I like the idea of thrifting solely because of the vibe of entering somewhere, looking at all the stuff, and smiling about its history, where it came from and what it was used for. This week’s game boils it down to its simplest form and provides such a fun experience in owning a thrift shop.

This week is my Thrity Business Review!

I want to give a huge shoutout to the developer, Future Friends Games, and PressEngine for the key. My wife also thanks you because she has been playing it nonstop.

Thrifty Business is a cozy game from SpellGarden Games. The game was released onto Steam in May 2026 and retails for $13.

Thrifty Business isn’t about just one person; it is about how local businesses aid their communities. The player takes the role of a new business owner who aims to resell people’s unwanted items. A quaint conversation with an older woman with a shoulder lizard who wants to retire to London, and you are the proud owner of a thrift shop and the community that resides in it. 

People donate their stuff all the time, and on occasion, they spark up a conversation with you, and I’ve reflected on many of them that came in. A woman who has to take in her handicapped mother, and it is weighing on her, a guy who likes to collect cooking stuff but doesn’t cook, teens trying to find their own way in life, and someone who has just moved to the town. Conversations are plentiful as they will come, both to donate, purchase, and hold events, and it is a nice change of pace to hear them out about their concerns and accomplishments.

Owning and operating a thrift store is reduced to its most simplified form because bills and employees are nonexistent. Open up your phone and peruse the marketplace to pick up various cheap boxes of stuff, shelving, tables, building expansions, and colorful wallpapers to give your small business a much-needed visual upgrade.

These (loot) boxes have a small descriptor of what is inside and a few photos to go along with it. I once paid close attention to the number of different subjects that items can fall under, a little debilitating, but I got it after a while. Things like kitchen, y2k, book, ceramic, a variety of colors, witchy, queer, the list continues on for almost 90-something.

After purchase, it is time to fill those shelves so the people have something to buy. Thrifty Business suggests that keeping items that match descriptors will help them sell, which means paying close attention to where items are located and creating themed spaces, like clothing rooms and a craft area, to alleviate some of the headache of how many products will be in your store later in the game. There seems to be some validity to it, as I willy-nilly put things on shelves, and people wouldn’t buy much. It wasn’t until my wife organized my entire store that people were lining up to check out.

There will be times when the player has loads of items they just cannot get out the door, and so Thrifty Business introduces Events that will boost the interest of certain types of items. Just toss them up on the calendar. Date Night improves romantic items, Repair Cafe boosts electronics and crafting, and Easy Meal Club for Kitchen items.

There are so many items that there were times when I just had to let go of some items so that I could make room for items that would sell.

Opening the store is as easy as pressing a button and watching the community stumble in. People of all races come in, with some of the most goofy, colorful clothing I have ever seen, to do some shopping, and it is when they enter my Y2K room that they jump for joy and pick something up to purchase. Checking someone out is as easy as clicking on them and watching the money and community points go up, and the player can see what they bought for future decisions.

Building expansions are a prime goal for when the player has, and you will have excess items. Extra rooms provide much-needed space for items and furnishings, alongside giving the player more space to be creative.

If I had a “most colorful game of the year,” then Thrifty Business would take it by a landslide. There are so many items, with so many colors, that it is exhausting. The attention to detail for these little items that the player places on the shelves is welcome. The backpacks with little animal faces on them, a chick mug, the Melmo plush, Burby’s, and the clothing have a nice art design to set them apart from each other. There is a jazzy tune that is way too catchy when there is no event, a little heavier rock song, and a bouncy pop song when there are event days.

If you want a cozy ass video game where you organize stuff, customize to your heart’s content, and run a thrift store, then this game is for you. The onboarding is super easy, and you will be deep in the game in no time at all. The characters are quirky and always a joy to be around when they come in and prompt a conversation, because their struggles and stories feel real. The sorting and organizing of items never gets old, even when I am past the roll credits phase, and the looks and sounds really make the game unique in its own right. I wish there were a way to expand a little more, just to live out more customization, but I love the store that I ended up having. The perfect cozy game.

8/10

My wife’s score: 10/10