So cosy it hurts (don’t worry, it doesn’t really hurt)
Whilst I wouldn’t describe myself as a voracious reader, I’ve always loved books – the smell, the feel, the quiet thrill and anticipation of diving into a new world.
Which makes it slightly outrageous that I’ve only just got around to Tiny Bookshop – and that’s only because it showed up on Xbox Game Pass.
The Vibes
Everything about this game is meditative and cosy without tipping into overwhelming.
The colour palette is joyful but not loud. The music feels like it belongs in the background of a calm, slightly overpriced coffee. You enjoy the peaceful calm at the start of each day when customers arrive.
If you’re even slightly a millennial stereotype (no shade – I am a shameless millennial stereotype), there’s a lot to love:
- Decorating your bookshop
- An unreasonable number of houseplants
- Yes, you can adopt a cute stray dog
Honestly, what more do you need?
The Experience
The concept is fairly simple – you buy bundles of books, pick where to travel for the day, choose what genres to bring, and then… sell.
That’s it. And also, not quite.
Because Tiny Bookshop is really about the small interactions. You get to know the locals, take on low-stakes side quests, and dip into seasonal events that never feel urgent or stressful.
A genuinely lovely surprise: all of the books in the game are real. The added bonus of discovering books to put on my wishlist is, in the words of the ultimate cosy King Bob Ross, a happy little accident.
I’m not wholly convinced the blurb of each book matches up to the real thing – but they’re still accurate, Jurassic Park is, in fact, a MASSIVE PARK.
It brings me great joy that it considers my favourite book of all time a Classic, but also great sadness that I can’t just stock my shelves with 100 copies and recommend it to literally every customer.
The Effort
If executive function is not your friend, this is the game for you.
Realistically, you can do very little and still progress. There’s no punishment for taking things slowly, skipping optimisation, or just vibing your way through a day. You will still make money. You will still move forward.
If you want to engage more, there’s depth:
· Decorating your shop to suit locations, and optimise sales
· Making tailored recommendations to customers
· Using extra items like the coffee machine
Each in-game day is short, which makes it easy to dip in and out without losing momentum.
That said… the game does have a sneaky way of triggering hyperfocus. I fully lost a couple of hours earning coins just to buy a dog bed for my adopted stray. Worth it. Every good pupper deserves comfort.
The biggest effort with this game is to not immediately hand in my notice and start a new life as a nomadic bookseller.
Favourite Lil Quirk
When you make a successful recommendation, customers do a painfully endearing happy little dance.
It’s awkward. It’s sincere. I’ve absolutely done that exact dance in real life, and I feel seen.
Delicious head-pats – if your people pleasing tendencies mean you can’t use the mean dialogue on an NPC, you’ll enjoy being told you’ve done good.
Favourite Character
Klaus – He’s in a band. He gives you a tape deck and his band demo. He loves history books. What can I say, I have a type.
Character I instantly disliked for no good reason
Harper – precocious child. Enough said.
Top Tip
Don’t button mash your way through dialogue.
You will pick the slightly disinterested/mean option, and if you’re even a little bit people-pleasing, it will haunt you longer than expected.
TL;DR
It’s cosy. It’s gentle. There’s a dog.
This isn’t a game I’d personally play for weeks on end, but that’s not really the point. It’s perfect for dipping into when you want something soft and undemanding.
Playing it feels like an accidental mid-afternoon nap – you didn’t plan it, but you wake up with the warm and fuzzies.
And honestly, that kind of simple, low-effort comfort is a form of self-care I can fully get behind.
By Emi Beth
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