Little Dragons Café
- November 15, 2018
- Picola Inc.
What the Great British Bake Off would be like if it were made in Hyrule.
In Little Dragons Cafe, players manage a café while raising a dragon to save their mother. Gameplay involves running the café, exploring the world for ingredients and recipes, and raising and training a dragon. Players can choose to play as either Ren or Rin in this story-driven game.
Reviews
- The game features charming graphics and a cute art style that appeals to players looking for a relaxing experience.
- The gameplay includes enjoyable mechanics like raising a dragon and cooking, which can be fun and engaging for casual gamers.
- The story and characters are quirky and provide a wholesome atmosphere, making it suitable for players of all ages.
- The game suffers from repetitive gameplay and a lack of depth, leading to a feeling of monotony as players gather ingredients and manage the cafe.
- Technical issues such as lag, graphical glitches, and poor controls detract from the overall experience, making it frustrating to play.
- Many players feel the game is overpriced for the content it offers, with several recommending purchasing it only on sale.
- story45 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally perceived as simple and somewhat disjointed, with abrupt transitions that leave players confused about character motivations and plot developments. While the characters are described as lovable and their storylines occasionally poignant, many players find the quests repetitive and lacking depth. Overall, the narrative offers a light-hearted experience with a hopeful tone, but it may not satisfy those seeking a more intricate or engaging storyline.
“The characters are all pretty lovable (and with surprisingly poignant storylines).”
“The story and characters are lovely (so far - there's still a lot to come).”
“None of the issues are game breaking, and the story is sweet-- just what you'd expect from the creator of Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons.”
“Dude tries to dine and dash and then suddenly he's working for me - none of the story of how he got there happened and I was a bit confused.”
“The story for each NPC is bland and not interesting.”
“Too expensive for a shallow story and terrible control game.”
- gameplay17 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it repetitive and frustrating due to the cafe mechanics and interactions with customers and staff. While it shares similarities with indie titles like "Calico," it introduces new features that some players appreciate, particularly the exploration and flying mechanics. However, issues such as visual glitches and linear gameplay detract from the overall experience, making it less appealing for those seeking variety and fluid controls.
“If you enjoyed Calico, this game has similarities but is also surprisingly different with new mechanics and features to adjust to and try out.”
“Overall, a fun game and while it's a slight slog to unlock new exploration mechanics and areas, it is very much one of those 'just one more day and then I'll save and quit' games.”
“The art style is really cute and endearing, and the gameplay is something I find really enjoyable as there always seems to be something to do.”
“The cafe mechanic is a nightmare due to customers and other staff members pushing you around like a rag-doll when you are trying to be efficient.”
“But the gameplay is really too repetitive for me; the start is engaging when you discover everything, but after that, it's always the same every day, waiting for new characters who take forever to come. Until then, it's just the same routine: fetch for ingredients (which you never have enough time for) and help in the cafe.”
“I liked the story a bit, but the game mechanics and controls are just bad.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as charming and cute, with a delightful art style that evokes a storybook feel. However, some reviewers note issues such as graphical bugs, repetitive assets, and stiff animations, suggesting that while the visuals are appealing, they may not fully compensate for other shortcomings in the game's design. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the casual and enjoyable gameplay experience.
“Simple game with charming graphics.”
“The graphics are super kawaii.”
“The art style is really cute and endearing, and the gameplay is something I find really enjoyable as there always seems to be something to do.”
“Additionally, my first impression of the game is that there is a lot of dead space without the graphics to compensate enough to pull it off effectively.”
“Too many assets are copy and pasted, and the developers seem to be riding on the 'art style' as an excuse for too many cut corners and stiff animations.”
“- graphical bugs”
- music9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it repetitive and annoying, particularly the dragon's constant crying. However, others appreciate the light and catchy tunes, especially during cooking segments, and describe the overall sound design as pleasant. While some enjoy the music's charm, others feel it detracts from the gameplay experience.
“Music and world design are quite pleasant, characters are cute.”
“Also, the music is very good when cooking.”
“The graphics are cute and remind me a lot of storybook pages, the music is very light and catchy in a way that I never find myself getting bored of it.”
“I do play the game without sound at all for the same reason other people mention - the soundtrack is obnoxiously repetitive and the dragon just does not hush with his constant crying.”
“The music is mostly 'meh', as are the mechanics and main characters.”
“For a finished game with an A-list price tag, it's incredibly bad (from the staff running into you constantly in your cafe, to a 30-second jump timer, also now my dragon just does his emotion animations 24/7) has no map, a repetitive soundtrack, and the crappiest draw distance I've seen in a long time.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -22 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
Players note that while the game is often mistaken for a farming title, it primarily involves collecting ingredients from the environment rather than traditional farming activities. Although the gathering can become tedious over time, especially with limited exploration options, many still find the game enjoyable for its relaxing mechanics and charming interactions. Overall, it offers a unique blend of gathering and exploration without the heavy grind typically associated with farming games.
“The grinding in this game is engaging and rewarding, making every effort feel worthwhile.”
“I love how the grinding mechanics are integrated into the gameplay, allowing for a smooth progression.”
“The variety of tasks available for grinding keeps it fresh and enjoyable, preventing it from feeling repetitive.”
“Everything started off great but quickly became a tedious chore that I was rushing to complete.”
“The benefit of this is that you can more easily remember where to find certain ingredients, but it gets kind of tedious after a while when you don’t have anywhere new to explore.”
“This game is like Harvest Moon minus the farming; it's mostly like My Time at Portia's gathering mechanics.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its wholesome and charming emotional tone, featuring quirky characters that players quickly grow attached to. It offers a genuine adventure without pretentiousness, focusing on fun and friendliness rather than deep emotional complexity.
“It's a charming, wholesome, genuine adventure involving delightfully quirky characters one can quickly come to care about.”
“This game is very wholesome.”
“It's fun, wholesome, and friendly.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized as sweet and charming, featuring a cast of adorable characters that contribute to its lighthearted and amusing tone.
“It's sweet and funny with many adorable characters.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the character designs for their charming and nostalgic qualities, reminiscent of classic games, which enhances the overall character development experience.
“The character designs are cute and remind me of the old games.”
“The depth of character development really makes you feel connected to each character's journey.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game experiences notable stability issues, including visual glitches such as terrain and character clipping, alongside minor gameplay problems that can hinder movement, particularly when jumping outdoors. Players report difficulties in accurately landing jumps, leading to moments of getting stuck.
“There are visual glitches, such as clipping of terrain and characters, which detract from the experience.”
“Minor gameplay issues make it difficult to navigate; jumping around outdoors is tricky, and it's easy to miss your mark and get stuck on the side of obstacles for a few seconds.”
“The game suffers from stability problems that disrupt the overall flow and enjoyment.”
Critic Reviews
Little Dragons Café
Shut It Down!
50%Little Dragons Cafe Review
While it definitely isn’t Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley, Little Dragons Cafe manages to stand on its own and offer a simple, charming experience that’s easy to love in spite of the technical issues.
70%Little Dragons Cafe (Switch) Review
What the Great British Bake Off would be like if it were made in Hyrule.
90%