Management simulation "Game Shop Decline" traces the history of the gaming industry, releases demo. Experience history from 1985 through the perspective of a game shop manager.
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/952/G095252/20251010006/
Editorial Department: Akasaka | 2025/10/10 02:28 (UTC)
Robusta Studio today (October 10, 2025) released the demo of its PC game Game Shop Decline on Steam (external link).
This game is a management simulation that traces the history of the video game industry. Players take on the role of a game shop owner, reliving 25 years from 1985 to 2010. The demo allows you to play through the first three years.
The game progresses in monthly turn-based cycles, where players repeat the cycle of information gathering, purchasing inventory, and sales each month. As funds accumulate, you can expand your shop to handle more software.
Additionally, the game portrays the human side of running a neighborhood shop—rivalries with competing stores and interactions with regular customers.
Why did neighborhood game shops disappear? The demo for the management simulation Game Shop Decline, which traces video game history from 1985, is now available.
Nostalgia alone won’t keep a shop alive. Relive the daily life of those beloved “game shops” you once frequented—now as their owner. Challenge yourself to manage for three years in the demo!
Robusta Studio Co., Ltd. (President: Tsunega Takashi) is pleased to announce the release of its management simulation game Game Shop Decline on Steam, effective October 10, 2025. This title lets you experience the turbulent 25-year history of video games starting from 1985—when you become a shop owner in a time when such stores were once ubiquitous across towns. To coincide with the upcoming Steam Next Fest (starting October 14), the demo has launched, allowing players to enjoy the first three years of gameplay.
Demo Steam Store Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4054560/
Game Description
Those neighborhood game shops from back then—the games that captivated us, the memories they hold.
For adults who were children in those days, reliving such places through the eyes of their owner is a powerful journey.
It’s 1985. From today, you become the owner of a game shop. For those who lived through that era, it brings nostalgic memories; for younger generations unfamiliar with it, it offers fresh and realistic management challenges.
“Sure this new release will sell!” — but next week, your confidence may turn to regret.
“It probably won’t sell well…” — yet that hesitation might soon become deep remorse.
You must analyze limited information, make intuitive decisions, and take bold risks. This accessible simulation blends strategy with luck, delivering emotional highs and lows.
The demo features the first three years of the game’s 25-year historical timeline—1985 to 1987. Experience the 1980s through 8-bit soundtracks and nostalgic visuals. Beyond numbers, relive human-centered stories: rivalries with competing shops, conversations with loyal customers, and the vibrant daily drama of a real game shop. Feel the excitement of the early Famicom boom while mastering the fundamentals of management—step into the heartfelt atmosphere of this nostalgic title.
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How to Play
The game runs in monthly turns—each month’s decisions shape your shop’s future.
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[Information Gathering] Check new software
Review expected popularity and reviews to “predict” which games will sell well. -
[Procurement] Analyze information, decide quantities
Buy heavily on what you believe will sell; be cautious with uncertain titles. Balance your budget and storage space as you “forecast” the ideal order size. -
[Sales] Review results, prepare for next month
Customer traffic fluctuates based on season and popular releases. Will a unique customer walk in? Check sales and profits to plan your strategy for the upcoming turn. -
[Expansion] Grow your business with accumulated funds
As money grows, expand your shop to serve more customers and handle more software. However, upkeep costs also rise—timing expansion carefully is key.
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Streaming & Video Content
The game is freely available for streaming and video distribution—regardless of personal or corporate use, or monetization.
Challenge yourself: How much can you grow your funds in the demo’s three years? How far can you expand your shop? Try pushing management limits!
We’d appreciate it if you include the title and Steam store URL in your video’s description.
Message from the Developers
With respect for “the game shops of yesteryear” —
I once dreamed of becoming a game shop owner.
Back then, my local game shop was like a page out of youth—it felt like a magical place full of dreams.
But with time passing, such stores gradually faded and were forgotten by society.
Yet there must have been many people like me who loved these shops—so why did they decline?
To preserve the wonderful memories I cherished as a child—the ones where I visited that shop again and again in excitement—I developed Game Shop Decline.
I truly hope you’ll pick it up and play it for yourself.
[Product Overview]
Title: Game Shop Decline
Genre: Video Game Shop Management Simulation
Demo Release Date: October 10, 2025
Playtime: Approx. 1 hour
Languages Supported: Japanese, English
Developed & Published by: Robusta Studio Co., Ltd. (https://lobstudio.studio.site/)
▼ Demo Steam Store Page
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4054560/
▼ Full Game Steam Store Page
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3986100/