This time we present an indie game HELLMART developed by GAZE IN GAMES, which uniquely blends convenience store management simulation with horror elements, resulting in a gameplay experience that is both distinctive and fun. While the visuals may be simple, players will step into the shoes of a convenience store clerk running a 24-hour shop in a snow-covered town. Here, they face not only the daily tasks of customer service but also lurking threats. As night falls, the city reveals its strange facade, and monsters begin to assault your store. How long can you survive in this unfamiliar environment?
The game is divided into three phases: daytime, evening, and nighttime. During the day, you’ll be managing cash registers, serving customers, and restocking items—handling all the everyday tasks while ensuring you hit your daily sales targets and keeping the store and surrounding area spick and span. As evening falls, the tension ramps up quickly; the monsters come alive, and you’ll need to set up barriers, check the generators, and monitor the surveillance cameras, fully gearing up for the looming crisis of the night ahead.
The nighttime setting is the most terrifying, as the game requires you to interact with customers who may not necessarily be human; they could very well be disguised monsters. You need to make choices about who gets to enter the store, and these decisions will directly influence the game's outcome. Customers behave unpredictably, so you must observe closely to determine their true identities. For instance, a customer might claim they bought a talking loaf of bread the day before and has now returned to shop. Will you guide them to the bread section, or will you deny their request?
The dynamic system of the game ensures that each playthrough is uniquely captivating, as customer behaviors can shift at any moment, challenging your strategy. The fate of your customers and the progression of the story will change based on the choices you make. If you're not careful and a monster makes its way into the shop, you could be attacked. It's reported that the game might also feature a stealth mechanic for avoiding monsters, and you'll be able to wield an axe to fight back, although the specifics of the combat system remain unclear.
Currently, HELLMART is still in development, and the exact release date has not been announced yet. It's scheduled for the PC Steam platform, and we look forward to it bringing more surprises and challenges.
