>>Game: Merchant 64 on steam
>>Review: This game is just busywork. Go to one area, read all the text, do 1st grade math, get robbed, go to the next area. Rinse and repeat. I had hoped that there would be.. y'know, something?? At all?? But that really is all there is to Merchant 64. The trailer makes it look like there will be fun character interactions or places to explore. There isn't. It's got good vibes, I guess? Merchant 64 is hardly worth the time and money.

I really can't understand what that person was expecting from the game. Practically all games can be described as just 'busy work', and almost all merchant games can be described as just 'buy low, sell high'. Recettear is exactly this, yet 15 years after its release, it's still mentioned as one of the best games in the genre. Can someone help me understand what that player expected? If you're into the genre, could you tell me what's the mysterious ingredient that makes a game like this feels like the right kind of busy work?