A HERO AND A GARDEN
A HERO AND A GARDEN
Game
Game2022
a pet shop after dark
Developer npckc
PETSITTER WANTED. A horror point-and-click adventure game. Water the plants, feed the pets, and DON'T turn off the lights. From the Steam store page
120 reactions from 2 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky) · newest Nov 5, 2026 · last updated Nov 6, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
93
LovedLoved
101 positive · 8 negative
95% range 86–96%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 101 | 8 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 4 | 0 | 6 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
1 newer reactions are still waiting for a label.
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
112 of 120 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
92% recommend · 94 yes, 8 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 102 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (361 of 405 positive).
Players praise the game's creative puzzles and meta-gameplay that involves manipulating computer files. [1][2][3] Many find the game more atmospheric than scary, with a cute art style and unnerving music. [4][5][6] Some reviewers criticize the lack of a reset option and occasional confusing puzzles. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [7]
Overall the game isn't bad. Puzzles can be hard to figure out at times. Why I can't recommend it is because you are unable to reset the game. Even after completion the game does not offer a way to start from the beginning.
- [10]
A mysterious pet/plant shop where you have to work for 1 day and 1 night... Minimalistic design, but story well written and SO interactive. I was holding my breath, waiting for the twist of the story. An advice: before this game, play the demo, too. You will not regret it.
- [2]
A very interesting game. It's basically a time loop game where you do something slightly different every day to solve a puzzle. It borrows some elements from Doki Doki Literature club where you need to manipulate pc files in order to solve puzzles but it does so far more effectively and with greater complexity than DDLC did. While I enjoyed this game I must confess that some of the puzzles were borderline abusive, …
- [5]
10/10!!! love this!!!! i don't think it really counts as horror—i mean, it's got spooky vibes and all—but it never actually scares you. still, i loved it sm <3 probably one of my favorites ever :) also, many have complained that there's no way to reset the game after finishing it; there actually is a way, you've just got to find it!
- [6]
Despite its cutesy appearance, a pet shop after dark is a uniquely disturbing psychological horror and puzzle game that really makes the player think. It is a challenging experience that will take around 3-4 hours to complete. The unusual way the gameplay takes place both in the game’s application and its files is refreshing and fun and makes it feel as though the player and protagonist are working as a team to take …
Summarised from 32 of the 108 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 13, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
92% of the 102 Steam reviewers we collected recommend a pet shop after dark. The complaint that keeps coming up: no way to reset the game after finishing. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Reactions
60 of 120 · most liked first🎁GAME GIVEAWAY!🎁 my horror point-and-click adventure A PET SHOP AFTER DARK comes out on consoles in one week (‼️nov 12‼️), so i'm giving away 5 codes for the game on nintendo switch 🎮 to enter: ⭐like ⭐repost ⭐follow! winners will be selected on nov 9 🔎
positive · AI labelView post →hey, are you there? it's been a while,but i have an ANNOUNCEMENT... 🔎 A PET SHOP AFTER DARK is releasing to consoles on NOVEMBER 2 🌱 the gameplay has been reimagined for consoles & there's new stuff to explore, so it should be fun for new & returning part-timers alike ❤️ see YOU soon... 👁️
neutral · AI labelView post →🎃 happy halloween 🎃 dress up with cat ears in my horror point-and-click adventure game A PET SHOP AFTER DARK 😺 coming to consoles november 12...
positive · AI labelView post →Overall the game isn't bad. Puzzles can be hard to figure out at times. Why I can't recommend it is because you are unable to reset the game. Even after completion the game does not offer a way to start from the beginning.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A mysterious pet/plant shop where you have to work for 1 day and 1 night... Minimalistic design, but story well written and SO interactive. I was holding my breath, waiting for the twist of the story. An advice: before this game, play the demo, too. You will not regret it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really enjoyed this game. The puzzles gave me a hard time, which is great, that's what a good puzzle should do. The characters, art style and music contribute well to the unnerving atmosphere of the game and make it compelling. I definitely enjoyed how the game approaches its own meta-game aspects and made them accessible to those without much computer know-how.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →GOOD GO_OD G◉_◉D ◉_◉
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very interesting game. It's basically a time loop game where you do something slightly different every day to solve a puzzle. It borrows some elements from Doki Doki Literature club where you need to manipulate pc files in order to solve puzzles but it does so far more effectively and with greater complexity than DDLC did. While I enjoyed this game I must confess that some of the puzzles were borderline abusive, as in 'how in the hell was I supposed to guess that?' One puzzle dealing with…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →a pet shop after dark is a horror, point-and-click visual novel developed and published by npckc. You take on the role of an unnamed female protagonist who enters a pet shop to answer an advertisement for a petsitter. Once you arrive, the pet shop owner greets you and explains your job duties. They're pretty simple - feed the pets, water the plants, and stay for the night. However, there is one very important task. No matter what, you must not turn off the lights. Of course, as you…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very neat game, with pretty interesting mechanics, though it can be tricky to figure out what to do at times, it's never unfair. I recommend taking a screenshot or 2 if you feel you need it, i didn't and it made things a lot harder, though still doable. Very fun game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is amazing, I love it, and it killed my only remaining braincell. Buy it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →wonderful, just a beautiful game i played for 3 hrs straight and finished it in one sitting no breaks or anything i got all the endings in 3 hrs i really recommend this game to everyone <33
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →very fun little puzzle experience, not really a "scary" horror game but i enjoyed it very much
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It is best to go into this game blind. Don't spoil it, just go play it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →today is november 2 but my game is NOT out today... (the announcement post had a typo 👻) A PET SHOP AFTER DARK is coming to consoles on NOVEMBER 12 🔎 please note the 1... 👀 npckc.net/games/apetsh...
neutral · AI labelView post →10/10!!! love this!!!! i don't think it really counts as horror—i mean, it's got spooky vibes and all—but it never actually scares you. still, i loved it sm <3 probably one of my favorites ever :) also, many have complained that there's no way to reset the game after finishing it; there actually is a way, you've just got to find it!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's really cool seeing the places npckc pushes Ren'Py towards. Interesting game concept.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →YOU CANT REPLAY IT
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Give this one a pass. The story is too minimalistic, the protagonist will not shut up, and the puzzles are poorly designed - in particular, the very first real puzzle throws a curveball at you by making you associate three circles with three rings instead of properly putting your mindset into the intended puzzle. If you need to buy it, do it on sale. There really isn't anything for you here that other games can't do better.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A short and sweet game with a fun mechanic (and the puzzles were mildly challenging, which is nice!). A good way to spend a couple hours.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i can't believe she didn't give that girl a job /sob/ genuinely just a cute, spooky, quick little cozy game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A Pet Shop After Dark* is a perfect little game for the Halloween season! The premise is simple, but that's part of what makes it so enjoyable. What really makes this game stand out is its unique approach to puzzle-solving, especially the way it has you digging into the actual game files to progress. It's such a creative twist that makes the experience feel more interactive. A few of the puzzles definitely had me scratching my head, but figuring them out was part of the fun and made…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Had a fun time playing A Pet Shop After Dark, True Love's Curse, and starting A Tavern for Tea. Throat was getting sore so we ended a little early and raided @jauntiej.bsky.social, who is celebrating their 4-year streamiversary and 3-year HRTversary! twitch.tv/jauntie_jackalope
positive · AI labelView post →Another good game from npckc. As usual, things aren't the way they seem to be, even the end itself. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3710855794
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very fun meta horror game that makes you use your brain to solve puzzles. If you played the original free version, this one has a few extra puzzles thrown in compared to that one. Oh and despite this being a "horror" game, there's nothing actually scary about it, it's more of a vibe or aesthetic. Unless you're literally 2yo this won't bother you even a little bit.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game made me realise I'm stupid, but i loved it!!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Really fun short adventure, I played the demo when it came out and now I finally finished the game. Loved it. If you finish the game and want more content, lets just say theres some secret stuff you can quench your thirst with. 10/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A cute little short horror point & click game that has its spooks and interesting mechanics. I encountered some difficulties with understanding how to turn off the light at first, looping through the game a couple times. Once you get that down though, that's how you progress through the rest of the game. The basement puzzle messed with my head since you're also solving a puzzle in options, which I've never seen before. Other than that, I liked the story and premise of this game as "horror" and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Easily, one of my favourite games from this dev. A tough feat considering this is npckc we're talking about! a pet shop after dark has been an absolute treat, from beginning to end. A very fun adventure that gets more and more intriguing, as you slowly discover the secrets of the place. The puzzles were so fun and clever (unfortunately, I'm a big idiot, so I had to use the hints a couple of times...). The different means the game utilises to interact with the player are just *chef's kiss*…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →First off, don't think anything is wrong with your computer if the game crashes after every restart. It is Intentional. Playing the game as a girl who has a part-time job feeding pets and watering plants is enjoyable, including deleting the light from your computer files before the full restart. The mini puzzles are very clever and might take you a minute to understand but once you finish them, you may probably think "huh, that wasn't that hard". Cute little indie game, fun story and fun to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Absolutely incredible! 100% worth buying it! Very clever, lots of twists and turns, a very very fun game - my stream loved it
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Honestly this game is so creative I've never played anything like it before!! I love how you have to scroll through the files to solve the puzzles and use parts of the game you wouldnt expect it really makes you think outside of the box. The art style is so cute as well I love the drawings of the pets, the little bird lad is my favourite <3 This is rlly a one time game, it does give you the chance to reset the game however obviously you already know how to solve the puzzles, but honestly I had…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Leading with the cons since I ultimately don't recommend this game: The music makes your brain bleed (seriously, sounds like a small issue but made me want to clunk my head against the table), playtime was too short for the price, and the ending is unsatisfying and just loops you back to the beginning with no explanation or warning. For the pros: the animation is cute, and the use of folders to solve puzzles is creative. It would be worth it at a <$5 price point.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Despite its cutesy appearance, a pet shop after dark is a uniquely disturbing psychological horror and puzzle game that really makes the player think. It is a challenging experience that will take around 3-4 hours to complete. The unusual way the gameplay takes place both in the game’s application and its files is refreshing and fun and makes it feel as though the player and protagonist are working as a team to take care of the pet shop and solve its mysteries. The puzzles are difficult but…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great game but can we have a reset game option?
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →cute game, just no option to go back and replay after completion for final achievo. Would be better cheaper or free to play
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Had to use a guide for basically the whole game but wow was it interesting.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →And a little game called A Pet Shop After Dark. I played the original itch version. It probably isn’t the first game doing the things it does, but it was for me. If we are going for obvious, I feel the first Portal fits. I’ve seen Basilisk 2000 recommended like this. But I’ve yet to play it.
positive · AI labelView post →🔴 We're live with our scarrryyy brunch! Our Hopelings voted for us to play @npckc.net's game A Pet Shop After Dark! We've never played this and we're very excited to check it out. twitch.tv/theHopes
neutral · AI labelView post →it's good. best not to spoil it for those who don't want to be, so it'll be in spoilers. this is a meta game. you should learn how to dig thru your files. and you can replay the game, if you really, really want to. some of the puzzles are rather difficult. but the hint system did allow me to get through the game; there is one puzzle (the one with the chest) that stumped me for a bit, but eventually i did figure it out.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →YES absolutely love NPCKC, eternally grateful to my friend who introduced me This is a very creative, well executed concept that expands further upon it than their previous games. Although it's not exactly 'horror', it justly fit under that tag. Puzzles that require you to think outside the box (of the game, literally) Hints are well crafted to not give away the whole solution A bit pricy for a 3-hour experience, but certainly don't regret paying for it in full.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I had a really fun time with this one! The puzzle are very inventive and you can easily get lured into a sense of security with the answers only to find you have to work harder for the solution - the game pushed me to think really hard at times. But the sense of accomplishment you get when you finally work out the puzzles is great!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A fun meta-puzzler. You'll have to interact with the game files to progress in this game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Loved the demo, enjoyed the full game! Puzzles stumped me a little at times. The graphics and story are great!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →fun simple game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I like this dev and their work, and this was a fun change of pace for them. Instead of an emotional visual novel, it's a semi-spooky horror game that messes around with you a bit, offers really interesting puzzles, and has a really interesting hook to it. Good short game to play for the Halloween season.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It took me a while to get to this game but AAAAAAA it was worth it and I'm so glad I finally sat down and played it! It feels like a really good mixture of OneShot + classic RPG maker horror + VN, it's super well presented and I did not expect some of the plot twists/puzzle solutions. It's absolutely worth buying and playing if you love these sorts of things! I think the only critiques I would have would be: - Being able to reply the game. I know I've seen a few other reviews state this, but…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →CAUTION: part of this game "happens" in your files, like in DDLC. I really liked this game, but struggled streaming it since I didn't want to use window capture, so my audience couldn't "see" what was happening. My overall feelings are mixed, but decided to leave a positive review, since it's a game worth checking out. Storytelling, the art style and the puzzles were nice, and I will remember this little gem forever as one of the strangest games I've played. A couple of the puzzles were very…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great game, definitely had fun with this one. Puzzles were great, you just gotta think outside the :^) love games like these. Good job devs.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →very strongly recommend! i played the original game jam version a while back, and enjoyed solving the additional puzzles in this version! it's a very well thought out work, and the horror elements aren't overly disturbing, so you might still be able to enjoy this game if you aren't good with scary stuff!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A really fun mystery that makes use of its nature as a computer game to offer unique mechanics. Loved how puzzle solutions are related to places you wouldn't usually associate with typical gameplay. Spooky enough to be a good, short, Halloween game too!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A really fun and surprising game! Clever puzzles, with a fun and unique setup. I've played several npckc games now and they always do something new and interesting. I'm a big fan!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →While some puzzles can be time-consuming, experiencing the creative, outside-the-box thinking put into this game was worth it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a nice puzzle game with some horror-esque elements to it. On top of that, the art-style of this game is really cute and sweet. The length of the game is fairly short, even if some puzzles may force one to sit back and think for a while. Additionally, I found the "meta" aspect of fiddling with the game-files and whatnot pretty cool.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A Pet Shop After Dark Coming To Nintendo Switch Viridian Software, working with Npckc, has announced that A Pet Shop After Dark is coming to Nintendo Switch on November 12, 2026.
neutral · AI labelView post →love this game is was a super interesting mystery way of doing things would be cool if at the end the camera turns on
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short game but holy hell is it clever, what an awesome way to do puzzles
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →not worth it puzzles are tedious and get old quick
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Genius game. Must be played on a desktop pc though.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love cute horror games like this and the artstyle and set up was way too adorable to pass up on! What really impressed me though was the gameplay, using its meta narrative for some really clever and innovative 4th wall breaking puzzles! I won't say too much out of risk of spoiling the experience, but the only game I can think of to compare it to is DDLC. And if I'm comparing it to one of the powerhouses of the genre you know you got something good here! Criminally underrated!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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