The Walking Trade Review Summary

Positive reception of gameplay: Many players expressed that the game is enjoyable, fun, and engaging. They appreciate the solid mechanics and overall gameplay experience.

Great concept and design: Players find the game's concept and design appealing, particularly the mix of survival and shop management in a zombie apocalypse setting.

Good value for price: Many players feel that the game is worth the price, offering satisfying content and gameplay for the cost.

Engaging store management: The store management aspect of the game is highlighted as engaging and enjoyable, adding depth to the gameplay.

Potential for future improvements: Several reviews mention that the game has significant potential for future enhancements and additional content.

Game plagued by bugs: Players frequently report encountering various bugs throughout the game. These bugs range from minor issues to more significant problems that can affect gameplay.

Checkout counter issues: There are numerous problems related to the checkout counters, including cashiers getting stuck, counters being unresponsive, and items not selling properly.

Reputation system flaws: The reputation system is criticized for being primitive and having various design problems.

Cleaner AI malfunctions: Cleaners in the game often stop working or exhibit glitchy behavior, which disrupts the normal flow of the game.

Item management problems: Players experience issues with item management, including clipping, clunky placement, and inventory management problems.

Shop and employee management: Players manage a shop, handling tasks such as selling items, managing employees, and organizing inventory. This includes hiring staff, training them, and assigning jobs like restocking, defense, and scavenging.

Zombie survival and combat: The game heavily features zombie survival elements, including waves of zombie attacks, defending against zombies, and various combat mechanics involving melee and ranged weapons. Players must survive in a zombie apocalypse setting, dealing with both regular and boss zombies.

Resource gathering and crafting: Gathering resources and crafting are key mechanics. Players scavenge for items, manage inventory, and use a crafting system to create necessary supplies and upgrades.

Reputation and customer interactions: The game includes a reputation system where player actions, such as killing NPC customers or failing to defend them, affect the store's reputation. Managing customer behavior and interactions is crucial.

Building and upgrading: Players can build and upgrade their shop using collected resources and blueprints. This includes setting up shelves, pallets, and other store infrastructure.

Employees and customers get stuck: There are numerous reports of restocking employees and cashiers getting stuck in various places, including at the counter. This issue also affects customers, who can get stuck along with the cashiers.

Game crashes and technical issues: Several players have reported experiencing crashing issues and other technical problems that disrupt gameplay.

Scavenging and ladder bugs: Specific bugs have been reported with scavenging and ladder interactions. Scavenging is bugged, and there are issues with certain ladders not being climbable.

Cleaners get stuck: There is a bug where cleaners get stuck, affecting the gameplay experience.

Optimization needed: Players have mentioned the need for optimization to improve the game's performance.

Highly recommended game: Many players highly recommend this game and encourage others to try it out. It is frequently suggested as a worthwhile purchase.

Worth the current price: Several reviews mention that the game is worth buying at its current price due to the content and potential it offers.

Add more gameplay features: Players have suggested adding specific features such as the ability to climb onto the roof and adding multiplayer functionality to enhance gameplay.

Improve UI and mechanics: Reviews indicate a need for improvements in the game mechanics, such as adding an ESC key to exit a frozen UI and removing friendly fire between staff.

Ideal for simulation and management fans: The game is particularly suitable for players who enjoy simulation, management, zombie, and job management games.

Community fair range: $6.99 - $9.99.

Game completion: 20.0h.

Session length: 3.0h.

The game has a rough start due to a lack of tutorial but becomes highly engaging and addictive after the initial chaotic hour.

Reported time to anchor: 1h.

Friction: Lack of tutorial; Hectic first hour.

Unlock drivers: Getting past the initial learning curve; Understanding the game mechanics.

Creative Shop Manager: Enjoys building and managing their shop in a relaxed or tense manner, with a focus on customization and creativity. Motivation: Creative freedom and customization. Stance: buy.

Enthusiastic Recommender: Enjoys the game and actively recommends it to others who share similar interests. Motivation: Sharing positive experiences with others. Stance: buy.

Frustrated Critic: Critically evaluates games and expects them to be free of bugs and issues. Motivation: Seeking a functional and enjoyable gaming experience. Stance: no buy.