No one said running a business was easy, and card shops are no exception. You have to be ahead of the curve on the latest card trends while sometimes dealing with some less-than-savory customers. It can quickly become a tedious tightrope to walk, but oh-so-satisfying once you start making a profit.

Though both TCG Card Shop Simulator and Kardboard Kings have a similar premise of managing a card shop, each brings their unique flavors and features to the genre. Which one should you try? We’ll break them down below for you to decide.

Two characters playing a game of Warlock, the game featured in Kardboard Kings

6Graphics

Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator

If you were to strictly go off at first glance, it’d be easy to write off both games as having basic, nondescript aesthetics. While it’s too early to truly see the full potential of TCG Card Shop Simulator’s looks, there’s so much detail in the world of Kardboard Kings as a whole that the former just can’t stack up against.

From the unique and downright hilariously well-done artwork of your customers to the game board and detailed world map (yes, you read that correctly),the pixelated world springs to lifeand is full of character. Cardboard Kings does a fine job of being able to see the humor in itself and isn’t afraid to poke fun, either. It’s a hands-down victory.

You, as the player, are watching a card tournament in your shop. Several people are seated at tables with cards in hand.

5Customer Interaction

TCG Card Shop Simulator

Since Kardboard Kings leans more story-based in its approach to managing your shop, it keeps the player at arm’s length with its top-down, isometric point of view. Even as you grow to love the characters, you’re never really down on the floor with them. TCG Card Shop Simulator says damn all that and lets you get down on the floor and deal with customers to their faces.

Card Shop Simulator does an amazing job of making you feel as though you are inside the atmosphere and watching others battle it out. So far, all you’re able to do is do business with them and spray them down with somestrongdeodorant if need be, but once the game is fully released, there’s bound to be more interaction available.

Several Cards from the Dark Moon, Frontier, and Conjunctions card sets.

4Card Art

Kardboard Kings… For Now

It almost seems unfair to put these two against each other, knowing that TCG Card Shop Simulator is still in early access, but cards are the bread and butter of both of these games. The art style of TCG’s cards is very reminiscent of early edition Pokemon cards, which are very cute and cuddly monsters. However, they are held back by becoming repetitive and not fully representative of the final cards.

Yet again, Kardboard Kings knocks it out of the park in design and the variety of designs you may find throughout the game. Each of the seven sets of cards in the game has a unique appearance. The Dark Moon Set takes inspiration from tarot cards, the Frontiersdeck pays homage to Pokemon monsters,and Conjunction focuses on featuring humans doing amazing things.

Kardboard Kings dealing with customers on the left, TCG Card Shop Sim dealing with customers on the right.

3Gameplay

Tie

Stripping these games down to their core gameplay, you have a commonality between both games: you’re here to build up a store and make a profit. There isn’t a ‘better’ or ‘worse’ between the two. It all comes down to which way you’d like the depth of the game to go. If you prefer to forgo the story and get right down to business, then you’ll most likely like TCG Card Simulator.

Conversely, if you’re more of a lorehound and want to live up to your father’s legacy after his death while trying to out the thief who’s been stealing high-value cards, then Kardboard Kings will be more your type. In the end, everyone’s a winner here if card games or simulators are your thing.

A card battle taking place on Card Game Island, a post-game mode to play the TCG Warlock

2Availability

The largest setback for TCG Card Shop Simulator, as of this article,is its early access status. The gameplay comes with the usual quirks of working out the kinks, but the slice of gameplay that you do get your hands on is too short! You don’t get any of the later mechanics, nor the ability to engage in card battles yourself.

Meanwhile, Kardboard Kings is fully released in its final form and comes at a bargain price. It’s a low risk with a free demo to boot. Plus, with both games, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy while you wait for the full release of TCG Card Shop Simulator.

Player character Harry left, Francis upper right, Kei bottom right all playing Warlock

1Winner

Kardboard Kings: Card Simulator

It’s hard for TCG Card Shop Simulator to stack up against the complete experience that Kardboard Kings has. With a fleshed-out world, amazing and detailed artwork, anda simplified experience, Kardboard Kings comes in the top spot by being an all-around, more complete experience.

But, though you get a face-value idea of what TCG Card Shop Simulator is going to be like, you never know what the future holds for the game or any of its quirks and surprises have in store for the fans who are waiting. There’s no word on the release date of TCG Card Shop Simulator, but hopefully, it’s sooner than later.