Epic Tavern
- September 13, 2017
- Hyperkinetic Studios
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Epic Tavern" is a fantasy simulation game where you manage a tavern, recruit unique heroes, and send them on quests to build their power and your reputation. Your heroes' conversations and choices shape their relationships and impact the outcomes of their adventures. Create your own legendary stories in a rich, living fantasy world.
Reviews
- The game has a unique concept of managing a tavern while sending adventurers on quests, providing a fresh take on the genre.
- The writing is humorous and engaging, making the quests and character interactions enjoyable.
- The developers are responsive to community feedback and are actively working on updates and improvements.
- The game is still very much unfinished, with many features and content missing, leading to a lack of depth in gameplay.
- There are numerous bugs and technical issues that can disrupt gameplay, including crashes and quest-related glitches.
- The current price point feels too high for the amount of content available, making it hard to recommend purchasing at this time.
- story157 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is primarily delivered through extensive quest dialogues and character interactions, which some players find engaging while others feel it becomes tedious and repetitive. While the narrative elements and character backstories are appreciated, many reviewers express frustration with the quest mechanics, including bugs that disrupt progress and a lack of meaningful player choices during quests. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a highlight, but the execution suffers from gameplay issues that detract from the tavern management experience.
“The storytelling is quite enjoyable.”
“The real meat of the game comes in the form of the game's witty writing, the stories that are sewn together through the adventurers and the quests are fun to read and give life to the game's palette of colorful characters.”
“The story has unexpected twists and turns when you are on a mission, but everything starts and ends at the bar.”
“For a game about running a tavern, it seems almost entirely focused on quests with too much text and random drink combo rolls than actually running a tavern.”
“While there is some fun to be had in the story elements, the tedious adventure mechanics, disjointed quest paths, and lack of any substance on the tavern side make this not a recommendation.”
“The quests are very limited as well and require little input, except for the user to just keep reading and clicking.”
- gameplay46 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Epic Tavern" features a unique blend of tavern management and questing mechanics, which some players find enjoyable and engaging, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth. Many users note the need for a more comprehensive tutorial to clarify mechanics, as well as the presence of bugs and crashes that can disrupt the experience. Overall, while the game shows promise with its innovative concepts, it currently feels unfinished and may not provide enough substance to sustain long-term interest.
“Epic Tavern is a really cool concept with some very fun mechanics - stocking your tavern and trying to get patrons to consume as much as possible is genuinely fun.”
“I was immediately ensnared by the unique concept and the satisfying gameplay.”
“Even in its early stages, many gameplay concepts have been implemented.”
“An in-depth tutorial is desperately needed, as the few pop-ups that appear in the beginning do nothing to explain the mechanics.”
“The reason I cannot recommend the game is because the gameplay loop felt repetitive quickly, and it did not feel like I had much of a goal other than to keep going on random quests for the sake of it.”
“There's an adventuring part, but it is arguably not part of the gameplay since you simply click through a series of event texts with no meaningful way to influence what is going on.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming art style and solid visuals, while others report significant bugs and performance issues that hinder gameplay. Many users note that the graphics are suitable for a text-based game, but there are complaints about a lack of customization options and occasional non-responsiveness. Overall, while the graphics are generally well-received, technical problems and bugs detract from the experience for some players.
“Amusing and entertaining gameplay and wonderful graphics, worth the money and support.”
“The graphics are great for a game like this and the sound was solid as well.”
“The art style is charming.”
“Unfortunately, it's still extremely buggy. I've had to reload a couple of times due to being stuck on a screen. The graphics settings don't work; if you click to change anything, nothing happens (such as resolution), which is frustrating because the game doesn't fit quite right anymore.”
“- Character graphics leave something to be desired.”
“Lowest resolution and simplest graphics, and the game will not finish loading.”
- humor21 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and ability to elicit genuine laughter, with players enjoying the witty dialogue and amusing questlines reminiscent of classic tabletop RPGs. While the game features a significant amount of written text, the lighthearted and tongue-in-cheek style keeps players engaged and entertained, making it a delightful experience overall. Many reviewers express a desire for more content and customization, indicating that the humor is a key factor in their enjoyment of the game.
“Reminds me of D&D - the dialogue is often hilarious and the adventures are well written.”
“The humor genuinely makes me laugh out loud; I like the graphics style, the quest stories are interesting, and running the tavern somehow hits some tavernkeeper shard of my personality.”
“The game does a great job of not taking itself too seriously, and the quests you send adventurers on can be quite hilarious.”
- stability15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- -13 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance on platforms like the Steam Deck, many others experience significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, including game-stopping issues and frequent crashes. Despite improvements over time, the game remains in early access and is considered too unstable for a full recommendation, with players often needing to restart due to persistent problems. Overall, while the concept shows promise, the current state is marred by frustrating technical issues.
“The game runs smoothly without any major bugs or crashes.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it rarely lags or freezes.”
“The developers have done a great job ensuring a consistent experience.”
“The game has gotten so buggy that you cannot play it for more than a few hours before running into game-stopping bugs.”
“Unfortunately, it's still extremely buggy. I've had to reload a couple of times due to being stuck on a screen, the graphics settings don't work, and if you click to change anything, nothing happens (such as resolution), which is frustrating because the game doesn't fit quite right anymore.”
“However, right now it is just far too buggy for me to recommend. There are constant little mildly annoying glitches and bugs; about once an hour I need to restart the game to get it working again. Now, 5 hours in, I have hit a bug that completely stopped my progress. My choices are to completely restart or wait for a patch.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is initially pleasant and sets a fun atmosphere, but it becomes repetitive over time, particularly during extended play. While some players appreciate the tavern-style music, others find it can become annoying due to a lack of variety and the absence of volume controls in the main menu. Overall, the sound design could benefit from more randomness and customization options.
“Music is light and fun.”
“I like the graphics and the music.”
“The music is kind of repetitive and pleasant at first to set the mood, but it becomes monotonous after a few hours.”
“The music assets might get annoying, but it's tavern music, and you can always mute it and supply your own.”
“The sound design doesn't vary enough; the music could be more random when you are on a quest or in the tavern.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and repetitive, often feeling overwhelmed by excessive text and random events that disrupt gameplay. Many express frustration with the lack of meaningful tavern management elements and the necessity to replay quests to access new content, leading to boredom and a diminished enjoyment of the overall experience. Despite some enjoyable story elements, the grinding mechanics detract significantly from the game's appeal.
“I can't bring myself to play for more than a few minutes at a time... and I'm used to grinding.”
“I played it through once early on, and it was great, but short... they added more and I played it again, but couldn't play it through as I don't forget things and repeating all the same quests to get to new content was tedious - I saw some of it, but was drained before I got there.”
“While there is some fun to be had in the story elements, the tedious adventure mechanics, disjointed quest paths, and lack of any substance on the tavern side make this not a recommendation.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally viewed as limited due to its quest structure being tied to a grand narrative, which restricts variation in playthroughs. While some players find solid replay value, others express disappointment in the lack of depth and challenge, suggesting that the game feels more like a simplistic experience rather than one that encourages repeated play. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some hoping for future updates to enhance replayability.
“Solid replay value.”
“Most of the quests are part of a grand narrative, which means limited replayability.”
“As a generous gamer who wants to improve games and see a golden age of games, which have depth, challenge, and replayability, I feel betrayed by both the content of this game and the lack of change in what I am sorry to say is fundamentally a dice-rolling game with pretty colors that I hoped could be so much more.”
“I feel that it needs a shunt into a more playable direction before anyone should purchase it, but in the same vein, purchasing it may shove it in the right direction, so it's your call… get it on deal and hope they update it soon?”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is currently lacking, with users reporting performance issues, random crashes, and a need for better tutorials, which is typical for an early access title. While the mechanics show promise and depth, players have had to lower graphics settings to improve loading times, indicating that further optimization is necessary for a smoother experience. Overall, the game has potential but requires significant development to enhance its performance and stability.
“The game still has a long way to go in terms of development, but the mechanics already have an amazing level of depth. While it is unoptimized (as is expected of an early access game), it still offers many hours of content to be played.”
“Initially had performance problems, but after reducing the graphics quality, I significantly reduced loading times.”
“I suspect they are writing a lot of complex logic (it is a great concept and seems to have some really interesting random side effects in the quests that affect the future of your game) in JavaScript or something. Hopefully, they get somebody who can write optimized code so that I don't need to buy a new computer to run this game.”
“Feels a bit raw - optimizations, lack of content (too slow game progress?), random crashes (experienced only 1 though), lacks good tutorial (some game mechanics are not clear).”
“Initially had performance problems then reduced the graphics quality and significantly reduced loading times.”
“I suspect they are writing a lot of complex logic (it is a great concept and seems to have some really interesting random side effects in the quests that affect the future of your game) in JavaScript or something... hopefully they get somebody who can write optimized code so that I don't need to buy a new computer to run this game.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has raised concerns among users, with some perceiving it as a cash grab amidst a trend of excessive DLC and microtransactions in the industry. However, the game's unique approach is appreciated as a refreshing alternative to the typical AAA offerings.
“It’s starting to seem like a cash grab and stuck in development hell.”
“This is a different kind of game, and that's a good thing in a market full of AAA games, which often seem more concerned with how many DLCs and microtransactions they can sell rather than creating a quality game.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with many players noting that it effectively immerses them in the story and enhances their overall experience.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world.”
“Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
“The game's atmosphere is rich and layered, making every moment feel significant.”
“The atmosphere and the story really sucked me in.”
“The game lacks any real sense of immersion, making it hard to feel connected to the world.”
“Despite the visuals, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, failing to evoke any real emotion.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the depth of the quest lines and the engaging character development, highlighting the enjoyable tavern mechanics that enhance the overall experience.
“I only have 4 hours of playtime, but I can say the quest lines seem deep, the character development is impressive, and the tavern aspect (drink and food chaining) is fun as well.”
