Recently, the perfect game for everyone who misses the unique atmosphere of old video rental stores was released on Steam The first reviews from players promise a feast for retro film fans.
What game is this about? This is about Retro Rewind – Video Store Simulator. The game was released on March 17, 2026, on Steam and costs a smooth €19.90 there. However, until March 24, 2026, you can get the game with a 20% discount. If you want to take a peek, there’s also a free demo available.
In Retro Rewind, you run your very own video store in the retro style of the early 90s. You can expect neon lights, bright colors, and much more that captures the old zeitgeist.
In the trailer, you can see what your work day in the video store looks like:
At the helm of your own video store – with everything included
What is the game about? As the owner of your own video store, you take care of everything in your shop, which you build up from scratch. Your first tasks include setting up your business: From carpets to old movie posters and popcorn machines, there’s everything a good video store needs. You also decide where the shelves are placed.
Afterward, you only need to fill the shelves and keep the store running. To do this, you buy VHS tapes through your old PC in the game. Some shady tape dealers can even secure you exclusive (and thus quite valuable) pirated copies.
Your everyday life also consists of fulfilling the wishes of your customers: You reserve specific movies for them upon request, prepare snacks, or even give them personal movie recommendations. However, you also need to collect late fees and rewind tapes – it’s not all rosy in a video store.
Players are already convinced, but it can still get better
What do players say about the game? If you look at the reviews on Steam, the Video Store Simulator is currently doing really well. Of over 1,100 reviews (as of March 21, 2026), a whopping 95% are positive.
Especially the retro look has been perfectly achieved by the developers, it is often said. Many feel directly like they are in an old video store. “If you miss the video stores of the 90s and early 2000s, you’re in the right place,” says Steam user Sharky (source: Steam).
The good condition of the game right at release is often praised, too. It runs smoothly (even on weaker computers) and feels simply finished, says user Hellcat Nightpurr in his Steam review.
The attention to detail is also well received: The movies you place on the shelves all have hand-drawn covers and creative titles that can make you laugh. However, there is also room for improvement, such as with the employees you can hire. According to some, the game could also benefit from more themed decorative items.
Slay the Spire 2 also had a strong start, although that takes place on a completely different level. The roguelike is incredibly successful and managed to convince players on Steam at release. But currently, one wouldn’t see that in the rating of the title. What happened there, we explain in this article: One of the best new games on Steam receives over 10,000 negative reviews in 24 hours, the criticism comes from one country
