Regardless of nobody who’s ever labored as a retail employee recommending it, retail sims are a burgeoning style following hits like Grocery store Simulator, TCG Card Store Simulator, and (technically) Schedule 1. I suppose offended clients, low pay, and horrible hours aren’t actually that unhealthy when it is all digital and also you’re holding the playing cards. It seems, it is reasonably enjoyable and stress-free working a pretend retailer, managing inventory and delivering knowledgeable customer support by means of your approachable, pleasant manner.
After rummaging via upcoming releases on Steam, I’ve instantly fallen in love with Rewind 99, the most recent within the line of retail sims, which launches into early entry in March 2026. It is obtained one thing no different retail sim has: pizzazz (it is set within the 90s).
Your job is straightforward: you should flip across the final remaining video rental retailer and make it worthwhile within the face of a brand new challenger, RentNet—a digital streaming service that is nicely earlier than its time. Sure, you need to change the tide of historical past to avoid wasting VHS and the adorably cheesy 90s arcade aesthetic.
Both by your self or with your pals, you may have to run the video retailer and discover the encircling city of Reshoot Springs on foot or scooter. As you’d anticipate, you may must order motion pictures, snacks, and merch, handle stock, deal with customer support, and rent staff as you develop what you are promoting.
However not all the pieces is above board. Afterall, video rental shops did sadly lose the video battle. With that in thoughts, you can splice your individual motion pictures to create new tapes to compete with RentNet, create a struggle membership within the basement, and grasp the artwork of scratch playing cards to make a fast buck.
In line with the sport’s description, “The higher your retailer does, the weirder issues get”, which sounds promisingly ominous for a retail sim about VHS tapes.
Launching into early entry in March, developer Gunmetal Video games explains that Rewind 99 is deliberate to stay right here for 2 years earlier than absolutely releasing. Throughout this time, it is going to be supported with “substantial content material updates”, together with “a big growth of the map, a number of extra unlockable facet hustles and retail items, a bigger buyer community, in addition to extra enjoyable issues to spend your hard-earned money on.”
You greatest imagine I will be there to avoid wasting the ultimate rental retailer from streaming companies, and I am serious about seeing how Rewind 99 fares in its prolonged deliberate early entry interval. You possibly can at the moment wishlist Rewind 99 on Steam.


