New Game of the Week! Run your own cozy yet goofy store in Keep Me Gifted

Have you ever fantasized about managing a gift store? If so, here’s your opportunity with Keep Me Gifted – now you can handle the inventory, wrap presents, and ensure customer satisfaction. However, be prepared for some unexpected twists along the way!

Over time, many of us have dabbled in various simulation games. Regardless if you’re role-playing as a cab driver or power-washing Shrek’s swamp, this genre has grown significantly, providing a wide range of unique scenarios – some remarkably realistic, others delightfully absurd.

Keep Me Gifted falls ever so elegantly between the two categorizations. On one hand, it offers an authentic sim experience as you manage your own gift store. On the other, it’s all a bit kooky as you deal with hilariously chaotic customers and their absurd requests. What if one oddball asks for an evil Valentine’s Day gift to curse their estranged partner?

With a playful artistic approach and magnificent audio elements, this game maintains a light-hearted tone without being overly dramatic. Beneath its charming game aesthetics featuring bubble wrap and bows, it offers much to explore.

What is Keep Me Gifted?

The morning begins much like any other. Stepping into the freshly opened gift shop, you take a moment to breathe deeply. With several hours until potential customers arrive, this is the perfect opportunity for an inventory check. Once they’re here, it will be go-time!

Demand for journals remains high; they’ve become quite popular, making it wise to increase your inventory or even bump up their prices. On the other hand, puzzles are losing popularity, so it might be beneficial to host a sale to quickly get rid of any remaining stock.

Let’s briefly check our computer for a moment. Let’s scan through the latest store reviews to identify areas where we can make improvements. And with the store opening soon, don’t forget to place the order for the new shipment of journals and ensure all online orders are processed in time.

Now that the doors have been unlocked, we’re ready to start! Our first customer is looking for a gift for their brother’s birthday. How about a football? It seems like a great fit. Let’s pack it carefully in beautiful blue wrapping paper to make it noticeable.

Moving forward, an eccentric individual seeks a gag gift for pulling a prank on their superior. Instead of a whoopee cushion, which might be considered juvenile, how about we opt for the unsettling Chucky doll? That should definitely scare them witless. We’ll disguise it in innocuous wrapping paper so they don’t suspect a thing before they jump out of their skin with fright.

As I delve deeper into the captivating world of Keep Me Gifted, I find myself on an endless journey – one that starts small at a quaint little gift store and transforms me into the mastermind behind a thriving gift shop dynasty.

In this role, you have significant freedom and responsibility. You decide what products are displayed, their costs, their arrangements, and even the amount of change given to customers paying in cash. Essentially, you get to shape and personalize the gift shop to your style and approach.

This game might initially seem overwhelming due to its many aspects, but with its whimsical graphics and delightful audio, it’s designed to provide a comforting, relaxing experience. Every interaction offers a burst of happiness, whether it’s a humorous conversation with a client or discovering a creative way to wrap a package. The goal is for you to unwind and enjoy the game.

It turns out that, upon discussing this with the creators, there’s no definite end to it. Although you’ll hit a particular achievement marking the peak, you have the option to continually add more rewards if you prefer.

Excitedly, I can’t hold back my anticipation for immersing myself in the flow state and encountering the peculiar townsfolk. However, it’s not just about that; there’s a lot more to uncover. In our conversation with Görkem Özbay from Merlot Games’ development team, here are some additional insights we gained.

What the devs say about it

A very cozy beginning

Initially, this project began quite unexpectedly, serving as a secondary endeavor. While we were deliberating over several other games, considering which ones to focus our efforts on, this one caught our attention and seemed promising.

Initially, I thought it was just a relaxing gift-wrapping game to pass the time, perfect for unwinding while watching my favorite show. But then, something shifted – it morphed into a more realistic simulation. It became so comfortable, it felt like a warm blanket that I didn’t want to shake off. So, I decided to introduce a bit of challenge to it. I added some financial aspects, nothing too extreme, just enough to make it feel less like a comfy cushion and more like an engaging game.

I’ve managed to preserve that warm, inviting atmosphere through the art, tunes, and game mechanics. Let me assure you, it’s far from challenging – but then again, for a Souls fan like myself, anything with that familiar feel seems delightfully cozy.

Getting silly with it

Initially, I penned down regular letters. “I’m planning to buy a gift for my boyfriend.” However, I soon felt it was dull and exclaimed, “Oh dear, this is so uninteresting!” Then, I decided to spice things up with some Easter Egg-style characters. For instance, “I want to get something for my nemesis, she betrayed my trust with my husband.” People seemed to appreciate the added twist.

As a dedicated fan, I find myself immersed in a world where everything seems to be thoughtfully crafted yet unpredictable. There’s a vibrant ensemble of about 30-40 characters who grace our screens regularly. However, what truly makes this experience engaging are the unexpected elements: the names, the items, the requests for merchandise, the colors, and even the lines of dialogue. These seemingly simple details generate countless interactions that keep me hooked!

Switching up the order brings about some amusing outcomes. We thrive on this randomness as it prevents monotony and ensures novelty.

Occasionally, we find an older lady entering to pick out a present for her dearest friend who recently got a new tattoo.

Rick & Morty’s unintended influence

In creating the art for the game, I provided no specific references to our artist. Instead, I simply expressed a desire for an amusing, non-realistic aesthetic.

The atmosphere I requested was spot-on. Some characters seem exaggerated, with oversized features like bulging eyes, and they have slim physiques.

We didn’t intentionally make the scene resemble Rick and Morty, but somehow, on an unconscious level, we both seemed to desire it to turn out that way.

Early Access is just the first milestone

The game is almost complete; it offers a comprehensive gaming experience. Instead of releasing it fully, we opted for an Early Access version to gather player input. We’re eager to know what features they would like to see.

Initially, I considered holidays like Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and Halloween. Later, one of us proposed Mother’s Day as another option to focus on. We are now working towards making the game suitable for these occasions.

Besides our main events, we occasionally host mini-campaigns such as naming an NPC or brainstorming item ideas. Frankly, I’ve had enough of snow globes for now. One viewer requested a cursed Chucky doll, so that’s exactly what we have now!

On June 18, 2025, the game “Keep Me Gifted” officially launches for PC in Early Access. The developers aim to expand its availability to other devices such as mobiles within the following months.

2025-06-16 05:49