# Pocket Market > Pocket Market is a free shop management game. During a 90-second shift you restock three shelves, serve customers before their patience runs out, buy upgrades with the coins you earn and save Express deliveries for the busiest moments. - Play it free: https://taprusharcade.com/games/pocket-market.html - Guide updated: 2026-10-19 - Categories: Strategy games ## Pocket Market at a glance - **Type:** Time-management strategy - **Players:** 1 - **How long:** 90-second shifts - **Skills:** Multitasking, prioritising - **Daily puzzle:** No, play any time - **Controls:** Keyboard, mouse or touch - **Works on:** Phones, tablets and computers in a web browser - **Price:** Free, no download or account ## Controls - 1 2 3: Restock a shelf - E: Use a charged Express - Esc: Cancel Express - Touch: Tap a shelf to restock it, then tap a ready order to serve it. ## How to play Pocket Market Tap a shelf to restock by up to two items after a short delay. An order card shows when it is ready or which products are missing. Tap a ready customer to serve and consume stock. Customers wait in a queue of up to four. Losing all three reputation hearts ends the shift; otherwise the shift lasts 90 seconds. ## Pocket Market scoring A served order earns points based on item count and your streak. It also earns coins for shop upgrades. Two-item orders become common as the shift progresses. Morning lasts 30 seconds, lunch rush starts at 30 seconds, and evening rush starts at 60 seconds. Customers arrive faster and have less patience in later phases. VIP orders have even less patience but award extra coins and points. ## Pocket Market strategy and tips #### Choose upgrades Faster Restock shortens each shelf refill. Bigger Shelves raise capacity. Both cost coins earned by serving customers; spending coins does not reduce your score. #### Use Express at the right moment Every five normally served customers charge an Express delivery. Tap Express, then tap any waiting order to serve it without using shelf stock. Tap Express again or press Escape to cancel selection. #### Earn a shift medal Serving 18 or more customers without losing a heart earns Gold. At least 12 earns Silver; otherwise a completed shift earns Bronze. Remaining reputation hearts add a final score bonus. A personal best is kept on this device. ### Run the shop without losing customers #### Opening: use the quiet time The shift starts with two of each product and one waiting customer. A shelf refill adds up to two items after about 1.3 seconds and costs no coins. Restock a shelf before it empties when the queue is short; you cannot start another refill on that shelf until its current one finishes. Morning adds a customer about every 4.5 seconds. The number keys 1, 2 and 3 restock the corresponding shelves. #### Read every item in an order After three customers are served, some orders need two products, including two of the same product. Serving consumes the required stock. Order cards say Ready or name missing products. A failed tap does not consume stock; the patience bar keeps shrinking. Red-bordered urgent orders have under four seconds left. Prioritize an urgent customer or refill for the next order. #### Prepare for lunch and evening rushes Lunch starts after 30 seconds and evening rush after 60. Standard patience falls from 16 to 13, then 11 seconds; VIPs wait two seconds less. Arrivals accelerate from about 4.5 to 3.8, then 3.2 seconds. Faster Refill begins at 25 coins and can be upgraded three times. Bigger Shelves begin at 25 coins and increase capacity by one per purchase, up to two purchases. Both later upgrades cost more. Refill speed helps with a busy queue; capacity lets you prepare stock ahead of a rush. #### Buy a supply drop in an emergency For 30 coins, a supply drop immediately adds up to two of each product without exceeding shelf capacity. It has a 12-second cooldown. Spend coins on it when several waiting orders need different products and the shelves are empty; save for permanent upgrades when the queue is calm. ### When to use Express Five normally served orders charge Express. Tap Express and choose any waiting customer; that order is served instantly without spending stock. Save it for a VIP, a two-item order, or a shelf still refilling. The E key toggles Express selection. The full 90-second shift awards Gold for at least 18 served with all three reputation hearts, Silver for at least 12 served, and Bronze otherwise; losing all three hearts ends the shift early. ## Common Pocket Market mistakes - **Restocking only when a shelf is empty.** A refill takes time, so top shelves up while the queue is short. - **Missing two-of-a-kind orders.** One fruit on the shelf cannot serve a fruit-plus-fruit order. - **Spending Express on an easy order.** Save it for a VIP, a two-item order or a shelf that is still refilling. - **Hoarding coins.** Spending them never lowers your score, and early upgrades pay back during the rushes. ## About Pocket Market Pocket Market is a Tap Rush Arcade original inspired by classic shop and diner time-management games, condensed into one 90-second shift with a quiet morning, a lunch rush and an evening rush. The shift ends early if you lose all three reputation hearts, and a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal at the end rewards both speed and keeping customers happy. ## Pocket Market: questions and answers ### Does restocking cost coins? No. Restocking takes time. Coins are spent on faster refills and larger shelf capacity. ### Why can’t I serve a customer yet? Check every requested product. A two-item order may ask for two of the same product. ### Does Express need stock? No. Once charged, Express completes the first waiting order without consuming items. ### Why did a stocked order fail? Check whether it asks for two of the same item. One fruit on the shelf is insufficient for a fruit-plus-fruit order. ### What does the green bar under a customer mean? It shows remaining patience. When it empties, the customer leaves and the shop loses one reputation heart. ### Can I choose which order Express serves? Yes. Tap Express, then choose any waiting order. Tap Express again to cancel without spending the charge. ### What does the supply drop do? It costs 30 coins and immediately adds up to two of each product, up to shelf capacity. You can buy another after 12 seconds. ## Play next - [Circuit Siege](https://taprusharcade.com/games/circuit-siege.md): Hold three lanes with towers and an EMP. - [Star Forge](https://taprusharcade.com/games/star-forge.md): Collect starlight and time your Overdrive. - [Neon Swarm](https://taprusharcade.com/games/neon-swarm.md): Survive three waves and build your ship.