While logically I know that running a small business would be very stressful, the idea of settling down to design products and shipping them out to people genuinely excited about what you are selling sounds wonderful. This whimsical and fun ideal of being a business owner is the core idea of Sticky Business, a charming simulation game that puts the player in charge of their own sticker shop with full creative control.
Developed by German indie studio Spellgarden Games, Sticky Business is a cozy and cute simulator that lets you run your own small business online: creating unique designs, taking orders, packaging them and shipping the final product to your eagerly awaiting customers. The gameplay is simple and not especially complicated, but it kept me entertained and engaged in a way I did not expect.
It is quite easy to fall into a basic routine while playing. You have a set number of hours in the day, with each task taking up a certain amount of them. After completing the tutorial and creating that first sticker the days fall into a steady rhythm of fulfilling orders, posting them and spending the last chunk of the day making new designs or printing orders to keep up stock. You can even add freebies to orders in the form of additional stickers or sweets purchased from the upgrades shop, though I couldn’t tell whether this increased the number of orders that came through or not.
As Sticky Business progresses and you fulfill more orders and gain hearts that you can spend to unlock more assets to make stickers with. These points can also be used to purchase more colours which you can change certain assets into, such as the basic shapes and ice cream scoops. Buying all of the upgrades was one of the most exciting parts of Sticky Business for me, especially early on when you have to be specific about which parts of a design you want. Each new sticker upgrade purchased opened up more possibilities for products to create and let me really think about what would help me achieve my creative vision.
Sticky Business has some light business and management sim elements but is not especially heavy on gameplay. As previously mentioned, there aren’t many tasks to do as the majority of the joy comes from being creative. If you are someone who wants a game to unwind with then this is perfect for you, but anyone looking for a new business sim to sink their teeth into will likely be disappointed.
That’s not to say there is no story, however. Sprinkled throughout customer orders are messages which clue you into the stories of some customers lives. From a family struggling after the loss of a loved one to someone seeking to make new friends, there are short but emotional insights that are a really enjoyable addition to the game.
Occasionally, customer’s will request that you make special stickers for them to progress their stories, which is a fun way to inspire new creations that you may not have otherwise thought of. On more than one occasion I needed to go into the store and buy new sticker upgrades just to be able to meet the demands, so there was very little chance that I would have used those assets without prompting. The requests don’t have to be especially detailed, usually asking for a vague theme over something that meets specifications, but it still encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and create something new.
One thing Sticky Business could do better is customisation outside of the stickers themselves. There are some elements that you can control, the paper and filling you put in the order boxes for example, however it would be nice to have more say over your work surface and online store front. In such a creative game, it feels like the opportunity for more control over your space is a missed one. You can change the colour of your shop but can’t set your own prices or layout, meaning you could be selling loads of a sticker than is only going for one or two coins per sale.
The in-game graphics are adorable, with the work surface being made up of pretty pastel colours and littered with plants and coffee cups. The stickers themselves use a cutesy and cartoony style that reminds me of clip art but would definitely sell me on purchasing some. The biggest aesthetic downside for me is the music which, while cheerful and not especially unpleasant, was a bit repetitive and I eventually turned it off in favour of my own music.
Ultimately, Sticky Business is not much of a game. It is repetitive and there are only five or so tasks to do. Despite this, is a really joyous and fun experience ideal for anyone who likes cozy or relaxing games. Everything from the cute graphics and cheerful music to the ability to create freely and not be penalised by the game for not being the most artistic person makes it the perfect evening activity when you want to unwind with no consequences.
Megan played Sticky Business on PC with a review code.
