Trading Card Inspector

Uncover shady secrets and quirky humor in this card inspection sim. Delve into a world of mystery and intrigue, all while appraising the “coolest” TCG cards. Trading Card Inspector is one of the most confidently crafted small games of the year — a modest concept executed with genuine care across every element, from its inspection mechanics to its writing to its soundtrack to its card art. It is the kind of game that earns the “Papers Please-’em-up” label without just being a reskin of the formula, because Daydream Gallery has built a fictional universe worth visiting and a protagonist worth rooting for. At $4.89 introductory price, the barrier to entry is essentially nothing. Plarbo would want you to try it.

Trading Card Simulator is fun, it is well-made, and I enjoyed it. In order to deserve a higher rating, it needs a wow factor, which it sadly lacks; I don’t think it brings anything novel to the genre. But it’s a highly competent and fun entry in the catalog. If you like job simulators, tongue-in-cheek meta humor, and doing mental math, you’ll enjoy this one. Some games are just a bop. Trading Card Inspector is a bop. Enjoy!

Trading Card Inspector is an original, fun and characterful management puzzle-sim, capable of transforming the analysis of simple trading cards into an engaging experience.