Games Like Little Merchant

You wake up in a rented room above the square with a satchel, a handful of coins and a note from your landlady. No shop, no name, no plan. Just a town full of people who need something for a cough, a burn or a bad night's sleep, and a hillside full of herbs nobody bothers to pick.

Gather nettles, lavender and bellflowers along the paths, or in the neighbours' gardens when nobody's looking. If the guard catches you, he'll want a word, and a fine.

Back at your bench, open the recipe book, choose what to brew and how strong to make it. Time the green notch right and the potion is ready early.

Mornings fill the square with buyers, evenings belong to the tavern crowd. At night the moon thistle opens on the Belvedere, odd customers slip out of the alleys and the guards only see what's under their lanterns. Stay out too late, though, and you'll pay for it in the morning.

Sell your first herbs to Bertoldo at the Loggia, at his prices. Save up for a licence and a stall of your own, then for the boarded-up shop old Anselmo is trying to get rid of. Hire young Tonio to mind the counter while you're out gathering. Every step makes life a little easier. The big deals are still yours to make.