HELLMART for Windows

A unique blend of retail simulation and survival horror

GAZE IN GAMES presents a hybrid gameplay experience that merges the logistics of supermarket management with the tension of survival horror. Set in a remote convenience store in the far north, HELLMART casts the player as a night shift manager who has sought isolation from society, only to find that the solitude of the wilderness brings its own set of dangers. The game features a rigid day-to-day structure where the player’s survival depends on their ability to fulfill professional duties while preparing for the supernatural threats that emerge after sunset.

During the daytime phase, the game takes on a detailed retail simulation focused on maintaining the store’s operational standards. Players are responsible for mending the checkout counter, scanning items for a variety of local customers, and ensuring that shelves remain stocked with inventory. Beyond simple service, the game imposes daily sales quotas that must be met in order to ensure that the business remains viable.

The duality of the northern outpost

As the evening approaches, the focus shifts from customer service to defensive fortification and resource management. This transitional phase required players to monitor critical infrastructure, such as the store’s power generator and security camera feeds, which often reveal unsettling anomalies. Strategic choices made during this time, such as boarding up windows and stocking up on emergency supplies, are essential for surviving the coming hours.

The expansive, suffocating darkness of the night shift

HELLMART features trust-based gatekeeping mechanics that forces players to make split-second decisions about who to let inside the store. The nighttime cycle introduces a high-stakes survival mode where the players must vet visitors through a locked door, deciding who is a legitimate customer and who is a supernatural entity in disguise. These entities are capable of mimicking human appearances, often distinguished only by subtle, unsettling physical distortions or bizarre behavior.

To endure the night, players must utilize a variety of survival tactics, including hiding in fridges or escaping through ventilation shafts if the store’s perimeter is breached. The store itself is a maze-like labyrinth of high shelves that provide both cover and potential areas for jump scares. The tension of these threats while maintaining the facility’s security creates a layered experience of constant alertness. However, extended sessions can reveal a repetitive pattern in daytime tasks and certain nighttime entity behaviors.

Essentially two games put into one

HELLMART delivers a compelling hybrid experience that effectively uses the familiarity of retail work to amplify its horror elements. By alternating between the mundane pressure of sales quotas and the life-or-death tension of a nocturnal siege, it offers a dynamic loop that keeps users engaged through both management and survival mechanics.