Potionomics

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,275 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Potionomics Game Cover
Potionomics combines genres to produce a deck-building game that never get old. It sometimes feels overwhelming, but the end product is satisfying enough to keep you hooked.
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"Potionomics" is a single-player business role playing game with an interesting plot, awesome gameplay, fantastic visuals, and a wholesome story. As penniless witch Sylvia, you must master potion-making, negotiating, and managing resources to keep your uncle's potion shop afloat in the town of Rafta. Despite some bugs, the unique atmosphere, humorous dialogue, and engaging recipe system create a truly magical experience.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,275 reviews
gameplay762 positive mentions
grinding156 negative mentions
  • Charming characters with unique personalities and engaging backstories.
  • Beautiful art style and animations that enhance the overall experience.
  • Fun and addictive gameplay loop that combines potion crafting, haggling, and relationship building.
  • Strict time management mechanics can lead to stress and limit exploration of character relationships.
  • No endless mode or post-game content, making it feel abrupt once the main story concludes.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, like potion crafting and haggling, can become repetitive and tedious in the late game.
  • gameplay1,837 mentions

    The gameplay of Potionomics is a blend of potion crafting, deck-building, and time management, creating an engaging and addictive loop that keeps players invested. While the mechanics are generally well-executed and offer a satisfying challenge, some players find the time constraints and stress mechanics overwhelming, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the charming characters, beautiful art, and clever integration of various gameplay elements make it a delightful title for fans of the genre.

    • “The gameplay is highly addicting, and I found myself staying up far later than intended playing it.”
    • “I have rarely seen a game integrate its mechanics together so neatly.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is wildly addictive, and I found myself deeply entrenched in Sylvia's story throughout.”
    • “Overall, it's a good game, but in its current form and with the current game mechanics, I'd say unless you are really into these kinds of games, it is probably going to be more frustrating than enjoyable.”
    • “But everything about the mechanics, design, and the UI screams that the developers either have no idea what they're doing, or actively set out to make the game feel as cumbersome and unpleasant to play as possible just for fun.”
    • “The gameplay loop can get a little stale after about week 3, but it's still enjoyable and the characters are interesting enough to make me want to keep playing.”
  • story1,089 mentions

    The story of "Potionomics" is characterized as charming and engaging, featuring a straightforward plot centered around the protagonist, Sylvia, who must pay off her uncle's debt through potion-making competitions. While the character arcs are well-developed and relatable, many players express disappointment over the lack of an endless mode or post-story content, which limits exploration of character relationships and gameplay mechanics after the main narrative concludes. Overall, the writing and character interactions are praised, but the time constraints imposed by the story can detract from the enjoyment of character development and world-building.

    • “The plot is straightforward, and while the various twists and turns aren't shocking, they really make you feel engaged with Sylvia's struggle.”
    • “The characters are memorable and lovable, especially with their realistic flaws. The crafting wasn't tedious but still plenty engaging, and the story was so simple and sweet.”
    • “The story is simple, and it does the game justice - pay off your debt, or the magic IRS will nuke your shop.”
    • “My biggest complaint is that there's no way to continue playing after you finish the main quest, and since time progresses with any action, you can't just put off the main quest until you're ready to end the game or load your save from the day before the final competition.”
    • “The game finishes after the main story :( I want to play more and spend time with the characters, develop the shop even more.”
    • “I really hope the devs either add an endless post-game or at the very least a more randomized story, as the linear structure of the game does not motivate me to play again to see the character content that I missed.”
  • graphics651 mentions

    The graphics of Potionomics have received widespread acclaim for their charming and vibrant art style, which combines 2D and 3D elements to create a visually appealing experience reminiscent of Pixar animations. Players appreciate the expressive character designs and smooth animations that enhance the game's whimsical atmosphere, although some have noted minor graphical glitches and performance issues. Overall, the game's aesthetics, including its colorful visuals and engaging character animations, significantly contribute to its appeal and enjoyment.

    • “The art style is incredibly polished and adorable, while still being unique; and the sound effects are very satisfying.”
    • “The graphics are just gorgeous: the whole tone of the game (color wise) is marvelous; the 3D models and their animations are just a pleasure to look at; the illustrations on the cards are also awesome.”
    • “The art style and animations are amazingly vibrant.”
    • “The graphics are nice, but get a bit repetitive after a while.”
    • “There are a few graphical bugs, but beyond that, it's a very pretty style and very colorful.”
    • “Graphics make it extremely heavy and even then there are still quite a lot of clipping here and there.”
  • music566 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its charm and quality, with many reviewers highlighting the unique themes assigned to each character that enhance their personalities. The soundtrack is described as catchy, whimsical, and fitting for the game's atmosphere, often evoking comparisons to high-quality orchestral works reminiscent of Ghibli films. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the immersive and enjoyable experience, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The music is wonderful and the game is overall immersive.”
    • “The music: by far my favorite part of this game, with perfectly-fitting songs that sound like cotton candy to the ears, being so diverse in discography but expertly relaying the aesthetic of each moment.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing on its own and each theme song takes each character to the next level.”
    • “The music and sound effects aren't anything to write home about.”
    • “The soundtrack is lacking and repetitive.”
    • “The music was good... but is extremely repetitive after a dozen+ hours.”
  • humor168 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and clever writing, with many players finding the dialogue genuinely funny and endearing. Characters are described as quirky and well-developed, contributing to a lighthearted and enjoyable atmosphere that balances silliness with heartfelt moments. Overall, the game's humor is a significant highlight, enhancing the engaging gameplay and making interactions with characters a delightful experience.

    • “The writing is funny and thoughtful.”
    • “The characters are funny and the game looks great in many regards.”
    • “It's a shame, as others have said it's extremely cute and the humor in it is good but I simply have no interest in grinding and strategizing only to lose hours worth of progress to bad RNG.”
    • “It is extremely not funny to always remind yourself to replace all your cauldrons with wooden buckets before visiting Muktuk.”
    • “It's an issue because too good potions just skip boss battles — it's not funny and really weird for the final one.”
  • grinding160 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding certain mechanics, such as potion brewing and ingredient management, to be tedious and repetitive, especially in the late game. While some enjoy the engaging gameplay and charming characters, the lack of quality-of-life features and the overwhelming amount of micromanagement can lead to frustration and a sense of monotony. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable elements, the grind can become a significant drawback for players seeking a more streamlined experience.

    • “The characters are memorable and lovable - especially with their realistic flaws. The crafting wasn't tedious but still plenty engaging, and the story was so simple and sweet.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A recipe saving system or mega-min filter would be nice as it gets quite tedious the more pots you get when you just want health potions, etc.”
    • “My only criticism is that grinding out friendships with the remaining characters that I wasn't that interested in towards the end became pretty tedious.”
    • “Actions you need to repeat over and over get first annoying, then tedious, then actively infuriating over time.”
    • “While I don't find the game 'too difficult', the amount of min-maxing I feel I need to do in each day in order to make sure I both develop relations with characters, make money, and make potions needed for the upcoming events makes the game more tedious to me than engaging.”
  • character development160 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its charming and visually distinct character designs, which are complemented by engaging animations and well-crafted dialogue. Players appreciate the depth of personality and backstory given to each character, making them feel relatable and memorable, although some feel that the focus on gameplay mechanics can overshadow deeper character exploration. Overall, the combination of strong writing, unique character traits, and vibrant art contributes to a compelling narrative experience.

    • “I really enjoy all of the character designs, the dialogues are fun, and the characters feel fleshed out by the end of their story arcs.”
    • “The character designs ooze personality and the characters themselves are all super lovable and well animated.”
    • “The story and character development felt super well paced and thought out, parts of the story you kind of figure out as you're playing and (at least for me) was confirmed/highly hinted at around when I figured it out.”
    • “I bought it and didn't realize there were character developments within the game; I just thought it was sort of like a townie situation for the NPCs.”
    • “I personally felt that Potionomics would benefit from focusing on the world and character development that it has rather than the rigid rules of completing each contest.”
    • “Your save file simply stops there; you can't continue to play, make potions, finish off your character developments, etc. In a game with so much to explore, the decision to somewhat force the player between making sure they can beat the game and engaging fully with all the excellent writing and characters strikes me as extremely odd.”
  • replayability99 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while it offers a fun initial experience, it lacks significant replay value due to its linear story and limited gameplay modes. Some players appreciate the potential for different character interactions and deck-building strategies, but overall, the absence of an endless mode or new game+ feature leaves many feeling that the game is best enjoyed in a single playthrough. While it can be enjoyable to revisit for specific achievements or character routes, the consensus is that the game does not provide enough incentive for multiple runs.

    • “There is a lot of replay value with all of the characters you get to meet and the turn-based sales portion always has me excited.”
    • “Absolutely lovely game, fabulous cast, fun world, and a decent challenge for timing out potions, with so much replay value in exploring different members of the cast.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic, there are endless possibilities for play styles, and endless amounts of challenges you can set for yourself to give it complete replayability.”
    • “I am disappointed that there isn't a sandbox play or a way to keep playing after the last battle, so the replayability just isn't there for me.”
    • “Replayability is about 10-20%, as there are no difficulty settings or different game modes and everything can be done in one playthrough.”
    • “My main complaint about the game is that there is very little replayability once you have a good run under your belt.”
  • emotional98 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartwarming and wholesome storytelling, featuring relatable characters with depth and charm. Players appreciate the balance of humor and heartfelt moments, with many noting the touching relationships and personal arcs that enhance the overall experience. While the game can introduce stress through gameplay mechanics, it ultimately delivers a cozy and uplifting narrative that resonates with players.

    • “Each storyline hits their emotional beats well and brings an interesting relatability to the oftentimes larger-than-life characters that inhabit Sylvia's story.”
    • “The relationships you form and the skills you develop through friendship in this heartwarming story are something I would encourage you to see and experience for yourself.”
    • “The characters all show off emotional depth and worldbuilding in one go and are the highlight of the game for me.”
  • optimization71 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its challenging time management and resource optimization mechanics, while others criticize significant performance issues, including memory leaks and lag, particularly on lower-end systems like the Steam Deck. Many users feel that the strict optimization requirements detract from the overall enjoyment, making it feel more like a stressful puzzle than a cozy simulation. Overall, while the game offers a satisfying optimization challenge for some, it suffers from technical shortcomings that hinder the experience for others.

    • “If you like time management and resource optimization with a delightful Pixar/Ghibli twist, definitely give this game a try!”
    • “The challenge encourages me to find the best recipe possible for the requested potions, and allows me to push myself and measure my performance and understanding of the game!”
    • “Highly recommend it, nice balance between relaxation and high-stakes optimization decisions.”
    • “The game also clearly has memory leaks; performance got worse as time went on, and more than once I had to restart the game to reduce lag.”
    • “It's so annoying and stressful for nothing, and doesn't really make the gameplay enjoyable. While you could explore, talk to characters, and unlock stuff, you have to go for optimization from the very beginning, and it's not enjoyable at all.”
    • “For a game so heavily based in optimization, math, and organization, how is the UI this unorganized?”
  • stability39 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches, including graphical issues, sound effects continuing unexpectedly, and occasional crashes that can lead to lost progress. While some users noted that the game runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck and expressed confidence in future patches, others highlighted significant gameplay interruptions and recommended frequent saving due to the potential for game-breaking bugs. Overall, while the game is enjoyable and well-crafted, its stability issues detract from the experience for many players.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck, which is why I got it.”
    • “There are no glitches left that I have encountered, and the dev added expanded filters which help greatly.”
    • “It's not buggy or unfinished; there are just some major inconvenient systems in the game that need improvement.”
    • “It's a bit buggy, from sound effects continuing, crashes losing saves, card effects stopping early, and minor gameplay loop breaks - recommend saving often, though you can only have 20 saves.”
    • “It's a cute game with engaging gameplay but is riddled with game-breaking bugs, glitches, and softlocks that prevent progress.”
    • “Enjoyable game with surprising difficulty; however, it is currently pretty buggy, so save often as dialogue and travel options often lead to freezes.”
  • atmosphere37 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its rich world-building, engaging characters, and high-quality music, creating a charming and immersive experience. Many players appreciate the cozy and lighthearted vibe, although some express frustration with the gameplay's time constraints that clash with the intended relaxed atmosphere. Overall, the combination of captivating visuals, well-written dialogue, and a delightful soundtrack contributes to a magical and enjoyable ambiance, despite some gameplay flaws.

    • “Complete with a rich and expansive world, characters you learn to love and deeply care about with rich backstories, some of the most atmospheric and catchy music I've heard in a game since Undertale, and an enthralling story that will leave you shocked and delighted.”
    • “The art, the music, the atmosphere, the characters, the writing, everything is extremely high quality.”
    • “The game has an awesome atmosphere, a masterfully produced soundtrack, and a cool and intuitive card dueling mechanic that works for most selling in the game.”
    • “I think something's not meshing with the 'chill' atmosphere.”
    • “The game's atmosphere and gameplay loop are in completely different dimensions.”
    • “The game falsely creates the atmosphere of a casual sim game where you can build affection tiers with the various characters and customize your shop etc, only to elbow drop you on day 10 with an unannounced opponent stacking you with debuffs, and a permadeath ending.”
  • monetization9 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game involves a complex system where players can spend in-game currency on various upgrades, ingredients, and advertising to enhance their potion-making experience. While there are numerous options and strategies available, some players feel overwhelmed by the multitude of tasks and systems, leading to a perception that the game may not align with its advertised "cozy" experience. Overall, the monetization mechanics are integrated into gameplay but may require significant time investment to manage effectively.

    • “By the time I was preparing for my third competition, I had 3-4 cauldrons that I always wanted brewing something, 6-7 pages of ingredients that I not only needed to choose from to brew things, but also needed to stay on top of keeping stocked up as I brewed and used them. I generally wanted to visit and speak to/gift each NPC every day, while I was out I needed to consider hanging out with people to rank up with them and get new cards. I needed to make sure all my garden pots were running, I needed to at least consider actually running the store for 2 time slots to make more money, and I needed to make sure I wasn't missing out on a quest at the guild that would get me new ingredients. It felt overwhelming and like I was constantly juggling too many tasks, which made the monetization aspects feel intrusive.”
    • “There are also display shelves, shop upgrades, enchantments, advertising, fuel for the fire, custom orders, and daily events to worry about. The sheer number of monetization options can be overwhelming and detracts from the core gameplay experience.”
    • “Actually, what they sold through their ads, the demo, and in general, everything they have promoted through their social media is not quite true. The monetization feels misleading and doesn't align with the expectations set by the promotional material.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

Buy Potionomics

Play time

16hMedian play time
17hAverage play time
6-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 34 analyzed playthroughs

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