Progressing through a video game will usually require the player to fulfill certain criteria by obtaining items, weapons, and more. Oftentimes these trinkets can be uncovered while exploring a world or advancing a story, but they can also be bought from shops if the player has amassed enough money.
Certain games require shops to be visited to continue the story, but not all of them are suited to the world in which they exist. Some can only be utilized by the player and, though they may appear open to the public, this isn't always the case. No matter how they are presented, some shops exist solely to sate the needs of the protagonist.
6 Wantz - Final Fantasy 10
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Upon setting out from the Island of Besaid, Tidus will encounter a suspicious merchant who asks for a donation. Most shopkeepers would offer something of value in exchange for any sum, but O'aka XXIII has nothing to give apart from the promise of a discount in the future. Though he eventually keeps his word and offers the protagonist some cheap deals, it can be assumed he used this trick on many people before.
Wantz, O'aka's younger brother, is also a traveling merchant, but he only offers his wares to one person. As a devout follower of Lady Yuna, Wantz trails after her towards the end of her pilgrimage as a means of supplying her with whatever goods she requires to complete her journey. He introduces himself to the party on Mt. Gagazet and promises to contribute as much as he can if it helps Yuna in her upcoming battle against Sin. His sole purpose is to supply the party with what they need, so Yuna is likely his only customer.
5 The Floating T-Shirt - The Simpsons: Hit & Run
Many would assume that the go-to place to buy something in any Simpson's game would be the Kwik-E-Mart due to its iconic position in the TV series. This isn't the case for The Simpsons: Hit & Run, however, as the only way to purchase the necessary items is to either confront Old Gill and buy a car or to approach a floating t-shirt and buy an outfit.
These floating t-shirts can be found in every level and will each offer a unique set of clothes for the protagonist to wear. Some of these outfits are required to complete certain missions, so the player will need to seek them out and utilize them multiple times throughout a playthrough. Unlike Old Gill, it is likely NPCs are unable to take advantage of this magical t-shirt to update their wardrobe, leaving the game's protagonists as the only people capable of approaching or even seeing it.
4 The Trapper's Shop - Red Dead Redemption 2
If not for the Trapper, Arthur Morgan would struggle a great deal with selling his animal skins. Though this may not seem overly bothersome, carrying around certain skins will prohibit certain characters from riding on the same horse as Arthur and will often force the player to abandon their profitable merchandise to progress the story.
Though the Trapper has his own stall in Saint-Denis where he can sell his wares, the only person to ever visit is Arthur. While exploring the world, however, characters donning animal skin will be encountered, proving that the Trapper does do business with other people. It can be assumed that most will opt to browse his wares in Saint-Denis, but certain popup shops belonging to the Trapper are spread throughout the wilderness and dedicated solely to serving Arthur himself.
3 Beedle's Shop Ship - The Legend Of Zelda
Beedle made his first appearance in The Legend of Zelda series in The Wind Waker and has gone on to supply Link with countless items in multiple entries since. His role in The Wind Waker is to venture across the vast ocean in search of people to sell his wares to, but the only other sea explorer present in the game is Link.
Even if Beedle were to find willing customers to sell his stock to, his assistant manager's disguise is likely to deter them from browsing. It's never explained why this alter ego is reserved solely for Link, but few will linger on the reasoning upon taking a quick look at his astonishing wares.
2 Emil's Shop - NieR: Automata
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Emil is first encountered by 9S and 2B in the Mall Complex across from the Resistance Camp. Though the young robot tries to make friends with the two androids, 9S seems more interested in attacking the machine, a desire that prompts Emil to flee. To make a living in this broken world, Emil sets out to profit from the materials he has collected throughout his long life.
Emil returns later to offer his services to the androids in the form of a portable shop. He can be found speeding around the front of the Resistance Camp and will allow the androids to browse his wares if he is stopped. Given that NieR: Automata takes place in such a desolate wasteland, it is likely that 2B, 9S, and eventually A2 will be the only customers he ever deals with.
1 The Moogle's Shop - Kingdom Hearts 3
The original Kingdom Hearts introduced Moogles as humble store owners who resided above the Accessory Shop in Traverse Town. As the series progressed, their role became less important, and they were subsequently stripped of their store. Even without a facility to advertise their stock, the moogles have created a successful business by placing certain holographs all across the galaxy.
To continue purchasing their wares now, Sora must approach a holographic image of a floating Moogle holding a balloon. These shops exist somewhere in every world, but no one ever questions or acknowledges their existence apart from Sora. If the Moogle shop is invisible to everyone except Sora, the young keyblade wielder is likely their only customer.