Game Dev Story (2022)

Developer: Kairosoft Co.,Ltd
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Casual, Indie, Simulation, Strategy
Rating: 4.5 of 5, 1,459 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 8.8 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

You feel like a hands-on boss, juggling staff and project decisions in a cheerful, pixelated management loop.

managementstrategicsimulationlightheartedcasualretroaddictive

What players say

Players praise the addictive, charming management loop but warn about a broken cloud save that can erase progress when switching devices. The game is front-loaded with fun, while the late game becomes repetitive and easy once you master the systems. The random punishment events (power outages, idea theft) frustrate some players.

Screenshots

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More by Kairosoft

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.