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Shelve the Potions!

Shelve the Potions! Game Cover
90%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, atmosphere
Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, music
90% User Score Based on 257 reviews

Platforms

PCSteam DeckWindows
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Shelve the Potions! Game Cover

About Shelve the Potions!

Shelve the Potions! is a single player casual simulation game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Knight Owl Games and was released on August 24, 2026. It received very positive reviews from players.

Shelve the Potions! Organize 2000+ potions on shelves after the witch's cats have knocked them over, using clues around an enchanted cellar. Learn strange symbols, decipher cryptic notes, and uncover the correct shelf orders in a cozy organizational simple puzzle game. The witch had to leave on urgent business. By the time you arrive for your very first day as her apprentice. Her mischievous cats…

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Shelve the Potions! screenshot
Shelve the Potions! screenshot
Shelve the Potions! screenshot
Shelve the Potions! screenshot
Shelve the Potions! screenshot
Shelve the Potions! screenshot
Shelve the Potions! screenshot
Shelve the Potions! screenshot
Shelve the Potions! screenshot
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Reviews

90%Audience ScoreBased on 257 reviews
gameplay7 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • Unique twist on the sorting game genre by incorporating light puzzles that determine the order of potions on shelves, making the gameplay more engaging and satisfying.
  • Cozy and charming atmosphere with cute graphics, colorful potion bottles, relaxing sound design, and numerous pettable cats that add charm and personality to the game.
  • Accessible and well-polished gameplay with intuitive controls, helpful hint systems, and good quality-of-life features like holding TAB to view puzzle solutions, colorblind modes, and smooth Steam Deck support.
  • Puzzle variety is limited; once puzzles for the first few potion colors are solved, the rest of the game becomes repetitive and involves mostly manual sorting referencing memorized or displayed solutions.
  • Some puzzles are difficult to visually distinguish due to small symbols or similar colors/shapes on potion bottles, causing eye strain or difficulty in differentiating items, especially at a distance or for colorblind players.
  • Certain quality-of-life features like spell upgrades or abilities have limited usefulness and slow cooldowns, and lack of features like auto-sorting within inventory makes final sorting stages feel slow or tedious.

  • gameplay

    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    21% positive mentions, 70% neutral mentions, 9% negative mentions

    The gameplay offers a unique blend of potion-shelving and puzzle-solving mechanics that engage players through exploration and clue interpretation, making it more intriguing than typical organizing games. The tutorial effectively teaches the mechanics without revealing everything, ensuring a satisfying discovery process across approximately 8–16 hours of playtime. While some find the shelving repetitive or lacking charm, the well-designed puzzles and absence of AI reliance create a rewarding and enjoyable experience overall.

    • “The tutorial area does a particularly good job of teaching the mechanics without showing you everything, so there's still plenty to figure out once you reach the much larger main room.”
    • “It's not just a clone: it actually adds some really satisfying and pleasing puzzle mechanics which mean you're not just sorting 1-9, but actually figuring out the order from clues scattered around the room.”
    • “You've got your usual 'put all the potions where they gotta go' gameplay, of course, but shelve the potions goes further than just getting 10 of the same item in a row, or putting them in the right order -- they add puzzles and extra steps to figuring out what the right order is.”
    • “But the real reason I give it a thumb's down is the main gameplay: shelving the potions. It's tedious and ruins the gameplay for me.”
    • “Push button, fill shelf is not gameplay in my eyes.”
    • “Players who need action, extensive storytelling, combat, or rapid mechanical variety may find the repeated focus on shelves and potions too narrow.”

  • graphics

    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    23% positive mentions, 54% neutral mentions, 23% negative mentions

    The graphics are generally praised for their cute, clean, and vibrant art style, with bright colors that enhance visibility and a charming atmosphere. Some users appreciate the detailed visuals and overall aesthetic, though a few note minor quirks like distracting cat tongues or occasional graphical glitches. While the simplicity of the art may not appeal to everyone, it contributes to the game's unique and pleasing style.

    • “Compared to other similar games, this one has really clean graphics. It doesn't take effort to figure out what you're holding, and the bright colors make the individual potions lying about on the floor easy to see.”
    • “A lot of the recent takes on the shelf genre have lacked the graphics and polish of Librarian, but I actually think this one looks even more gorgeous!”
    • “The visuals are so pretty and the colors are vibrant. I took many moments just looking around the shop at the other decorations.”
    • “The graphics aren't that great.”
    • “Graphics: decent”
    • “Graphical glitch where when I'm not holding anything the highlight color covers the edges of objects.”

  • music

    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    25% positive mentions, 50% neutral mentions, 25% negative mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, described as good and non-grating, with some players enjoying it enough to keep it on while playing. Certain music-related puzzles add a fun challenge, though some users suggest alternative puzzle ideas to enhance variety. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere without overwhelming the experience.

    • “I really enjoy the music in the game.”
    • “Music: good”
    • “[spoiler] As an example, one of the puzzles involves looking at the order of music notation symbols coming out of a radio to learn the right order for the bottles.”
    • “- Animated sequences did not have to be animated: stare at a spinning clock or compass, or a series of music notes or moon phases, and try to write down the entire sequence in order before it speeds past.”
    • “- Consider changing the potions with 1-8 things floating in them to also be a 5-potion set -- either alongside 3 more of the memorization puzzles, or in place of the music one.”
    • “The music puzzle could easily be replaced with a shortest-to-longest note size puzzle, similar in theme.”

  • atmosphere

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    60% positive mentions, 40% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The atmosphere is widely praised for its cozy, charming, and well-crafted fantasy setting, enriched by delightful details like cats and bats. While many find it engaging and beautifully decorated, some feel the gameplay intensity detracts from the intended relaxing vibe. Overall, the game's warm ambiance is a standout element appreciated by players.

    • “I loved the cats, the bats, and the cozy atmosphere.”
    • “The result is considerably more engaging than the premise suggests, combining organization, environmental observation, logical deduction, and cozy fantasy atmosphere.”
    • “I love how much love was put into this game, no AI, beautiful decorations and atmosphere, and I love all the kitties around the place, it's so cute.”

  • story

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    40% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 60% negative mentions

    The story aspect is appreciated for its charming premise and colorful elements like cats and potions, but some players find it limited and repetitive, lacking action or extensive narrative depth. The focus on memorizing sequences and organizing shelves may feel too narrow for those seeking a more dynamic or richly told story.

    • “I love the whole premise of this game: the puzzles to organize potions, the colorful elements, the cats, and the story.”
    • “If it had been more about 'fill amounts' and 'bottle sizes' and less about trying to remember the order the story is in or checking the menu, I would have continued playing.”
    • “Players who need action, extensive storytelling, combat, or rapid mechanical variety may find the repeated focus on shelves and potions too narrow.”
    • “If it had been more of the 'fill amounts' and 'bottle sizes' and less of the 'try to remember the order the story is in or open the menu to check' then I'd have carried on playing.”
    • “Memorize an arbitrary sequence of 8 things (8 chess pieces including color, 8 playing cards, 8 elements, 8 types of weather, 8 ingredients, 8 music notes, 8 runes, 8 storybook locations, etc).”

  • grinding

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    Grinding in the game strikes a generally good balance, offering enough challenge without becoming overly tedious for most players. However, some find the later puzzles and lack of new, powerful spells make the experience feel repetitive. Overall, many describe the grinding as engaging and addictive rather than monotonous.

    • “It's tedious and ruins the gameplay for me.”
    • “You also don't really get more powerful spells as the game progresses, which makes it fairly tedious.”
    • “I enjoyed the added element of the puzzles, but found some to be tedious once you got to the last few potion colours.”

  • optimization

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    50% positive mentions, 50% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game’s optimization allows for smooth portable play with its methodical pacing and viewpoint, though adjusting demanding visual settings is advisable for better battery life and consistent performance.

    • “Its viewpoint and methodical pacing also translate naturally to portable play, although demanding visual settings can still make sensible performance adjustments worthwhile for players prioritizing battery life or consistent performance.”

  • replayability

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    50% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 50% negative mentions

    The game offers enjoyable gameplay but has limited built-in replayability compared to others. Additional DLC or updates featuring new modes, rooms, or items could enhance the experience and extend replay value. Overall, it remains a fun and worthwhile purchase.

    • “Maybe some DLC/updates to expand the experience and replayability by adding a remix mode, a new room to sort, or even more types of potions/ingredients to shelve (and cats!)—super fun game!”
    • “Maybe some DLC/updates to expand the experience and replayability by adding a remix mode, a new room to sort, or even more types of potions/ingredients to shelve (and cats!).”

  • stability

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game demonstrates excellent stability, with no reported glitches or technical issues.

    • “No glitches or problems.”

  • humor

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The humor in the game is subtle and clever, particularly reflected in the amusing and intriguing book titles during the library sorting segments. This adds a lighthearted and enjoyable touch to the gameplay.

    • “I liked that with the library sorting games, the book titles were funny and interesting.”

  • monetization

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    Users express caution toward monetization in the genre, noting an influx of asset flips and quick AI-driven cash grabs that diminish trust and make them selective about purchases.

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Play Times

4h Median play time
8h Average play time
4-16h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Shelve the Potions! is a casual simulation game with fantasy theme. Common tags for Shelve the Potions! include first-person, indie, magic, exploration, cozy and others.

Shelve the Potions! is available on PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

On average players spend around 8 hours playing Shelve the Potions!.

Shelve the Potions! was released on August 24, 2026.

Shelve the Potions! was developed by Knight Owl Games.

Shelve the Potions! has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked Shelve the Potions! for its gameplay but disliked it for its graphics.

Shelve the Potions! is a single player game.

Similar games include Librarian: Tidy Up the Arcane Library!, Cellar Keeper, A Little to the Left, Supermarket Chaos, Cleaning Up The Puzzle Gallery and others.