Cozy gaming is currently a big trend, and what could be more comfortable than running a coffee shop in the countryside? In real life, the pressure of bills and managing staff would probably spoil this idyllic vision, but in the video game we can skip those worries and focus on serving pastries and hot chocolates to the friendly locals. Critter Cafe is a light-hearted cafe management adventure, enhanced with adorable critters.
The premise of Critter Cafe is simple. Your character has escaped from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and taken over the running of a local coffee shop, with the task of making it successful. Before you get started, you create your character, choosing from tons of colorful and cute options, allowing you to create the avatar of your dreams. This is followed by the renovation of the cafe, with many key details and decorations.
I spent a lot of time trying to find the right atmosphere for my cafe, deciding on a pink wall and floor scheme. You also need to set up tables, chairs and toys for your creatures, although this is more for aesthetics than practicality. As long as you have chairs for guests, your cafe will function and you will be able to serve them all the treats they ask for.
Most of your time at the Critter Cafe will be spent serving guests, which involves solving a few simple mini-games. Pouring coffee to a certain line and choosing the right cakes is pretty simple, but there’s also a rhythm minigame that, for some reason, is drawing latte art. All of this is very simple, but interesting enough for casual play.
Unlike most games where you run a business to earn money, in Critter Cafe all the decorations and furniture are free. All you get for serving guests is experience. As you progress through the level, you unlock new chairs and floor patterns (although I rarely add them as I already like the current design), as well as opening passages outside the cafe.
These passages, or rifts, lead you to new Critters, trapped in small dungeons that contain a puzzle or two. If you like moving boxes on switches, you’re in luck, because that’s the main mechanic of these passages. As you progress, you get new gear, like a hammer to break crystals and a boomerang to activate switches, but it’s all pretty simple and it’s not challenging to reach your new sweet friend.
When you get a new Critter, it needs a little attention before it starts working in the cafe. This includes petting, washing and playing with him in your shelter, after which he will be ready to go. I expected the pets to help me run the cafe, but aside from the occasional passive bonus, they mostly just get in the way and make it harder to serve guests. This is a missed opportunity and can be quite irritating at times.
Critters, however, can be useful in other ways, such as hosting parties for guests. This is another way to create an experience, where by catering to guests’ favorite colors, themes and plush friends, you ensure they have a great time in your cafe. It is not difficult to fulfill all the requirements, which at least allows for maximum stress-free experience.
The gameplay of Critter Cafe is not very high intensity, but it is pleasant enough to relax. However, the game lacks charm beyond the visuals – there are no characters you can really interact with and no story to follow. The world outside the cafe is nice, but you rarely have a reason to explore it, other than a few pieces of new furniture hidden in the back of the way. Everything feels a bit lifeless, which is not exactly what I expected from a game about good atmosphere and cute creatures.
Critter Cafe is a solid cozy game, but it lacks elements that would set it apart from similar titles. You’ll enjoy being served delicious food and drinks, but you’ll never feel motivated to continue through the game. While not a bad way to spend an evening after a busy day, Critter Cafe is still too lifeless to be worth playing through.
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