600 "Overwhelmingly Positive" reviews in 3 days: New tranquil life-sim hits Steam with launch discount in tow
Selling books for a living might not sound like a really compelling premise for a video game, but Tiny Bookshop makes a strong case for it. You’re not in a sprawling chain store either - this is a mobile shop parked along the coastline of Bookstonbury-by-the-Sea, where primary gameplay elements are setting up your shelves, talking to regulars, and chasing down odd requests from strangers.
It’s the debut from Neoludic Games, out now on PC (Windows, macOS, Linux) and Nintendo Switch as of August 7, 2025. There’s no early access history to wade through - the full release is here from day one, though some players may have already tried out the free demo available earlier this year.
Tiny Bookshop plays out across a hand-drawn map, and each location has its own clientele. You’ll pick a spot to park, stock your shelves based on the day’s hints, and maybe discover a new corner of the town while you’re at it. Small choices do add up - such as finding rare books or keeping your displays friendly and familiar.
Reviews have been pleasantly warm so far: it’s holding a Metascore of 79, with outlets like Destructoid and ComicBook giving it a 9/10 and 4.5/10 respectively for its "gentle pacing" and "quiet charm." On Steam, over 600 players have left feedback, and almost 90% of it is positive as of writing.
It’s launching at $19.99, but there’s a 10% discount running until August 21 - bringing its price down to $17.99. Steam bundles with the soundtrack and artbook are also on offer. The requirements are very modest, and it supports nine languages, so you don’t need a high-end setup - or even Windows - to run it.
It’s a small game about small moments. Tiny Bookshop looks like a something that'd be a book lover's dream game. What's more, it runs quite well on the Steam Deck (curr. $768 on Amazon) as well - so it's great for a cozy, portable gaming session.
