CraftCraft: Fantasy Merchant Simulator

Finished playing this cute game, and it deserves an honest review! For those who don't read long reviews, here is the short version: I highly recommend you play it. You can clearly see a lot of heart was put into this game by the devs. Let's start with the good: - Art Direction: The graphic design is captivating and unique. I absolutely love the art style; it's not too cluttered and isn't hard on the eyes. - Audio: The music is nice. It sits well in the background, and while it isn't groundbreaking, it is never distracting while crafting. - Gameplay Loop: The core gameplay loop is incredibly fun. It was a tiny bit confusing in certain parts (like using glue, tiaras, etc.), but it was hardly an obstacle that couldn't be managed by just using your brain. - Story & Lore: This is the strongest point of the game. The story is amazing. There is deep lore, and the universe devs created has history and politics—it could honestly be a book (the writers behind this game should consider writing one). At times the dialogue was a bit naive, but it offered a cute and overall enjoyable experience. Areas for improvement (not outright errors, but things that could be better): - Character Bloat: The game is very ambitious, and it fell into the usual trap of ambitious projects. By including too many characters, it meant most didn't get enough screen time. They show up, have a tale to tell, and are memorable, but at the same time, there is a noticeable lack of content for them. - Item Bloat: Similar to the character issue. There are so many assets to collect, but once you learn their tags, you realize it's just clutter used for the exact same purpose: crafting. - The "Glue" System: I get the concept, but at a certain point, I started gluing stuff onto other stuff just to be done with it. It didn't matter if I glued a seashell to the very tip of a sword blade; no one cared where I placed things. I literally had to make a ring with a giant wing on it—which looked ridiculous—just to meet quest requirements. That system could use some refinement rather than relying on a weird paste mechanic. - Diversity Integration: It feels as if the game tries a bit too hard to fit in various orientations and preferences. I'm not saying it's a bad thing; however, it feels a bit synthetic at times (like that perfect wood/stone amulet for the elf quest). It felt slightly overly educational, giving me lengthy explanations I didn't really inquire about. It felt as if the game was trying to teach me obvious things I already know regarding how some people feel and identify. - Animation: The characters could REALLY use Spine2D or some other skeletal puppetry. Saskia's tail is cute, but it would be amazing if it actually moved with some simple animation. It is definitely worth considering for a quality-of-art improvement, because the characters already have very strong lineart and even our player character has a rather t-pose most the time. And finally, the bad: - Inventory Management: The sorting system in the drawers is simply atrocious. It feels like I wasted a lot of game time just trying to sort through the mess in them. - Desk Clutter: Items on the desk continuously clutter the workspace, and some never vanish. I received a star map that never disappeared, some parchment with images, and chain links that also just stayed there. I had absolutely no idea if I was supposed to keep them or not, and it really cluttered my crafting table. - Save System: There is no way to overwrite an existing save game. No matter how hard I tried, it just created new saves with the exact same names. The save system truly requires a complete overhaul. - Audio Mixing: Some sound volumes require readjusting. Saskia speaks a bit too quietly at times, while other characters are jarringly loud. Final score? In the indie world, I give it solid 8/10 (same score I got from date with Saskia xD). It's a very good game, and it has potential to become MUCH more if it is grown and improved upon over time. Thank you for amazing gameplay, looking forward to return to it with future updates! Review updated on July 03, 2026

DO NOT PLAY IF YOU HAVE CARPAL TUNNEL or RSI risks like 9-5 office job DO NOT PLAY ON A LAPTOP OR DECK PC ONLY There's a lot that is charming about this game, but it needs some massive quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes before it's worth paying for, especially when compared to older crafting games and shop simulators you could play instead. There are bugs that prevent a new game starting after character generation. The controls are awful and placing items tended to glitch for me. By awful I don't just mean the button mapping, but the mouse sensitivity feels off compared to other games that have click-and-drag or rotation using a mouse. Combining this with no auto-sort option for the drawers, and no bulk move, the majority of the game playtime is spent dragging items into drawers and then taking a break to put a compression bandage on your wrist. Either there are glitches with the selling trigger for some items, or the quest scrolls lack the correct information and prompt the player to sell. But the biggest problem that I had is this. When I get wrist pain from my own real-world crafts I like to play crafting style video games. The game's controls are horrible for this. But on top of that... it feels like the people who made the game don't know or did not bring their crafting experience to the design of the game. I can see that some people love this game. I wanted to love it too. But when I could not for the life of me sell a finished item to a customer, I realised that I would rather uninstall the game completely than go back to the previous save and replay to try it again.

Keep crashing after creating a character, can't actually play the game.

3/10 not my thing + voice acting + lots of things to choose from when designing your character. - gameplay is what kills this for me. they should make an option to skip all the crafting so you can just do story and choose what items and parts. + can disable two of the time waster minigames. - low res items that are blurry and you can see the pixels. lots of items that are small at one point and get bigger. feels like ms paint when you make an picture bigger level of pixilation - glue system is awful and doesnt always work - table management and limited space - my screwdriver vanished and you could still see the white dotted layout. took me clicking around the screen for 3 minutes to get it to come back. used it once and POOF its done again when i went to set it down enjoyed death and taxes far more!!! it did suffer from the same table space problem thought

Hidden gem, very wholesome game : perfect for a calm and relaxing gaming session. Interactions with the customers are lovely, and the art (especially the chars) is gorgeous. Big recommendation

I've put in about 6 hours in this game, and I think the mechanics are quite poor. I've been playing on Deck and PC, and I've just come to a specific day where I can't complete a task and move forward because I'm unable to use a resource (as in, the mechanic that's supposed to happen isn't happening). Also some game days, when you finish the day the workbench is cleared, other days all the mess is still there and the only way to clean is manually, item by item. Not very well thought out.

really cute little game with fun characters, pretty art, and a nice crafting system. despite the phrasing, Endless Mode is just "here's how to proceed now you've finished the tutorial." you still see the characters you've got to know through the course of the story, but their stories also continue!

CraftCraft: Fantasy Merchant Simulator proves that a game does not need dragons to slay or kingdoms to save in order to leave a lasting impression. Instead, it finds its identity in quieter moments: shaping metal into treasured keepsakes, listening to the concerns of customers, and watching a small fantasy town slowly open itself to you. Developed by Placeholder Gameworks and Pineapple Works and published by Placeholder Gameworks and Hawthorn Games, this narrative-driven merchant simulator takes a familiar concept and gives it a surprisingly heartfelt twist. Set in the harbor settlement of Windspell, players assume the role of a craftsperson attempting to establish a reputation among an eclectic community of residents. The game places a significant emphasis on player expression from the outset, allowing you to create a character that fits the whimsical setting, whether that means taking on feline features, adopting a moth-inspired appearance, or simply creating a unique fantasy persona. Windspell itself serves as more than a backdrop; it feels like a living place filled with individuals who have their own stories, motivations, and problems. Every interaction reinforces the idea that your work has value beyond earning currency, as crafted items can influence relationships and alter the direction of various narrative threads. The centerpiece of the experience is undoubtedly its crafting system. Unlike many shop simulators that reduce item creation to timers and resource bars, CraftCraft gives players a more active role in the process. Forging weapons, designing jewelry, and experimenting with unusual materials become satisfying activities that reward creativity. One moment you may be assembling a beautiful necklace for a noble client, and the next you could be constructing an ominous artifact infused with mythical components. The range of commissions keeps the gameplay loop engaging, while the pursuit of perfect item ratings encourages players to refine their skills and pay attention to detail. The hands-on approach to crafting makes every completed commission feel personal, which is a major reason why the game remains enjoyable throughout its relatively modest runtime. Storytelling plays an equally important role in the overall package. CraftCraft is dialogue-heavy by design, and its cast benefits greatly from that focus. Conversations often reveal hidden facets of characters, while choices made during quests can influence outcomes and lead to different endings. Romance options, a charming pet companion, and branching paths add extra incentive to revisit the game after a first playthrough. The writing maintains a warm and welcoming tone, touching on themes of identity, friendship, and belonging without becoming overly sentimental. Players who enjoy visual novels and choice-driven adventures will likely find themselves just as invested in the residents of Windspell as they are in managing their workshop. From an audiovisual standpoint, the game embraces a colorful and stylized presentation that perfectly complements its cozy atmosphere. Character designs are expressive, environments are inviting, and the soundtrack enhances the relaxed pace without becoming repetitive. Full voice acting adds an additional layer of personality to key moments, helping the town's inhabitants feel memorable. The experience is further supported by an intuitive interface that keeps crafting accessible, even for newcomers to the genre. While the game is not particularly long, its concise structure works in its favor by ensuring that the narrative and mechanics rarely overstay their welcome. There are, however, a few limitations worth mentioning. Players seeking a robust economic simulation with extensive inventory management and complex business systems may find CraftCraft somewhat simplistic. Its emphasis on dialogue means pacing can occasionally slow down, and repeated crafting sessions can feel familiar toward the latter portions of the game. Yet these shortcomings are offset by the title's commitment to delivering a focused and comfortable experience. It knows exactly what it wants to be and avoids burdening itself with unnecessary mechanics or artificial complexity. CraftCraft: Fantasy Merchant Simulator succeeds by turning ordinary acts of creation into something meaningful. It combines merchant simulation, role-playing, and narrative elements into a package that feels genuine and inviting. While it may not appeal to players looking for grand adventures or demanding management systems, it stands as a memorable example of how smaller-scale stories can resonate just as strongly. Its charming world, engaging crafting mechanics, and endearing cast make it easy to recommend to anyone in search of a relaxing fantasy experience. Rating: 8/10