Oh how I long to return to Japan and bathe in the fluorescent refrigerator glow of a 7-11 or Family Mart. inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories offered to scratch two itches of mine: my eagerness to return to such a culture-rich country and supermarket simulators.
Between my wife and I, we threw 100 hours into Supermarket Simulator. The idea of a similar game — with a bonus story element and set in Japan — sparked joy, Marie Kondo style.
But this leans far more into storytelling than simulation.
What I found amongst the shelves didn’t quite hit as hard as I’d hoped, offering a supermarket sim-lite experience paired with some occasionally drawn-out narratives.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful little game — just don’t expect to be serving up convenience store chicken any time soon.
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A Small Town Story
Entering a Japanese convenience store has become something of a tourist tradition, with visitors salivating at the thought of an egg sando.
inKONBINI isn’t trying to replicate that feeling. Instead, it offers more of a peek behind the curtain of small-town Japan life.
Set in 1993, you play as Makoto, working the night shift at a quiet country convenience store. It’s an intimate story where you’ll meet a small cast of quirky characters, each with their own thread to unravel.
It all comes together quite nicely in the end.
Light on Simulation
The game plays out over a sequence of days, with each shift picking up where the day crew left off.
Customers return throughout the game, though there are only four across the entire story: an older gentleman, a young boy on a mission, a mysterious tall man who doesn’t speak, and a reporter.
A full shift might see you ring up just two people… It makes the store feel oddly empty — there’s no way they’re making enough to pay Makoto’s wage.
I’d love to see a future update that leans further into sandbox features. The mechanics are all there — they’re just limited.
It’s a sim-lite experience, but the underlying systems hint at something much deeper.
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But you can only order stock when prompted by quests. You can’t set prices. The fryer, food warmer, and cooking oil are all present, but only used once in a short cutscene (though it was entertaining).
Everything you need for a great sim is here — you’re just not allowed to use it as often as you’d hope.
A Slow Burn
It’s a slow-moving narrative. If you’re hoping to jump in and start ordering stock and stacking shelves, most of it is already handled when you arrive.
Each day, you’ll check the noticeboard for tasks and uncover small side quests.
That said, there are no real consequences for failing to complete tasks or stocking shelves incorrectly. You can play entirely at your own pace. A customer might be waiting for help, but they’ll wait indefinitely.
One moment that stood out involved the mysterious man requesting a ready-made seafood meal. I initially offered a fish dish, but it wasn’t what he wanted. Only after checking the storeroom fridge later did I discover fresh sushi that would have been perfect.
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By the end of the game, I found myself knowing the store layout inside and out. When a customer asked for something, I could head straight to it. I’d grown to love this little store.
Performance and Accessibility
The game runs well on both PC and handheld for the most part.
I encountered one bug where Makoto vanished mid-conversation, requiring a return to the main menu, and another where I couldn’t interact with a customer asking for help.
On the accessibility front, inKONBINI makes a modest effort, with options for text speed, controller sensitivity, and camera settings.
There are also around 30 in-game achievements tied to item interactions and story progression.
Should you play inKONBINI?
If you’re looking for a true Japanese convenience store simulator, this isn’t quite it.
But as a slower, more narrative-driven experience, inKONBINI still delivers an emotive and charming slice of small-town Japan — one that can be completed in six to ten hours, depending on how much of a perfectionist you are.
inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories blends heartfelt storytelling with light convenience store sim mechanics, creating a cosy atmosphere that never quite reaches its full simulation potential.
Quest Daily scores inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories:
7/10
inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories is out now on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.
A copy of the game was supplied to Quest Daily for the purpose of this review.
