CraftCraft: Fantasy Merchant Simulator

Developer: Placeholder Gameworks
Release: May 29th 2025
Platforms:
Casual
Indie
RPG
Simulation
Cozy
Creative
Charming
Short
Buggy
CraftCraft: Fantasy Merchant Simulator Poster

" Charming RPG merchant sim with deep crafting and cozy art, but a short, unresolved story "

CraftCraft: Fantasy Merchant Simulator Review

CraftCraft: Fantasy Merchant Simulator is a cozy crafting and merchant game that has captivated players with its charming art style, engaging characters, and satisfying gameplay mechanics. Players enjoy customizing crafted items to meet customer requests and appreciate the detailed voice acting and world-building that add depth to the experience. However, many reviews highlight the game's notably short main story, which ends abruptly after a brief introduction phase, leaving players wanting more narrative depth and consequences for their choices.

The developers have responded positively to community feedback by releasing an Endless Mode update, which extends gameplay and provides resolutions to character storylines, addressing some concerns about the abrupt ending. Although the game launched with some bugs and minor glitches, most have been patched, and the devs remain active in improving the experience. Overall, CraftCraft is praised for its cozy atmosphere and potential but is often seen as lacking content and polish for its price point, making it best suited for players seeking a short, relaxing crafting sim with room to grow.

Highlights

Players consistently praise the game's beautiful and unique art style, calling it "cute" and "cozy," complemented by solid voice acting that enhances immersion. The crafting mechanics are described as satisfying and creative, with a good variety of customer requests and customization options that keep gameplay engaging. The characters are well-designed and have interesting backstories, and the game offers light romance options, adding to its charm. The recent addition of Endless Mode has been well-received, providing extended playtime and more story resolutions, which enriches the overall experience.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the game's short length and abrupt ending, which many players found disappointing as the story feels incomplete and many plotlines remain unresolved. Some players felt the choices lacked meaningful consequences, reducing the impact of decisions made during gameplay. There are also minor issues with unclear crafting instructions and occasional bugs, such as unresponsive controls or graphical glitches. Additionally, the player character's name input feels unused and odd to some. While the developers are actively addressing these issues, the current content and polish level leave some players feeling the game is overpriced for what it offers.

Pros

  • Charming and cozy art style with beautiful character designs and environments.
  • Engaging crafting mechanics allowing deep customization to satisfy customers.
  • Solid voice acting that adds personality and immersion to the story.
  • Interesting characters with light romance options and meaningful interactions.
  • Recent Endless Mode update adds replayability and story resolutions.
  • Relaxing gameplay pacing suitable for casual and cozy game fans.
  • Developer actively listens to community and improves the game.

Cons

  • Main story is very short and ends abruptly, leaving many plotlines unresolved.
  • Choices often lack meaningful consequences, reducing narrative impact.
  • Some crafting instructions are unclear, causing occasional confusion.
  • Initial release had multiple bugs and glitches affecting gameplay.
  • Player character name input is unused, feeling pointless to some.
  • Limited player character customization options.
  • Shop environment feels somewhat empty and lacking background activity.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price
Capsule image

CraftCraft is a story-based RPG merchant sim with hands on crafting! Create a pretty necklace for a mermaid or a sword made of dragon blood! Be a Moth or an Elf or a Cat and express your creativity in your cozy crafting studio and change the lives of locals in the mysterious port town of Windspell.

Release Date May 29th 2025
Publisher Placeholder Gameworks, Hawthorn Games
Developer Placeholder Gameworks, Pineapple Works
Platforms

User Reviews

Very Positive (257)
82% Positive 18% Negative