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Best Served Cold

Best Served Cold Game Cover
93%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, replayability
93% User Score Based on 239 reviews
Critic Score 95%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Mac OSXboxWindowsPlayStation
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Best Served Cold Game Cover

About

Best Served Cold is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by Rogueside and was released on May 5, 2025. It received very positive reviews from both critics and players.

In an alternate history Europe, you run “The Nightcap,” the last speakeasy where mixing drinks and uncovering secrets go hand in hand. As a detective bartender, you listen to diverse patrons—from wealthy dandies to crooked cops—and navigate their twisted schemes. Engage with 20 unique characters across five cases to save your bar and unravel a deep mystery.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Best Served Cold screenshot
Best Served Cold screenshot
Best Served Cold screenshot
Best Served Cold screenshot
Best Served Cold screenshot
Best Served Cold screenshot
Best Served Cold screenshot
Best Served Cold screenshot
Best Served Cold screenshot
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93%
Audience ScoreBased on 239 reviews
story63 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • Engaging and well-written characters that feel three-dimensional, making players invested in their stories.
  • Charming atmosphere with beautiful graphics and sound design, creating an immersive experience.
  • Interesting mystery mechanics that blend detective work with bartending, providing a unique gameplay twist.
  • Gameplay can become repetitive, particularly with the drink mixing mini-game and the clue connection mechanics.
  • Some players may find the mysteries too easy to solve, lacking challenging twists.
  • The ending feels abrupt, with a lack of epilogue or closure for character relationships, leaving some storylines unresolved.
  • story
    131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is widely praised for its engaging narrative, well-developed characters, and strong writing, often likened to an interactive novel. Players appreciate the depth and relatability of the characters, as well as the meaningful dialogue that enhances their investment in the story arcs. While some critiques mention pacing issues and a desire for more character interactions, the overall consensus is that the story is captivating, with intriguing plot twists and a rich atmosphere that keeps players immersed.

    • “The character art, writing, and story are really strong!”
    • “Each case, each character, and the overall story also have very relatable and often topical themes that are done very well, and each conversation feels meaningful and helps deepen your understanding of the characters and their respective situations.”
    • “The writing was absolutely sublime: top-notch characters, an intriguing overarching story, lush world-building, a captivating ambiance––this truly nailed the vibe it was going for, and I loved it.”
    • “The story does have weight, but it’s told in a way that feels more like a museum audio guide than an immersive journey.”
    • “It's not a very good story and the characters are kind of boring, barring one or two, and everyone looks like a girl, even the male characters.”
    • “The game also has a few story inconsistencies with the prologue and the rest of the game.”
  • gameplay
    77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature, particularly in the drink mixing and clue mechanics, which can feel rigid and slow. While some appreciate the game's focus on narrative and character interactions, others feel that the mechanics detract from the overall experience, making it more akin to an interactive novel than a gameplay-heavy title. Despite its shortcomings, the engaging story and atmosphere have kept players invested, appealing primarily to those who prioritize narrative over gameplay variety.

    • “Amazing story and addictive gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is good, the story is exciting.”
    • “It's got high quality art, solid storytelling, and an immersive detective mechanic that you can get lost in for several hours without getting bored whatsoever.”
    • “With only one drink per guest per day and limited ways to interact, the gameplay feels rigid and slow, especially when progress depends on timing rather than deduction.”
    • “The gameplay itself is incredibly repetitive; all the bartender does is mix drinks—and it's not even mixing.”
    • “However, the crude mechanics, typos, lack of character memory of past choices, and simple clue-bashing make the game feel a little unpolished and like it doesn't live up to its full potential.”
  • graphics
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning art style and immersive atmosphere, effectively capturing the 1920s speakeasy vibe. Reviewers highlight the beautiful artwork, charming character designs, and cohesive aesthetics that enhance the storytelling experience. While some mention minor issues with animation stiffness, the overall visual presentation is considered top-notch, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “Lovely atmosphere with great graphics and sound design.”
    • “The art style and overall aesthetics were gorgeous too and only helped to draw me in further.”
    • “Artwork and soundtrack are absolutely lovely, perfectly creating the atmosphere of a secretive, yet cozy 1920's speakeasy.”
    • “The visuals are serviceable: a gritty, muted art style that fits the tone, though animations can feel stiff at times.”
    • “Visuals and animations could be better.”
    • “The graphics are charming and the 'puzzles' - pouring the drinks - is quite easy to master (although, amusingly, sometimes it's fun to be bad).”
  • music
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the jazzy tracks that perfectly complement the speakeasy setting. While the soundtrack is generally considered excellent and immersive, some players noted that it becomes repetitive over time and expressed a desire for more varied tracks. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm, creating a cozy yet mysterious ambiance that resonates with players.

    • “The light jazz music perfectly accompanies the mood while the characters are incredibly well written, so you feel that connection with them.”
    • “Artwork and soundtrack are absolutely lovely, perfectly creating the atmosphere of a secretive, yet cozy 1920's speakeasy.”
    • “The visuals and music are also top-shelf, transporting you to a more glamorous world.”
    • “Finally, the music gets very repetitive after a while.”
    • “Only con I have is the limited soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack adds to the grim atmosphere, and the voice acting (where present) is decent, though some scenes would benefit from fuller audio work.”
  • atmosphere
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its cozy, immersive qualities, enhanced by beautiful graphics, sound design, and thematic elements reminiscent of a 1920s speakeasy. Players appreciate the engaging world, interesting characters, and the overall pleasant vibe, although some note that the gameplay can become repetitive. While the atmosphere is a standout feature, it may not satisfy those seeking more complex gameplay or deduction mechanics.

    • “Lovely atmosphere with great graphics and sound design.”
    • “Artwork and soundtrack are absolutely lovely, perfectly creating the atmosphere of a secretive, yet cozy 1920's speakeasy.”
    • “The beautiful art and the music create a pretty immersive atmosphere, and I really appreciated the Romanian references both in the names and the dialogue.”
    • “The soundtrack adds to the grim atmosphere, and the voice acting (where present) is decent, though some scenes would benefit from fuller audio work.”
    • “The characters and the atmosphere absolutely pull you in!”
    • “Cozy atmosphere, gripping stories and charming characters.”
  • character development
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the character development in the game is highly praised, with many reviewers noting the depth and complexity of the characters and their stories. Players appreciate the meaningful interactions and the progression of character arcs, often comparing the development favorably to that found in books and movies. However, some express a desire for more conclusive endings in romantic storylines, while the character designs receive mixed feedback, with some finding them exceptional and others less favorable.

    • “I loved the story, the character development, and the small interactions with every character (even if they were pointless to the case).”
    • “Good detective game, surprising turns and twists, beautifully written... meaningful character developments, covers lots of real-life topics, lots of wisdom.”
    • “Best served cold is wonderful for anyone who loves story-driven games that offer well-rounded and interesting character development and plot.”
    • “The character designer especially isn't helping and is probably more guilty than most of the culprits in this game alone.”
    • “This game has better character development than a lot of books and movies.”
    • “The characters were interesting and the mysteries were entertaining, but the character development felt lacking.”
  • emotional
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring well-written, relatable characters and a touching narrative that reflects real-world issues, particularly within a prohibition-era setting. While some elements may feel overly simplistic, the emotional complexity and slow-burning storytelling create a compelling experience that resonates with players, making it both engaging and thought-provoking. Overall, it offers a mix of intrigue and emotional weight, appealing to those who appreciate morally complex narratives.

    • “It's also very clever to only allow for confessions in the last case, because thanks to that, it isn't jarring that we don't get anything else afterwards, since it's literally only the very start of the relationship (or the promise of a start later in the future, in [spoiler]John's[/spoiler] case - though don't let that discourage you, as said confession scene was incredibly touching in my opinion).”
    • “The mysteries were compelling and the characters were well written, relatable, and emotionally complex.”
    • “Best served cold is not a game for everyone—it’s slow-burning, morally complex, and emotionally heavy.”
  • grinding
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some describe it as tedious, particularly in repetitive tasks like replaying cases or farming for affection, others appreciate the engaging detective mechanics and character interactions that make the grind feel more enjoyable. Overall, the grinding elements can detract from the experience but are often balanced by the game's strengths.

    • “Honestly, I was unsure about it because the gameplay seemed a bit repetitive and tedious to me, and because people were saying that the romance aspect was unsatisfying (I strongly prefer visual novels with romance aspects).”
    • “It's got a solid detective mechanic and the characters are fun to interact with, which makes the occasionally grindy element of grilling everyone on every piece of info until you find the next clue more enjoyable than tedious.”
    • “The ending was great, the general gameplay was great, but it got a little tedious towards the end when I missed a key part in a case and had to replay it twice just to make sure I got the culprit.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is noted for its clever dialogue and memorable lines, providing genuine insight and amusement. Players appreciate the quirky and unexpected ways humor is integrated into the narrative, such as the unconventional conclusion to the murder mystery. Overall, the game's comedic elements leave a lasting impression, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The world is kind of funny.”
    • “I was literally taking screenshots at points because I thought the dialogue had some genuinely good insight at times, and even months after finishing the game, I can still distinctly remember some humorous lines from the characters and even the protagonist.”
    • “It's just funny to wrap up your murder mystery with a ten-second video and a main menu button rather than, I don't know, a one-year-later 'where are they now' paragraph or something.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is mixed; some players find it a one-time experience with little incentive to replay, while others believe it could be enjoyable again after a break to refresh the story. Overall, it appears that replay value may vary significantly among players.

    • “Pure joy to play, and while replayability looks possible, I'll need to wait a while so the story feels fresh again.”
    • “Replayability: 0/10.”
    • “Pure joy to play, but while replayability seems possible, I'll need to wait a while for the story to feel fresh again.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report occasional bugs affecting gameplay stability, such as issues with clue presentations that can disrupt action counters and prevent players from unlocking certain achievements. These glitches can lead to confusion and missed opportunities within the game.

    • “It would get buggy at times; some clue presentations wouldn't bring down the action counter, and I even got a -1. I'm not complaining in that case, but I also missed out on the Steam achievement 'Talk to every customer at least once,' and I don't know how I finished the game without getting it.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to progress. I've lost hours of gameplay due to these stability issues.”
    • “I encountered several glitches that disrupted my experience, including characters getting stuck and quests not triggering properly.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's opening cutscene features impressive performances, highlighting a missed opportunity due to the absence of voiced dialogue in other sections, which affects overall immersion and optimization of narrative delivery.

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95%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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5h Median play time
5h Average play time
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Frequently Asked Questions

Best Served Cold is a casual role playing game.

Best Served Cold is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing Best Served Cold.

Best Served Cold was released on May 5, 2025.

Best Served Cold was developed by Rogueside.

Best Served Cold has received very positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Best Served Cold is a single player game.

Similar games include Tavern Talk - A Cozy Visual Novel, Lacuna, Tangle Tower, Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved, The Operator and others.