The demo for the shopkeeping simulation game Probably Stolen has achieved notable success during Steam Next Fest, charting among the 100 most-played games with 34,230 concurrent players. This performance is particularly striking for a single-player title navigating a festival featuring over 8,000 other demos.
The game places players in the role of a shopkeeper on a grimy space station, selling a diverse range of items from sustenance and beverages to weaponry and cybernetic enhancements to a varied clientele. The gameplay blends elements of running a retail business with survival and moral choices, reminiscent of titles like Dredd or Cyberpunk 2077.
Nighttime gameplay involves scavenging for materials in trash piles, allowing players to acquire items for crafting or sale. The simulation extends to mechanics like smelting metals and even operating a rat farm for meat. Players can also visit specialized vendors for rare goods, and engage with a narrative featuring an underground resistance movement. This allows for choices such as aiding the movement or betraying revolutionaries for bounties, and deciding whether to report wanted individuals to authorities.
Further depth is offered through mechanics like using a magnifying glass to detect counterfeit items, with the option to sell these fakes to unsuspecting customers. The game aims to be accessible without requiring deep simulation expertise, despite its complex systems.
Probably Stolen is slated for release next week, on October 28. Its strong performance during the Steam Next Fest demo period suggests significant player interest in its unique blend of cyberpunk atmosphere and shop management gameplay.