Coffee Shop Tycoon

Some truly satisfying management and creativity options lay deep within the confines of Coffee Shop Tycoon, but frustrating early game micromanagement and a weak UI might prevent many players from reaching that rich centre.

82%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

music, story

86% User Score Based on 407 reviews

Critic Score 65%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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About

Coffee Shop Tycoon is a single player casual strategy game. It was developed by Riff Studios and was released on December 19, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

In Coffee Shop Tycoon, players build and manage their own bustling coffee shop, crafting delicious drinks and pastries, and upgrading their shop to attract more customers. Stay on top of trends, choose from a variety of equipment and decorations, and keep customers happy to grow your business. With strategic decision-making and a knack for customization, players can become a thriving coffee tycoon.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 407 reviews

gameplay19 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game has a charming art style and relaxing soundtrack, making it enjoyable to play.
The mechanics of managing a coffee shop, including creating custom drinks and managing employees, are engaging and fun.
The game offers a satisfying sense of progression as players unlock new content and features.

The user interface is confusing and unintuitive, making it difficult to navigate and manage tasks.
The game can become repetitive quickly, with limited content and objectives after reaching level 7.
There are several bugs and performance issues that can disrupt gameplay, including crashes and glitches.

gameplay
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The gameplay of this cafe simulator is characterized by its engaging mechanics for coffee roasting and drink creation, offering a well-paced progression system that allows players to unlock new features and locations. While the graphics are charming and the gameplay loop is initially enjoyable, many players note that it becomes repetitive and shallow over time, especially as they master the mechanics and complete the available content. As the game is still in early access, there are hopes for future updates to enhance variety and depth in gameplay.
- “Progression is well-paced and fairly linear, unlocking gameplay through custom drink creation and roasting as you play, in addition to the usual better machines, new locations, and bigger numbers.”
- “The clear linear progression and leveling up system along with the game having a nice fun gameplay loop was fantastic.”
- “The mechanics are sound, the graphics are smooth, and the menus are easy to read.”
- “The gameplay is pretty shallow, but that's to be expected for a game still in development.”
- “Can get repetitive and more boring towards the end as you've already learned all of the mechanics of the game and there's nothing new to add really, and your only goal becomes to reach a certain reputation which basically just means waiting for your shop to serve enough customers to up your reputation, rather than aiming for anything specifically to complete the quest.”
- “The idea is great, the concept has great potential, but the game just lacks gameplay, thrill, depth, logic, challenge, realism.”
graphics
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
81%
7%
The graphics of Coffee Shop Tycoon are generally described as simple and basic, with a cutesy, cartoonish charm that some players appreciate for its minimalist aesthetic. While the art style is considered fitting for the game's theme, many reviewers note that the graphics and user interface lack detail and polish, leading to a perception of effortlessness in design. Overall, the visuals may not be high-tech or intricate, but they contribute to a laid-back gameplay experience, despite some technical issues and lag.
- “Graphically, Coffee Shop Tycoon isn't impressive, but it has a quaint charm reminiscent of Parkitect's character models and furniture that would fit perfectly in a Nordic furniture retailer's catalog.”
- “One of the things I love about this game is that the graphics aren't fancy and they focused on how the game is played rather than how it looks.”
- “The art style is unique, with only a select few games having it.”
- “The graphics and UI are also drawbacks.”
- “The UI and graphics are still so basic, and while the 3D models can be excusable and considered part of its style, there is no excuse for the UI.”
- “The game needs better graphics and better options (e.g., Vsync, rain, etc.).”
music
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying its chill and jazzy vibes that complement the coffee shop theme, while others find it repetitive and generic. Many suggest that the soundtrack could benefit from more variety, especially as players progress and unlock new features. Overall, while the music enhances the atmosphere for some, it can become annoying for others, leading to a preference for playing with the sound off.
- “Music: 100/10”
- “The music in the game is so chill and laid back; I get such jazzy feels and it's a great touch when running a coffee shop.”
- “There's a few bugs that make the game a struggle to play at times, but it has a unique art style and a very relaxing soundtrack.”
- “The sound design is another weak point, with a generic coffee shop atmosphere and muzak soundtrack.”
- “Overall it's fun, but the music gets annoying after a while.”
- “It would be nice to have different soundtracks to choose from, especially if you unlock the music specialization.”
story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
73%
16%
The game's story is largely considered minimal and underdeveloped, with many players expressing a desire for a more engaging narrative and plot progression. While some quests exist to unlock new coffee shops, the gameplay remains repetitive and lacks significant variation, leading to a sense of boredom once the initial story is completed. Overall, the story aspect is rated poorly, with suggestions for improvement including more plot development and special events.
- “This may also help there be a benefit to running the later coffee shops; as far as I can tell, with the exception of completing story quests to unlock the next shop, the shops all have the exact same gameplay and purpose.”
- “More plot development is needed.”
- “Brewing quests are incredibly boring!”
- “This game also needs a storyline and more special events.”
- “My only issue was once the story was done, it got kind of boring, as games do.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
82%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report minor glitches and bugs that have been mostly patched, some still experience issues like freezing and persistent animation problems. A few users noted that the game is generally stable with no major crashes, but there are calls for further improvements in the bug and glitch areas. Early access players have found it relatively stable, but the presence of glitches remains a concern for some.
- “No bugs, no glitches, no lag, no sudden shutdowns.”
- “I got this game on early access, so it is still in development, but it's not buggy at all!”
- “There are glitches where animations keep going forever unless you quit the game and reload.”
- “As of this moment, only buy on sale; with almost 17 hours in the game, I have gotten every achievement and actually found 2 glitches in the current final area.”
- “The controls are not intuitive, the tutorial isn't as helpful as it could be, and the game just still seems buggy overall.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
30%
60%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the early stages where micromanagement is required for tasks like ordering supplies and brewing coffee. However, this grind diminishes significantly once employees reach a certain level, allowing for automation of these tasks. Some users noted that while the initial grind can be overwhelming, it becomes less of an issue as the game progresses, with only a few specific achievements remaining grindy.
- “Yeah, okay, it's kinda grindy.”
- “This intense level of micromanagement, where you have to manually set tasks for your barista and constantly adjust prices, can be tedious.”
- “My only complaint (and I'm really just nitpicking at this point) is that the trader achievement became really tedious to try to complete - I'd completed everything else and there was nothing left to do but let the game play along to itself while I occasionally bought new shares.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
10%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its charmingly awkward dialogue and humorous touches, while others criticize its inconsistent tone and execution. References to popular culture, like "Breaking Bad," add to the comedic elements, but the overall effectiveness of the humor varies, with some finding it amusing and others deeming it poorly executed. Overall, the game offers a fun experience, though its comedic approach may not resonate with everyone.
- “The dialogue is pretty funny and feels a little mistranslated but ends up being really charming.”
- “Love the humorous touches.”
- “It was a fun and funny playthrough.”
- “So bad, it's actually funny.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many players feeling that once completed, there is little incentive to return unless significant updates are made. While some express hope for future content, the current experience is described as repetitive and lacking in variety.
- “Replayability is low at the moment, but this is early access and the development seems like a one-person labor of love.”
- “That being said, you hit a wall pretty hard once you finish this, as for me this had zero replayability.”
- “Unfortunately, I don't feel there is any further replayability unless there are major updates, as more shops alone would just feel repetitive. I will keep my eye out for update features as it was enjoyable.”
- “Game has 0 replayability.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The monetization aspect of the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the absence of intrusive ads and the fun, engaging gameplay. However, there are suggestions for improvement, such as enhancing the automated advertisement system and incorporating seasonal decorations to enrich the experience. Overall, the game effectively balances monetization with enjoyable, stress-free management mechanics.
- “Advertisement lures in happy customers/unsuspecting victims (in case your coffee is old and stale and your cookies crumbled to dust) and helps keep you afloat.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game runs smoothly with clear instructions, though players note an initial waiting period typical of tycoon games. However, the heat control system is criticized for being unreliable and unpredictable, impacting overall performance. Once players specialize their staff, the gameplay becomes more passive, allowing for less active engagement.
- “Runs smoothly, instructions are clear; honestly, just a bit of a waiting game at the start, but what tycoon isn't?”
- “It runs smoothly, very easy to understand what to do.”
- “It would make the heat control more realistic and comprehensible; as of now, it's quite unreliable and unpredictable in performance.”
- “There are staff salary increases (if you don't agree to them, performance is negatively affected) and the ability to train staff, but once you are able to specialize 2 staff in the 2 different options, you can pretty much sit back and watch.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere is generally described as pleasant and enjoyable, with an unobtrusive sound design that complements the theme, although some find it lacking in originality. Overall, it contributes positively to the gaming experience, creating a fun and relaxed environment.
- “It fits the theme, is unobtrusive and adds to the nice atmosphere.”
- “Fun, nice atmosphere and easy gaming.”
- “The sound design is another weak point, with a generic coffee shop atmosphere and muzak soundtrack.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game particularly impactful, highlighting a heartwarming and personal end-game credit scene that serves as a rewarding conclusion to their journey.
- “The end-game credit scene is incredibly heartwarming and feels very personal, serving as a wonderful reward for the journey.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters truly resonates, making every moment feel impactful.”
- “I was moved to tears by the storyline; it beautifully captures the complexities of love and loss.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features charming character designs and impressive sound design, which enhance the overall experience, but it is the developers' commitment to strong character development that truly sets it apart from others in the genre.
- “The character development in this game is truly exceptional, with each character feeling unique and well-rounded.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
- “The depth of the characters and their backstories adds so much richness to the gameplay experience.”