue. Like if I try to use profanity or greet the customer rudely the game kind of just ignores that and gives me three relatively similar answers of "How can I help you?" Just let me call the customer a f**king moron when they won't take my item! And the little imps...why are they there? They just run around and set everything on fire constantly, you can't convince them to stop (at least I haven't been successful), and trying to put out fires requires you to walk to each item on fire and type "extinguish" or "put out" and they just catch on fire again right after you do so. It so quickly gets out of control if you don't immediately get rid of the first fire and it causes your rating to plummet as random customers will catch on fire or you catch on fire and then fall on the ground for like 30 seconds unable to do anything. It's just an annoying mechanic that can completely ruin a run. Overall about a 5/10 experience. Perhaps fun if you have played and enjoyed other genAI games, but it does feel lacking as an actual "game". The AI limits what you're actually allowed to say to NPCs, and there's not really progression or reasons to play it over again besides achievement hunting. Would be interested to see more customer prompts, game modes, or imp rebalancing. Leaving this positive because I do think the game is interesting, it just needs more work put into it.

⭐ Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ A Magical Mix of Chaos and Creativity! 🪄✨ If you're looking for a co-op party game with a whimsical twist, Retail Mage is a delightful treat. Developed by Jam & Tea Studios, this game puts you in the shoes of a wizard working customer service at MageMart, a magical furniture store. What starts as a seemingly simple task quickly becomes a chaotic frenzy of crafting, searching, and serving customers—all while the clock ticks down! PROS Inventive Gameplay Loop The gameplay combines frantic running, crafting, and problem-solving in a way that feels fresh and engaging. You’re constantly on your toes trying to satisfy quirky customer demands, making it perfect for both casual and competitive players. Generative AI Crafting One of the standout features is the ability to create magical items using Generative AI. This adds a layer of creativity and customization that feels unique and modern. Vibrant Graphics The art style is colorful and charming, immersing you in a magical world that’s visually appealing and fun to explore. Multiplayer Chaos While it’s enjoyable solo, the game shines brightest when played with friends. Up to 4 players can work together to create and deliver items, leading to plenty of laughs and memorable moments. Replayability Each round is different due to the varied customer requests and random elements in the store. It keeps you coming back for "just one more" game. CONS Mic Recording Issues The voice-to-text feature, while innovative, can be a bit hit-or-miss. Misinterpreted commands can lead to hilarious but frustrating moments. Single-Player Limits While it’s fun solo, the game feels designed with multiplayer in mind. Single-player fans might find it lacking the same level of chaos and camaraderie. Learning Curve New players might find the pace overwhelming at first, especially during the initial rounds. Final Thoughts Retail Mage is an innovative, chaotic, and creative co-op game that’s sure to bring laughs and fun to any gaming group. Its mix of colorful visuals, unique mechanics like Generative AI crafting, and cooperative gameplay makes it stand out in the party game genre. While it has a few rough edges, particularly with its voice-to-text system, the overall experience is magical and highly entertaining. If you enjoy games like Overcooked or Moving Out, you’ll love the frantic fun of Retail Mage. And if you have a group of friends to play with, this game becomes an instant recommendation. Recommended for: Fans of co-op chaos and party games Players who love creativity and crafting mechanics Groups looking for a fresh, fun multiplayer experience Rating: 4/5 Stars

Really unique usage of AI that makes the game feel really limitless. Excited to see this on full release! I do hope there is more progression/story/evolving gameplay or story on full release as well. Even having more things to do with coworkers (teammates) would be awesome that requires us to work together to really leverage the co-op bits.

It's a fun game although I do wish the devs added a save character that way we wont have to remake characters whenever we restarted. Also I do wish we have a map at hand even though its on the walls its hard to read the map closely and doesnt show you where the shop is located even when you ask it. The tutorials should also tell you and show you the locations and let you explore the mart before leaving it so that way you can know where everything is located as well. The game is fun to have with friends, I hope the dev updates the game to its full potential and have it as an early access.

This one is recommended for sure! It's a nifty little game that you can play with up to players (you + 3 of your friends) Fulfill customer requests, explore the store and get creative! Be mindful it can be a little confusing at first but it's one of those, "the confusion adds to the charm" if that's your sort of thing.