I knew that one day I would stumble upon a demo that everyone has already played and adored. I am kind of slow on playing demos, which is a fault of my own, but I was having so much fun playing Bionic Bay that I lost track of time.

SOMETIMES I JUST WANT TO PLAY A GAME ABOUT STOCKING SHELVES IN AN EARLY 1990s JAPANESE CONVENIENCE STORE.

This week is inKONBINI

inKONBINI is a cozy game from Nagai Industries. The game will release for the PS5, Xbox, PC and Switch.

In this short demo, the player takes the role of a college student, Makoto Hayakawa, during her last week at her aunt’s convenience store. Do the day-to-day tasks like stocking shelves, ringing people up, and engaging in conversation with customers, to jot down in your work journal.

Makoto is the perfect retail employee. She is mild-mannered and work-focused. She understands the job and how much a personal conversation can elevate a person’s day.

Working the night shift comes with a lot of work, and Makoto’s Aunt trusts her 100% in being able to stock the shelves and rearrange the store as Makoto pleases. This is reflected in the beginning as Makoto has to take items from the back and stock them.

Areas are broken down into sections that are highlighted when walking past, which helps you when stocking items, which you do immediately. Items like cola and ramen are on the shelves while frozen items are in the freezer that conveniently has a little snowflake on the door. Pack the items into a crate and take them to the floor.

inKONBINI gives the player the option to do the thing THEY want to do as opposed to what the game wants. If you think that watermelon cola is taking up too much space in the fridge, then you are allowed to take that crap out and replace it with another and the game will place the signage itself.

Stocking shelves is incredibly intuitive. One button to take off and one button to stock.

Aside from just stocking, Makoto runs the register, which is cozy in its own way. A customer gives you money, and you have to count out the change. Somehow, even that was a cozy experience. I can take my time, count out the money, and the register assists me if I lose the ability to do basic math, and when the mini-game is completed, I am done!

The last part is the conversations. It is told early on that the conversations that you have with people should be valued, and it prompts journal writing. The example conversation that the player has with an elderly gentleman is written so well. This person and his worries are all real, and it makes me feel connected when I am conversing with him.

Video games that make me feel connected to the characters are video games that I enjoy.

inKONBINI has that cozy color that really soothes. All of the colors are soft, and the game is an absolute pleasure to look at. Every item in the store looks distinct and has a nice little blurb about the product, AND YOU CAN EVEN ROTATE THE ITEM TO SEE THE BARCODE THAT SCANS WHEN YOU ARE AT THE REGISTER. Third-person camera fits surprisingly well.

Get those headphones ready because inKONBINI is an ASMR wonderland. Everything makes a sound, and it is probably the real thing. That rain was hitting the store, and I thought it was actually raining (turns out it was, and I never noticed). The money being taken out of the register, the cans and bottles being put into the fridge, tin cans hitting each other, inKONBINI has it all, and it is a wonder to my ears!

I booted up the inKONBINI demo and immediately knew how cozy this game was going to be. I like retail work, and I really only like it when it is as meditative as inKONBINI is.

the inKONBINI demo is certainly special. The love that was put into everything adds so much charm. The conversation that the player has feels special, fixing the little things also feels special.

inKONBINI’s demo is just a feel good experience, and I am excited for the full release.