During the fourth week of August on Steam, we saw a mixed bag of titles like the Demon X Machina demo, the 20th entry in the Touhou Project, and the chaotic brawler Stick It To The Stickman. However, one game stood out for its distinctive pixel art and quirky character design: Discounty. On the surface, it looks like a simple supermarket management sim.

You arrive in the sleepy coastal town of Blomkest to visit your aunt. She runs the town's only supermarket, 'Discounty,' and promptly asks you to lend a hand. No sooner have you settled in than she fires the existing, friendly local staff, citing a need to 'cut costs.' It is a rather rocky start to your employment, but can you really handle the pressure?

The residents of Blomkest cherish their tight-knit community, but as an outsider, you are an easy target. Discounty does not exactly have a pristine reputation, either; between the aunt's overly aggressive business expansion and the jealousy of disgruntled neighbours, you will find some locals are downright hostile. To survive, you must master the delicate balance of socialising and store management.

As a Discounty employee, you will be clocking in every day except Sunday. Success requires meticulous stock management and careful shelf placement. If you block the aisles with boxes or create a labyrinthine layout, customers will simply ignore the goods tucked away in the corners. Decorating helps boost appeal, and you can even strike deals with local farmers to stock regional specialities.

As you turn a profit, you can expand the shop, upgrade the flooring, and install shiny new equipment. You start off manually entering prices into a clunky calculator, which usually irritates waiting customers. However, once you complete challenges and upgrade, you can invest in a scanner for faster checkouts. Just keep in mind that you will need to hunt for barcodes positioned in different spots on various items.

When the chaos of the day finally subsides, it is time for the tally. You receive a performance rating based on customer satisfaction—which drops if you are too slow or lack the items they crave—earning you extra gold. You also have to mop the floors yourself, bucket and mop in hand, preparing the store for the next day's grind.

Running the shop eventually triggers new events and chapter-specific quests. Blomkest has a rich industrial history, and as you dig deeper, you will uncover everything from family feuds to disturbing environmental scandals. Despite the cute aesthetic, the secrets lurking in this town are surprisingly dark.

As of the 25th, Discounty holds a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam (82% positive). Players praise the 'charming supermarket sim aesthetic,' the 'surprising depth in store layout and mechanics,' and the 'delightful social interactions with townsfolk,' though some were genuinely taken aback by the unexpectedly grim narrative. It also comes with full Korean language support, which is a massive bonus.