ReStory successfully gamifies one of my more niche hobbies: working on and refurbishing old video game consoles and tech, in a title that exudes the cozy low-fi vibe players crave.
I say “my hobby,” but more often than not, I prefer watching videos from popular tech-repair channels on YouTube, which use their expertise to bring retro tech back from the PCB graveyard. The one-hour demo of ReStory, which I had the opportunity to play, manages to scratch that same itch, free from the anxiety of losing screws or fraying cables.
ReStory transports players to the early 2000s, taking place somewhere in Japan, the perfect setting for a cozy pop-up repair shop. The time and setting create a sweet spot of nostalgic tech mixed with older, depreciated devices that fit what many would describe as retro.
“ReStory successfully gamifies one of my more niche hobbies: working on and refurbishing old video game consoles and tech.”
One of the coolest aspects of ReStory is that it uses the Atari licence, which means players can look forward to real Atari-branded consoles, such as the iconic Atari 2600. Contemporary brands are represented as well, with clear nods to PlayStation and non-gaming tech such as Tamagotchi (Bandai) and Nokia.
The demo I tried included a small selection of devices and game consoles, such as the Atari 2600 and its single joystick controller, which the game treats as a separate device. Other refurbishable items included Nokia cellphones, a Motorola-style Razr phone, portable torches and generic but recognizable takes on both the original PlayStation and the PSP handheld.
ReStory, at least in the demo, is more about refurbishing and replacing parts than it is about doing straight repairs on your favourite devices. And as much as I would love to simulate fixing traces with a soldering gun or replacing capacitors and checking for voltage irregularities, it would take away from the simple, cozy vibe Mandragora has crafted so well. Instead, players can take apart whatever appears on the work mat. This involves rotating the device or game console on screen, finding the highlighted screws, removing them so they drop into a small tray, then taking off the housing piece by piece to place on the work table.
Individual parts, such as the housing for a cellphone or controller, are often dusty or rusted, requiring the player to use a brush to clean them. This will make up most of the “repair” process. Broken or cracked parts must be scrapped, and these discarded pieces feed into your stock of spare parts that accumulates over time. The extras go into a box of scraps, which becomes your lifeline as you log on to an in-game web browser to shop for broken or as-is devices to bring into your shop for refurbishment. Managing the shop also requires cleaning and organizing your workspace, paying attention to the various NPCs who visit and ensuring you pay your utilities, which take a cut from your profits.
Some of the higher ticket items, which in the demo included the PlayStation-like devices, require purchasing a license in order to buy them from the auction website, which, in essence, is just a points or cash threshold for the players to achieve in order to unlock new stuff to repair. The gameplay loop in ReStory is a fun one, and I hope to see the full release include a wide gamut of recognizable tech, something that can give the game some longevity and potential for updates in the future.
“ReStory shows a lot of promise in both its unique premise and its simple but enjoyable gameplay loop.”
ReStory shows a lot of promise in both its unique premise and its simple but enjoyable gameplay loop, made better with the prospect of how the game is received by fans, who I hope take the initiative to mod in real brands and textures to replace the generic ones put in for legal reasons. Finally, the brief demo of ReStory features some character narrative options, which I hope to see expanded in the full release, as even in its early state, the game features some well-realized characters that add personality to the experience.
ReStory will be available on PC via Steam sometime in 2026 and can now be wishlisted on the popular digital storefront.
