My memories of Japan almost always involve konbinis. The first time I went to Japan, my partner and I would stop by the 7-Eleven near our AirBnb to pick up snacks and desserts to eat while we watched Japanese reality shows on the TV. One day, I woke up to find wrappers that definitely weren’t mine, and my partner shamefacedly admitted he’d been sneaking out to buy more pudding from the konbini while I was sleeping. “They’re just so good,” he said, sadly.
Another year – I was in Tokyo to cover Tokyo Game Show – I went to the Family Mart near my hotel every day to pick up breakfast and coffee before the convention. I made fast friends with the clerk, who told me he was Pakistani but had moved to Japan decades ago.
The point of these stories is that whether you’re a tourist or a local, the neighbourhood konbini is a part of daily life. They’re everywhere, and you quickly get familiar with the people who work there if you go often enough. You might even form friendships. InKonbini tries to capture that experience, placing you in the shoes of a college student working part-time at her aunt’s konbini somewhere in 1990s small-town Japan. I played the demo, and I’m already in love.
You can find konbinis nearly anywhere in Japan. They offer the usual convenience store fare, but will often also be places where you can pay bills, use ATMs, or even use scanners and printers.
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Routine Is Good
As the protagonist, Makoto Hayakawa, writes in her notepad, many people think that the life of a konbini worker must be dull and lifeless. After all, it revolves around routine. As her aunt tells her over the phone, she’ll have to fill the shelves and place products correctly, and fix mistakes that people working previous shifts might have made. Her job will involve keeping inventory records, sorting out deliveries, and signing invoices. I found cleaning supplies in a locker, so she’ll presumably have to clean the place too.
If you’re not a fan of games that simulate menial work, this might all sound very boring to you. I, however, love a job simulator – that’s why I love PowerWash Simulator so much. The routine soothes my brain. I walk Makoto down the aisles, making sure all the products are facing the front. I put plenty of soda in the beverage display, because my aunt says they’ll probably sell lots of it that day. I push a stray chair flush against the table. Then I flip the sign on the door so it says we’re open.
When my first customer, an old man named Chief, walks out of the storm outside and into the store, he makes a point to comment on all the things that are out of place. For example, there’s bread in the drink display. I didn’t put that there, but I hadn’t noticed it, so I promptly pick it up and shuffled it over to the right place.
He asks me to help him pick a new instant noodle to try, since I haven’t stocked his favourite ones, and I recommend a luxury one, because why not live a little? His eyesight isn’t good enough to read the small text on the cat food, but he wants to buy one with a green pea formula so his cat will like him more. I inspect every can until I find the one he wants.
When he’s found everything he needs, I go to the checkout area and unlock the till with a key. I rotate every item with my mouse until I find the barcode, then scan it. I count the money he gives me, then pick out his change from the till. It’s all very soothing, and I can picture myself quickly falling into a routine while playing the full game.
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The People Are The Point
But of course, inKonbini isn’t just a job simulator – it’s about the people you meet and the community that your store is part of. Chief implies he has some sort of history with Makoto’s aunt Hina, and that his life is kind of a crapshoot just then. He’s embroiled in some kind of beef with Hina, his cat is suddenly mad at him, his business is struggling, and he’s searching for a sign that things are going to get better.
I choose to give him a pep talk, telling him that tomorrow could be a better day, and even if it isn’t, it doesn’t matter. He thanks me and leaves the store, then just stands there. When I go out to check on him, he points out that the sky is a shade of red, which means better weather is coming, and as we watch, the storm lifts.
Elsewhere in the store, I find intriguing hints of stories that will be explored. Charlie, another part-time worker at the store, leaves a notepad lying around where he frets about wanting to tell a girl that he’s in love with her. I find an unsent postcard on the shelves, tucked between accounting books, that indicates Hina wanted to pursue a relationship with someone, but never did.
I’m excited to see how the stories in inKonbini play out – it’s a reminder that these stores aren’t just for convenience, but for community, and that our small actions can have big impacts on the people around us. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m looking forward to restocking shelves, too. You can try the demo for yourself here.
inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories
- Released
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2025
- Developer(s)
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Nagai Industries
- Publisher(s)
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Nagai Industries, Beep Japan
- Number of Players
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Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
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Unknown
