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3 Reasons Why Tiny Bookshop Deserves its Overwhelmingly Positive Steam Rating

Originally posted on Total Apex Gaming | By Liesel Booker | Last updated Sep 26, 2025 5:18 PM ET

Tiny Bookshop has been a surprise indie hit. This unassuming little bookshop simulation has sold over 300,000 copies, and it won Gamescom’s “Games for Impact” award. In addition, it has an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam. It seems that a lot of people really, really like running their own virtual bookshop, but what is it about this game that has such a wide appeal? Well, let’s look at three reasons why it completely deserves that “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating.

1. It’s a Different Kind of Cozy Game

Cozy games have been flooding the market lately, so why have over 2,000 people shared their love for Tiny Bookshop on Steam? Well, a lot of cozy games involve a similar formula of farming, fishing, befriending people, cooking, and sometimes there might be some light adventuring involved. In this game, you’re still moving to a new area and befriending the locals, but this time you’re running an independent bookshop.

We don’t have a lot of indie bookshops still around in real life, yet alone in digital form. This game takes you back to the days when you could browse through a secondhand bookstore, not really knowing what you are looking for, but knowing that you’ll know it when you see it. It’s like a treasure hunt, where you don’t know for certain what will be offered when you walk in. With the many decorations you can add to your little shop, you can almost smell the dust on the books.

2. Books, Books, Books!

Image of Tiny Bookshop, Courtesy of neoludic games, Skystone Games, and 2P Games

In today’s world where everything is digital, it’s great to be reminded of what physical books can offer. When you help your customers find books they will like, you can browse through your stock and see that it mostly consists of real books. You can read through the summaries, and it almost feels like you’re browsing through a real bookstore, looking for something that interests you. Even better, when you find a book that looks interesting, you can go buy it or check it out in real life. This game might help you rediscover the joys of reading. I highly recommend obtaining a physical paper book if possible.

3. A Charming Community

This is one of those games that just oozes charm with every moment. The painterly graphics and easy-listening music invite you to just relax. Throughout the story, you meet several residents who share their secrets with you and send you on small missions, and you drive your mobile bookshop to various locations such as the beach, the lighthouse, and the flea market. There are various events you can attend, making the community feel alive. While Tiny Bookshop can be classified as a loose business sim, it gives off the vibe of a cozy game. In a time where stress is high, this game can help you just chill for a while.

Conclusion

This is the third time I’ve written about Tiny Bookshop for Total Apex. I wrote about the trailer after Nintendo’s Indie Showcase, and I reviewed it for my Weekly Indie Spotlight column. I haven’t gotten tired of playing it since I first got it. Though I just attempted to describe its charm, you really have to play it to get swept up into its magic. Its “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam is well-deserved. As a lover of books, this game was exactly my think, but even if I weren’t a reader, this game would still engage me. If you haven’t checked out Tiny Bookshop yet, then what are you waiting for?

This article first appeared on Total Apex Gaming and was syndicated with permission.

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