Coffee Talk: PC, Nintendo Swtich,PS4 and Xbox One
Coffee Talk is a “coffee brewing and heart-to-heart talking simulator” by indie game company Toge Productions. The game is largely a visual novel, combined with simple (but sometimes challenging) gameplay of making warm beverages at your cafe. The game features nostalgic pixel graphics and an atmospheric lo-fi soundtrack, which has certainly replaced all of my “1hr Lo-fi + Rain Ambience (chill/study/sleep)” videos on YouTube.
The story is set in Seattle in an alternative space and time: fantasy creatures live in this reimagined city, as the characters range from humans to succubi, elves, vampires, werewolves and more (super diverse cast, love that). These customers frequent our cafe, which is a little peculiar, in that it doesn’t open during the day; instead, we are a barista/master who only opens the cafe between the hours of dawn and midnight. When we are open, we welcome our customers with open arms, listen to their stories and sometimes give them thoughtful advice, all while serving tasty hot drinks. The cafe is like a safe haven. As the opening of the game suggests, though there are many stories left untold in this city, “some few find solace in the embrace of bricks and wood and glass”.
These “some few” truly make the game. Every customer is unique and it is almost impossible not to immediately become invested in their lives. You see them navigate their struggles, celebrate their triumphs and explore what it means to live in this world. What’s more, you (or the drinks you make) have the ability to influence this journey. When you get it right, best believe that the story will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside – metaphorically of course, but also literally if you so choose, as the game is also great for discovering new hot drinks! Be it tea, coffee or anything else, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at drinks you’re keen to try making from the in-game recipes.
Overall, this is the perfect game for a relaxing night in. You can also watch playthroughs online if you don’t feel like doing a whole lot of reading! It’s definitely a worthwhile experience – there’s just something about coffee, lo-fi and DnMs that brews the perfect recipe for the ultimate zen experience.
