If we could capture the magic and imagination of childhood in a game, Toy Shop Simulator would be it. As you run your very own toy store, keep your shelves stocked, assist customers, and progress by unlocking new licences and decoration options. Building your shop from the ground up will be challenging, but rewarding. Did we mention that you can even play with your stock?
We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to speak with PaperPixel Games, the developers behind Toy Shop Simulator. From our interview, you can get to know what PaperPixel Games are all about, what motivates them, and find out more details about what’s to come in Toy Shop Simulator.
GameScout: Tell us more about PaperPixel Games!
PaperPixel Games: PaperPixel Games is a team of five creative minds who have worked together for years at a previous company. Eventually, we decided to leave our jobs and pursue our dream of starting our own game studio. With a very limited budget (and we mean very limited,) we dedicated ourselves to working day and night, driven by our passion for games and the desire to connect with players who share our love for gaming. Our ultimate goal is to create not just games, but a vibrant community where people can have fun, build friendships, and share unforgettable moments.
For us, games are a powerful medium for socialising, and gaming communities are an essential part of that experience.
Everyone on our team enjoys different types of games, ranging from horror to RPGs, platformers, and FPS. But when we come together, we love playing competitive games, laughing, having fun, and sometimes even getting frustrated when we lose, (but hey, who doesn’t?)
The first game released by PaperPixel Games was Insight, a single-player horror story that’s full of secrets. Toy Shop Simulator is the complete opposite, offering a playful world. Therefore, we pointed out the contrast and enquired about the change of pace.
GameScout: What made you branch out into the simulator genre?
Honestly, we make decisions based on what excites us at the moment. Whatever idea sparks our interest, we pursue it. I know sticking to one genre and building multiple games in that space is a solid strategy, but for us, exploring new concepts is far more engaging. For instance, our next project might be a co-op game (because why not?)
The idea for Toy Shop Simulator came up during one of our discussions, and it immediately brought back nostalgic memories of visiting toy stores as kids. (Say hi to Toys R Us!)
We’d wander around for hours, looking at all the toys, knowing we could only afford one or two that we really loved (sometimes we’d just browse and leave empty-handed.) After developing Insight, which is a dark and atmospheric horror game, the idea of creating something vibrant, colourful, and filled with adorable toys felt like such a fun and refreshing change of pace.
Speaking of Insight, the game was played live by highly acclaimed Twitch streamer CaseOh, who won Content Creator of the Year at the 2024 Game Awards. His playthrough was then uploaded as part of a YouTube video, which currently sits at a whopping 868,000 views.
GameScout: As you’re probably aware, the popular Twitch streamer CaseOh played Insight, exposing your game to hundreds of thousands of viewers. As an indie developer, how did you feel seeing your work being shown off to so many people?
Yes, we watched that stream live! Afterwards, one of us shared their screen on Discord and we all gathered to rewatch it a few more times. Every time, we found ourselves glued to the chat, reading viewer reactions. Honestly, it was a reminder of why we make games in the first place. We laughed at some of the comments, and we were thrilled to see people catching little details we’d carefully crafted into the game. Seriously, to those viewers who noticed those subtle elements while following someone as entertaining as CaseOh, you have our respect!
Seeing our game through someone else’s perspective was incredibly exciting. It was also a huge motivation boost, making us dream of reaching even more players with future games. (By the way, CaseOh, we’re curious to see your reaction to the special, unique toys in Toy Shop Simulator.)
Before conducting the interview, we played through the Toy Shop Simulator demo, available now for free via Steam. Here, there is a To Do list that takes you through the main mechanics of the game. This involves serving customers, completing online orders, decorating your store, and more.
GameScout: From playing the Toy Shop Simulator demo, we can see huge similarities to other successful store simulator games such as Supermarket Simulator and TCG Card Shop Simulator. How will Toy Shop Simulator stand out from the crowd?
First and foremost, we decided to add a story to the game, which plays a central role in the experience. Beyond that, we’re creating a more dynamic city, side quests, and various challenges that players will face on their journey to building the world’s greatest toy shop franchise (such as sabotage from rival shops or dealing with theft.)
We’re also introducing NPCs with personalities and emotions (they will remember their favourite toy shop owner,) special playable toys (yes, you don’t just sell them, you can actually play with some of them,) and seasonal events to keep the experience fresh. These are just a few of the features we’re excited about, and we hope players will explore and discover even more when the full game launches.
GameScout: What kind of staff will you be able to hire?
Initially, players will be able to hire cashiers and restockers. As the game progresses, you’ll unlock more roles such as cleaners, couriers, (and maybe even drone deliveries in the future, who knows?) managers, and more.
GameScout: The demo contains a scooter, making completing online deliveries a whole lot quicker. Will there be other vehicles available to unlock in the full game?
For now, we’re launching the game in Early Access. However, for the 1.0 release, we plan to add more vehicles like cars and trucks, and even introduce international toy trade options.
GameScout: In the demo we meet a Blind Man, who appears to offer various limited-time events. Can you tell us more about how limited-time/random events will shape the gameplay?
The Blind Man is quite a unique character. Sometimes, he’ll collect toys lost by kids at the park and offer them to you at a great price. Other times, he might sabotage your rival shop by short-circuiting their power because they dumped trash near the park. Despite his quirks, he’s generally a good person who organises street games for fun. Everybody likes him. Just don’t push your luck too much, if you upset him, he might refuse to pay you even when you win!
If you’re interested in becoming the owner of your very own toy shop empire, the Toy Shop Simulator Early Access release date is just a matter of weeks away. Additionally, there’s plenty of content in the pipeline that will keep you coming back for more.
GameScout: Where are you right now in the development process and is there anything you can tell us about a release date or when we can expect a release date to be announced?
We’re working at a rapid pace to include as much as we can for the Early Access launch. (It’s nearly 10pm as we speak, and the team is still hard at work!) If everything goes according to plan, we’re aiming to release the game on January 13, 2025. Following that, we plan to finalise the game and launch the full 1.0 version approximately six months later.
GameScout: Do you have any post-launch updates planned?
Absolutely! After launch, we’ll roll out several updates to address any issues and work hard to implement features requested by the community. If you have a favourite toy, there’s even a dedicated channel on our Discord for suggestions! Our 3D artist checks it daily and occasionally surprises the community by adding their ideas to the game.
Beyond that, we also have a range of new features planned, which we’ll be introducing over time to keep the game fresh and exciting!
GameScout: A fun little question to end things off. What was your favourite toy growing up and why?
My favourite toys as a kid were my bucket and dump truck. I’d spend all day outside trying to build sandcastles. One day, I ran into a problem, there wasn’t enough water outside for my castle. So, I decided to bring the sand home in my bucket to continue building indoors. That was the day I had to say goodbye to my toys. Turns out, parents have a certain sensitivity to finding sandcastles on their carpets.
It didn’t end well, but those toys will always hold a special place in my heart!
To keep up with the latest updates surrounding Toy Shop Simulator, make sure to follow PaperPixel Games on X, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
