Now indie games are commonplace, but they are a relatively recent phenomenon. At the beginning of the millennium, they did not exist. In fact, they only had their explosion during the early part of the previous decade. It was only from the 2010s that they began to shine on their own until they reached where they are today: one of the greatest creative forces in video games. Something where the first Japanese indie game that reached the West, Recettear, shone brightly.
Recettear Returns, Now with Updated Graphics
Today the developer EasyGameStation has announced that it will release an HD version of Recettear: An Item Shop’s Tale. With a release date planned for 2025, that means it will be launched 15 years after its original release.
Recettear is a very special title because, in fact, it was the first Japanese indie title to be published on Steam. This, along with a very positive reception, with around 300,000 units sold at its launch, managed to pave the way for many other titles from Japan. For example, Cave Story, by Pixel, the game that would kick off the indie phenomenon.
Now then, what is Recettear about? Well, in the game we play as the daughter of a shopkeeper in a fantasy world and we have to take charge of the store. This means selling items, managing the shop, and also exploring the dungeon to obtain merchandise to trade. All of this with strict monthly limits, as the rent doesn’t pay itself. This creates a very enjoyable gameplay loop that managed to captivate the audience.
Although it still doesn’t have a specific date, just that generic 2025, we do know that the game will have a new interface and new graphics, in addition to a 16:9 resolution. Great news that keeps us attentive to one of the great games that have defined the present of video gaming as we know it.
