Stardew Valley is home to some of the most interesting NPCs in gaming, and that's all due to the fact that they are the core of its relationship-oriented gameplay loop. When players aren't tending to their farm or out in the mines searching for valuable treasures, they are encouraged to invest in their relationships with Stardew Valley's NPCs, some of which can even result in romance. However, not every NPC in the game is around all the time, nor can players develop a relationship with all of them. One of those NPCs, in fact, was only recently added with Stardew Valley's 1.6 update, and he's one of the game's most rare NPCs.
Stardew Valley 1.6 added a slew of new content to the game last year, but one of its most interesting additions was Marcello, a bookseller who only shows up a handful of times each year in the game. Elusive as he is, an upcoming cozy sim will actually allow players to experience what it's like to work in his mode of business firsthand. The game in question, Bookshop Simulator by Blep Games, won't feature Marcello and isn't set in Stardew Valley's universe, but its premise certainly echoes Marcello in a full-time role — putting players in charge of their own bookshop where they can order books, stock their shelves, earn revenue, and much more.
Bookshop Simulator Echoes Stardew Valley's Marcello in a Full-Time Role
Rare Books and Rare Visits
Since Stardew Valley's Marcello was just added in the game's 1.6 update, those who haven't returned to the game since before then haven't even met him yet, and he's already rare enough, given how infrequently he appears in the game. Marcello appears twice every season in Stardew Valley on random dates marked by a balloon on the in-game calendar. Upon visiting him, players can acquire anything from books that increase experience in a certain field to books that make them run a little faster. Needless to say, he's a valuable merchant to pursue when he's in the area, in addition to being one of the more mysterious NPCs in Stardew Valley.
Bookshop Simulator removes that scarcity by putting players directly in charge of their very own bookshop, like Marcello, although it's possible for them to obtain books that are just as powerful as the Books of Power in Stardew Valley. Should players happen upon rare books in Bookshop Simulator, they may contain powerful abilities that improve their profits and capabilities. Essentially, it's like the idea of Stardew Valley's Marcello, only everything is flipped and puts the player in control instead.
From One Stall to a Growing Empire
Stardew Valley's Marcello is a static NPC, always in the same place with no story beyond his inventory. Bookshop Simulator, on the other hand, gives players a full management experience, beginning with a small boutique and steadily expanding into an empire. As they grow, they can open up new locations around the world, and each of those locations can even be decorated with things like rugs, plants, and wall art. If that wasn't enough, players can also adopt a cat, just like they can in Stardew Valley.
Bookshop Simulator may not look or play like Stardew Valley, but it still might be the next best thing for players wondering what it's like to step into Marcello's shoes and own their own bookstore. Launching on September 12 in early access on Steam, Bookshop Simulator looks like a fun, cozy time with plenty to keep players busy, potentially even giving them a chance to roleplay as Marcello while they're trying to convince customers to purchase their books.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- February 26, 2016
- ESRB
- E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)
- Developer(s)
- ConcernedApe
- Publisher(s)
- ConcernedApe
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Simulation
