Service with a Shotgun – Retail Hell Reloaded

Service with a Shotgun is one of those indie titles that immediately grabs your attention with its absurd premise. It takes the soul-crushing monotony of retail work and throws it headfirst into a zombie apocalypse, creating a bizarre yet strangely cathartic blend of customer service satire and frantic first-person shooting. From the moment you clock in, you’re not just ringing up snacks and dealing with rude customers, you’re also fending off waves of undead shoppers who seem just as determined to ruin your shift as the living ones. It’s a game that knows exactly what it wants to be: chaotic, funny, and unapologetically weird.

The core loop is a clever mash-up of two very different genres: retail simulation and arcade-style first-person shooting. On one hand, you’re stuck behind the counter of a convenience store, dealing with customers who bring all the usual headaches of retail life like complaints, odd requests, and the grind of keeping things running. On the other hand, the store is constantly under siege by waves of zombies, forcing you to swap customer service for combat at a moment’s notice.

The shooting mechanics are deliberately straightforward. Your shotgun is the star of the show, offering punchy, satisfying blasts that make mowing down hordes of undead feel cathartic. It’s not about tactical precision or complex weapon systems; instead, it leans into fast-paced, arcade fun. The waves escalate in intensity, demanding quick reflexes and a bit of resource management as you juggle ammo, positioning, and the chaos of the store environment.

What makes the gameplay unique is how it manages to balance the absurdity of retail interactions with the adrenaline of combat. You might finish a ridiculous dialogue exchange with a customer only to immediately fend off a swarm of zombies trying to break through the doors. This constant shift between mundane tasks and over-the-top action keeps the experience fresh and unpredictable.

Graphically, the game embraces a scrappy, retro-inspired aesthetic. The pixel art style gives it a gritty charm that fits the tone perfectly. It’s not polished in the way big-budget titles are, but that’s part of its appeal and it feels handmade, like a passion project that thrives on its rough edges. The environments are small but detailed enough to sell the atmosphere of a doomed convenience store, and the exaggerated animations add to the overall humour.

The story is where Service with a Shotgun really shines. Beneath the chaos, it’s a satirical take on capitalism, burnout, and the thankless grind of service jobs. The writing leans heavily into dark comedy, poking fun at the absurdity of retail culture while also capturing the frustration of dealing with endless demands. It doesn’t aim for deep emotional resonance, but it does succeed in making you laugh and nod knowingly if you’ve ever worked a customer-facing job.

The game feels like it shouldn’t work, yet somehow does. Imagine VA-11 Hall-A colliding headfirst with a wave-based zombie shooter, all set in the most cursed workplace imaginable: a roadside convenience store during the apocalypse.

Pros:

• Unique blend of retail satire and zombie shooting

• Cathartic, arcade-style gunplay

• Quirky, darkly comedic writing

• Retro pixel art style with charm

Cons:

• Shooting mechanics are shallow and lack depth

• Dialogue can feel repetitive at times

• Limited replay value once the novelty wears off

Service with a Shotgun isn’t trying to compete with AAA shooters or deep narrative adventures, it’s a short, punchy indie experiment that delivers exactly what it promises: the joy of blasting zombies while poking fun at the misery of retail life. It’s the kind of game you play for a few hours, laugh at its absurdity, and walk away feeling oddly satisfied. For anyone who’s ever worked behind a counter or dreamed of turning customer service into a blood-soaked comedy, this game is a must-try. It may not have the staying power of bigger titles, but its originality and humour make it a standout indie experience worth checking out.

XPN Rating: 4 out of 5 (GOLD)

Service with a Shotgun is available now!