Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop Is Not The Usual Management Sim

Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop is a roguelike shop management sim. It starts off with players jettisoning their predecessor into space. But not before grabbing his manual. This is only a start to the chaotic events and eldritch beings you can encounter. Despite the manual there’s no tutorial, players will learn by doing. Which is both extremely frustrating and satisfying after a few hours.

Repairing a ship isn’t simply pressing a button to interact, there’s a lot of moving parts to track. From different types of fuel, making sure canisters won’t explode from too much heat, make sure the gas pump works so you won’t be penalized for low oil, and make sure the ship is protected from meteor showers. These will set fires that can’t be permanently extinguished without a covering. Uncle Chop won’t be happy if players lose too much money and miss rent. 

Each run has a randomized order. Some locations will appear in one playthrough, but not another. It adds a lot of replayability. There isn’t much variety to how something is repaired. There are a lot of ways to die though. As soon as players learn how to prevent their death, something new comes along. It keeps players on edge despite the railroad-like repair gameplay.

Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop has dark humor and a charming art style. It acts as a band aid when the time has once again run out for a repair. New ships will land, and players must search through the manual, closely read the instructions, and still finish the main objectives, as well as any shady side deals. The chaos is fun, but it could be enjoyed a lot sooner with more intuitive instructions. Players who prefer that hands-off teaching will be right at home. Uncle Chop’s is both rage inducing and the perfect game for players who love tinkering.