Cauldron

About

Cauldron is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by SleepyDad Games and was released on May 21, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Cauldron is a game about exploration, battling monsters, and leveling up your party through minigames. Gather resources to upgrade minigames, heroes, abilities, and more! Play as Nyx, a young witch cast into this darkness-covered world. Discover the truth and find new allies to help you on your journey! Play minigames to gather resources! Infinitely upgrade minigames, heroes, items, an…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,191 reviews

gameplay66 positive mentions

grinding58 negative mentions

The game features a variety of engaging mini-games that evolve as you progress, keeping the gameplay fresh and interesting.
The integration of RPG elements with idle mechanics allows for a satisfying progression system, where players can choose to play actively or let the game run in the background.
The charming art style and humorous dialogue add to the overall enjoyment, making it a delightful experience for players.

The game can become repetitive, especially during multiple playthroughs required to unlock all content, which may lead to player fatigue.
Some mini-games, particularly fishing and ice breaking, are less enjoyable and can feel tedious compared to others.
The combat system, while functional, often encourages auto-battling, which can detract from the strategic depth that some players may expect.

gameplay
200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
64%
3%
The gameplay of "Cauldron" is characterized by a blend of simple yet engaging mini-games that evolve through upgrade trees, creating a satisfying and addictive loop of progression. While some players find the mechanics repetitive and lacking depth, others appreciate the variety and the integration of idle mechanics that allow for passive resource accumulation. Overall, the game offers a unique mix of incremental gameplay, RPG elements, and casual fun, appealing particularly to fans of idle and incremental genres.
- “The gameplay centers on a few simple-seeming mini-games that transform wildly as you traverse their upgrade trees.”
- “Its fusion of RPG mechanics, idle systems, and minigame-driven progression creates an experience that feels endlessly rewarding without becoming exhausting.”
- “The gameplay loop is very addictive.”
- “If you are into games where you have to do a lot of stuff, this might be for you, but for me, the core gameplay is a bit too simple.”
- “What you might not realize from the trailer or the tags is that 'Cauldron' is not a creative RPG mixed with mini-games to level stats; it's actually just an incremental game slopfest with not just dated, but poorly implemented RPG mechanics.”
- “Very limited content, very empty world, very repetitive minimal gameplay.”
story
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The story in the game is generally perceived as simplistic and often lacks depth, with many reviewers noting that it feels basic or generic, primarily serving as a backdrop to the gameplay. While some players appreciate the quirky characters and lighthearted dialogue, others find the writing cringe-worthy and the plot unremarkable, with minimal progression until the end. Despite these criticisms, the game is praised for its engaging minigames and overall fun mechanics, which can make the experience enjoyable even if the story itself is not the main highlight.
- “The story is deeper than it seems, requiring multiple playthroughs to get the true ending.”
- “The story is fun and has a nice array of characters to make your own party build from.”
- “Great humor, enough mystery for a good story and some great pixel vibes.”
- “The story is kind of basic and repetitive, but the world and pixel graphics are charming.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional, with one quirk that defines everything they do, making the story progression feel shallow.”
- “The dialogue and story are annoying at best; honestly, you could skip every single line of dialogue and miss nothing.”
grinding
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight a mixed reception regarding the grinding aspect of the game. While some players appreciate the grind as a core element that offers satisfaction and progression, others find it tedious and repetitive, especially when it requires multiple runs of the same content. Overall, the game caters well to fans of grinding and incremental gameplay, but may frustrate those seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “Finishing off the 5 other game modes was an absolute slog, and I can't imagine how much time I would have wasted if I went for the massive amount of grinding achievements.”
- “You're basically told to beat a very grindy game multiple times to truly beat it.”
- “It gets way too grindy towards the end, though, and genuinely it overstays its welcome.”
music
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
38%
6%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising its catchy, nostalgic chiptune style that enhances the overall experience and keeps players engaged. While some find the soundtrack repetitive or generic, others appreciate its ability to evolve with gameplay, creating a vibrant atmosphere that complements the game's mechanics. Overall, the music is often described as enjoyable and memorable, contributing positively to the game's charm.
- “The soundtrack complements this tone with light, melodic tracks that reinforce the game’s cozy yet compulsive atmosphere, perfectly suited for long play sessions where 'just one more upgrade' becomes the prevailing mindset.”
- “Like old chiptunes, the music in this game will keep on playing in your head long after you finish playing.”
- “A thoroughly enjoyable idle game with a stellar soundtrack, several of which have made it into my regular playlists.”
- “Music does feel repetitive and overused.”
- “The music is generic.”
- “Lastly, uhhh the music sucks.”
graphics
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
66%
7%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and detailed pixel art style that evokes a nostalgic retro aesthetic, appealing to fans of classic RPGs. While many players appreciate the cute and whimsical visuals, some have noted performance issues and a desire for more polish and variety in the graphical elements. Overall, the art style contributes positively to the game's relaxing atmosphere, despite some technical limitations.
- “Visually, the game’s pixel-art style strikes a careful balance between clarity and personality.”
- “The pixel-style graphics were what initially caught my attention and they didn’t disappoint.”
- “The game sports a charming, cartoonish pixel art style.”
- “The graphics and art could definitely use a bit more polishing, and it does kind of annoy me that there wasn't a lot of thought put into the themes of power-ups and stuff (like, why are there chess pieces in the mines?), but ignoring that it's still incredibly addicting all the way through.”
- “But this game has crashed my PC (graphics card) so hard that I had to force shut it down, not once but twice in the little time I was playing.”
- “In terms of performance, even on my pretty decent gaming laptop, I need to have this game at minimal settings just to have it run smoothly, despite the game not looking very graphically demanding.”
humor
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cute and funny writing, quirky characters, and engaging dialogue, often enhanced by entertaining skits and mini-games. Many players find the humor to be a delightful aspect that adds charm and depth to the gameplay, although some feel it could have been more prevalent to alleviate monotony. Overall, the blend of humor with engaging mechanics creates a fun and addictive experience for players.
- “The writing is cute and funny, and there are also a lot of character skits to discover, if that's your thing.”
- “A brilliant not-so-idle game with cute ideas, funny dialogues, and many minigames.”
- “The characters have short scenes together that unlock after battling as a team, and the character writing and humor in their dialogue really shines!”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
45%
13%
The game offers high replayability through a variety of modes, including relaxed and challenging variants, which encourage experimentation and keep gameplay fresh. Players appreciate the inclusion of multiple minigames and quality of life improvements that enhance the experience, making it engaging for hours or days. However, some reviewers note that as an idle game, it may not offer groundbreaking replayability despite its diverse content.
- “Replayability is high, with each playthrough offering unique ways to play the game.”
- “The new game modes give great replayability and change it up just enough to keep the game engaging.”
- “Creative, fun and has enough replayable content to play for hours or days if you so choose.”
- “Still though, it is an idle game, so don't expect anything groundbreaking in the replayability department even with these different modes.”
- “If the minigame or RPG components were actually important to the designers, then they'd be more playable.”
- “It even has some added replayability with multi saves and modes with variations that actually change the playstyle/difficulty instead of just a bland 'new game+' prestige.”
optimization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The optimization of "Cauldron" has received mixed reviews, with players appreciating the game's focus on progression and hands-on optimization, but many experiencing performance issues even on capable hardware, often needing to lower graphics settings significantly for smooth gameplay. While recent updates have improved performance, some users still find that the game can become unplayable at higher optimization levels, leading to a reliance on auto-play features. Overall, the game offers a balance between manual and automatic optimization, but its performance remains a notable concern for many players.
- “Rather than pushing players through a linear narrative or a traditional RPG grind, Cauldron embraces progression as its central fantasy, making constant improvement, discovery, and optimization the core rewards of play.”
- “Few games manage to make both hands-on optimization and hands-off progression feel equally valid, and Cauldron succeeds by respecting the player’s preferred pace.”
- “Fabulous, as well as all that optional optimization (everything has an auto option).”
- “In terms of performance, even on my pretty decent gaming laptop, I need to have this game at minimal settings just to have it run smoothly, despite the game not looking very graphically demanding.”
- “I think the main issue I have with Cauldron is that the extra modes very rapidly evolve into a point where outside of some very specific optimizations you might want to do, you're probably better off just tweaking the minigame difficulties upward and letting the game auto-play them for you as a mostly hands-off experience.”
- “Performance is legitimately wack, rare game where a sideways thumb gets the upvote though.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players describe the emotional experience of the game as a mix of nostalgia and wholesome enjoyment, highlighting the camaraderie and satisfaction derived from incremental progress. While some feel the gameplay can be mindless, the overall atmosphere and thematic elements resonate positively, evoking feelings of joy and engagement reminiscent of classic party-based RPGs. The emotional impact is tied to the simplicity and charm of the interactions, making it a fun escape for those who appreciate lighthearted gaming experiences.
- “Do you enjoy camaraderie and wholesome interactions?”
- “I recommend to others who enjoy the dopamine of seeing numbers go up based on player effort, and the setting and theming is a great bonus if you like wholesome 'a witch and her blob' type stories and/or are nostalgic for party-based RPGs.”
- “Maybe none of that stuff mattered and it was really just how the game made me feel while playing it and I'm trying to rationalize it.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
The game is praised for its monetization model, offering a satisfying experience without in-app purchases or ads, which enhances player engagement and enjoyment. At a price of $13.49, players feel they receive significant value, enjoying over 40 hours of gameplay without the interruptions common in many free-to-play titles. Overall, it stands out as a refreshing alternative to typical cash grab games.
- “You constantly want to keep improving, and this game really hits those dopamine receptors well with no in-app purchases.”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure you to spend money to enjoy the game.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of content without requiring any additional purchases.”
- “I wish I could find more idle/play as much as you want games, as most games are the endless type that have no clear end goal (100%) or they are cash grab games I refuse to play.”
- “I love idle games, but there's always microtransactions and ads, so this is so perfect.”
- “But, for $13.49, I got 40+ hours of fun out of it without having to watch a bunch of royal match ads.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is criticized for its uninspired designs, with characters resembling generic creations rather than unique individuals. While the character portraits are well-executed, the overall design lacks creativity, leading to a sense of laziness in the character representations.
- “The character portraits for Blinkie and the protagonist are well done, but the character designs themselves are uninspired. The original character literally just looks like an OC made from a traced Stardew Valley villager portrait and dressed up in Halloween clothes.”
- “Similarly, character designs are as lazy as it gets.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a cozy yet compulsive vibe, enhanced by a light, melodic soundtrack that encourages extended play sessions. Players find the game cute and engaging, with mini-games that quickly shift from charming to chaotic, adding to the overall immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack complements this tone with light, melodic tracks that reinforce the game’s cozy yet compulsive atmosphere, perfectly suited for long play sessions where 'just one more upgrade' becomes the prevailing mindset.”
- “A very cute atmospheric game with mini-games that quickly evolve into madness.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates excellent stability on the Steam Deck, allowing for significant battery life extension by lowering the TDP during idle periods. However, players are advised against setting the TDP too low during more intense gameplay scenarios, such as with the apple or crystal games, as this may lead to performance issues.
- “Bonus points, it runs great on the Steam Deck!”
- “The game runs great on the Steam Deck, and you can lower your TDP massively when you're idling to get hours of battery life on this game. I wouldn't recommend leaving TDP too low when playing the Apple or Crystal games, as they can get a bit hectic!”