Pirated discs of Whole-Life 2, Sticky Hands, Frustyle Soda, Cup Noodles, and a few other items kept under the counter. Indie studio Perelesoq has released a free demo on Steam for Lenin Street Geek Shop, its new story-driven simulation game.
Set in the early 2000s, Lenin Street Geek Shop puts players in charge of a street kiosk that draws subculture fans and self-described geeks. As the owner, you interact with a colorful cast of customers and keep the business running.
The game is steeped in nostalgia for anyone who ever bought snacks at a neighborhood kiosk, browsed bootleg discs, and dreamed of running the shop themselves. The subculture vibe of the turn of the millennium and the analog charm of a street-corner stall create a cozy atmosphere that will resonate with players who lived through that era.
Kirill, the Boy Who Quit School to Send His Mom to the Sea
Players take on the role of Kirill, a high school student who drops out to save money for a better life and to give his mother a beach vacation. He runs the kiosk for four days.
The merchandise is pure period nostalgia: pirated discs of classic-feeling games like Whole-Life 2 and Fast Family Fun, sticky hands, Frustyle drinks, cup noodles, and more.
Players can also strike shady deals with suspicious characters, such as selling Krotovukha at triple the price.
Realistic moral choices add to the simulation. You can shortchange customers on purpose to pocket extra profit, but word gets around, and your shop’s reputation takes a hit.
Pog Battles, Minigames, and Kiosk Decorating
Beyond running the kiosk, there’s plenty more to do.
Challenge neighborhood kids to pog battles to win collectibles, play minigames on the PC, and decorate your shop with posters and signs. You can even feed a mysterious creature that lives in the shack next to the kiosk.
Step out onto the street, and you’ll get tangled up in the neighborhood’s problems.
Stop an outbreak of “pixelpox” spreading among the kids, broker peace between rival subculture groups, and help young lovers escape a strict father. These slice-of-life stories from an analog community promise to add plenty to the simulation.
Pixel Art Meets PS1-Style 3D
The game combines richly colored pixel art with PS1-style 3D graphics reminiscent of early-2000s games. perelesoq says it used no AI, creating all textures, 3D models, music, and text by hand.
The demo runs about one to two hours and includes story scenes and items exclusive to the demo.
It packs in the hectic life of a kiosk owner, from street fights and romantic drama to difficult customers, the pixelpox crisis, beatboxing lessons, and under-the-table deals.
Completing a special quest earns a rare item for the full game plus a hidden cartoon clip. “Unlike the ‘fake secret endings’ your childhood friends swore were real, these rewards actually exist,” the studio said.
The Studio Behind Torn Away
Founded in 2019, perelesoq is a small indie studio focused on games with deep narratives and striking audiovisual presentation.
In 2023, it released Torn Away, an adventure about a child’s heartbreaking journey through World War II, to critical acclaim. The game later expanded to consoles and won multiple international awards.
“We’ve kept making games despite financial hardship,” the studio said. “With this new title, we want to tell a story with deep empathy, humor, and warm comfort for people who grew up in that era.”
Who This Is For
Strong fit for: players nostalgic for early-2000s subculture, bootleg games, and neighborhood kiosks; fans of shopkeeping sims with story and moral choices, in the spirit of Papers, Please meets cozy slice-of-life; anyone who loves pixel art and PS1-style 3D; players who value fully handmade, AI-free games; fans of Torn Away.
Cautious fit for: players who need confirmed language support or a release date before diving in.
Less ideal for: those looking for a deep economic management sim; the focus is on story and characters.
What to Watch For
Next steps include a release date and platform details, as well as how the full game expands beyond the demo’s four-day structure. The demo-exclusive quest rewards that carry into the full game give early players a reason to try it now.
The Takeaway
Lenin Street Geek Shop takes a small, specific memory — the corner kiosk full of bootleg discs and strange snacks — and turns it into a warm, funny story about a teenager trying to do right by his mother. Moral shortcuts with real consequences, pog battles, pixelpox, and a mystery creature next door give it plenty of personality, and perelesoq’s handmade pixel-and-PS1 aesthetic suits it perfectly. From the studio behind Torn Away, it’s a demo well worth an hour or two.
Free demo: available now on Steam. Full release: TBA.
Information regarding ‘Lenin Street Geek Shop’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Game name | Lenin Street Geek Shop |
| Development and distribution | perelesoq |
| Genre | Story Simulation (Kiosk Operation) |
| platform | PC (Steam) |
| Trial version | Released on October 5, 2026, distributed for free on Steam (1-2 hours) |
| Release date | Undecided |
| language | Verification needed (check Steam page) |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
