Tavern Master

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,266 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Tavern Master Game Cover
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In "Tavern Master," design and build your own medieval tavern, providing drinks, food, and entertainment. Hire staff, manage supplies, and expand your business by adding a kitchen, hosting special events, and accommodating unique customer requests. Personalize your tavern with various decorative elements to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Web Browser
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,266 reviews
gameplay136 positive mentions
story26 negative mentions
  • Tavern Master offers a charming and engaging experience as players build and manage their own medieval tavern.
  • The game features a satisfying progression system, allowing players to unlock new recipes, furniture, and decorations as they advance.
  • It's a relaxing game that can be played casually, making it perfect for unwinding after a long day.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive and grindy, especially in the late game when players are just waiting for research to complete.
  • There is a lack of depth and challenge, making it feel more like an idle game rather than a true management simulation.
  • Some mechanics, such as the research system and staff management, could use more refinement and clarity.
  • gameplay510 mentions

    The gameplay of "Tavern Master" is characterized by its straightforward mechanics and charming aesthetics, making it accessible and enjoyable for casual players. However, many reviewers noted that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth as players progress, with some mechanics feeling underdeveloped or overly simplistic. While the game offers a satisfying loop of managing and expanding a tavern, it may not provide enough challenge or variety to sustain long-term engagement for more experienced players.

    • “Its charming presentation and engaging mechanics make it an excellent choice for casual players and management simulation enthusiasts alike.”
    • “The gameplay loop is very satisfying.”
    • “The engaging gameplay, simple but well-designed graphics, and the opportunity for creative expression make this game a must-play for fans of simulation and strategy genres.”
    • “Although I enjoy the theme, I found the gameplay linear, repetitive, and with limited challenges as a venture managing game.”
    • “From a gameplay/UI perspective, the game doesn't seem to register single clicks, only double clicks, making the build mode almost unusable and sometimes leading to multi-purchasing items.”
    • “The gameplay loop hits its maximum threshold without you even realizing it, and it's just rinse and repeat from there.”
  • story266 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely absent, with players noting a lack of narrative depth or engaging lore. While the quest system provides some structure, it is often criticized for being tedious and unfulfilling, leading to repetitive gameplay without meaningful progression or character interaction. Overall, the game focuses more on tavern management mechanics than on storytelling, leaving many players desiring a richer narrative experience.

    • “From a small shack serving water, you develop your tavern and see it grow, by researching new functions (i.e. more drink variety, entertainment, a kitchen, hotel rooms etc.) and building out your small shack into a large, multi-story inn.”
    • “Eventually, you'll have a multi-story establishment with several bars, a full kitchen, fireplace, various performance stages for entertainers, and -- in my case at least -- an entire floor dedicated to guest rooms and a library.”
    • “This game does such a good job at making everything you do and every quest you finish feel so rewarding.”
    • “From a story and immersion perspective, the gameplay progression and tech tree make no sense.”
    • “The game has virtually no story, just tutorials teaching you mechanics.”
    • “There's simply not enough flavor text or supportive world building/storytelling to differentiate this from a high-level web game.”
  • graphics266 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally described as charming and fitting for its medieval theme, with a low-poly art style that enhances the cozy atmosphere. While many players appreciate the aesthetic and find the visuals engaging, some critiques highlight a lack of detail and occasional rendering issues, particularly with character models. Overall, the graphics are considered simple yet effective, contributing positively to the gameplay experience despite some room for improvement.

    • “The graphics for the buildings and paintings are beautiful; the graphics for the customers are hilariously bad.”
    • “The graphics are charming and have a lot of character, and the sound design is excellent, with ambient background noise and lively chatter from your guests.”
    • “The art style is vibrant and inviting, with beautifully designed characters and environments that enhance the overall experience.”
    • “The graphics, while not ugly, are also not very interesting.”
    • “Only downside: the environmental graphics (not the tavern itself) are so uninspired that it breaks immersion if you look into the distance.”
    • “Sadly this one has no love for details, a huge lack of content and terrible graphics.”
  • music253 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its charming medieval vibe and relaxing quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere. However, many players note that the soundtrack is limited and repetitive, leading to a desire for more variety. While the music serves as a pleasant backdrop, the lack of additional sound effects and ambient audio detracts from the immersive experience.

    • “The music is such a vibe and I didn't mute the game or have any TV show running in the background at all meanwhile.”
    • “Amazing music, cozy game atmosphere.”
    • “The music is great and the tavern customization is fun.”
    • “There's almost no audio design save the soundtrack.”
    • “The only real downside is the music gets repetitive.”
    • “However, the music can get old quick, as there only seems to be one song and it is on repeat.”
  • grinding162 mentions

    Reviews indicate that while the game starts off engaging and enjoyable, it becomes increasingly grindy and tedious in the late game, particularly when pursuing achievements and completing the research tree. Many players find the repetitive nature of grinding for upgrades and achievements detracts from the overall experience, leading to a sense of boredom and lack of challenge as they progress. Despite these criticisms, some players still appreciate the game's casual and relaxing aspects, making it suitable for those who enjoy management games with a grindy element.

    • “However, this game is not grindy, unexpectedly.”
    • “Very fun and not too grindy.”
    • “Balanced, easy to learn, not too grindy and also seems not to be overloaded by bugs, like 'Crossroads Inn'.”
    • “In the end, I ended up skipping the days to get through the very tedious quest system to progress through the tracker.”
    • “The game itself is very simple and grindy, but it also lacks any deep thinking, so it's just a fun background game.”
    • “The end game stage (when each tech requires thousands of research points) is very tedious; the game loses its charm.”
  • replayability104 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits limited replayability, with many players noting that once they complete the main objectives or achievements, there is little incentive to return. While some aspects, like different tavern designs or self-imposed challenges, offer minor replay value, the repetitive nature of gameplay and lack of diverse content significantly detract from long-term engagement. Players suggest that future updates could enhance replayability, but as it stands, the game is best enjoyed at a discounted price.

    • “I boot this up time and time again, so replay value I'd say is moderately high if you're into economy games.”
    • “It offers a lot of depth and replay value, and it is very satisfying to see your tavern grow and prosper under your management.”
    • “Way more replayable than I thought; really promising game so far.”
    • “Without random events and with the tedium of research, there isn't really any replay value.”
    • “There is just not too much replayability as soon as you've gotten all the achievements, as everything is maxed out by then.”
    • “The downfall is there is not really any replay value, which kind of sucks since it only takes about 10-15 hours to beat.”
  • optimization55 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and no crashes, others experience significant issues, particularly in late-game scenarios with high NPC counts. Graphics optimization is often criticized, with rendering glitches and performance drops noted, especially on certain hardware like Macs. Despite these concerns, the developers are actively working on improvements, and many players appreciate the game's addictive nature and user-friendly interface.

    • “The game allows for upgrades and optimization without being exceedingly complex like many other strategy games on Steam.”
    • “The low-poly graphics are simple and functional to ensure the game runs smoothly, even if you've got a packed multi-story house.”
    • “The dev has a roadmap for each month and the game is pretty optimized considering it could show about 300+ NPCs in a single room.”
    • “Warning for late game - the game is not optimized and will start running poorly.”
    • “Lots of rendering glitches and generally poor graphics optimization.”
    • “My greatest frustration with it is that the performance is rough.”
  • atmosphere53 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its cozy, relaxing, and immersive qualities, enhanced by charming medieval graphics and delightful music. Players appreciate the inviting tavern environment, which fosters a sense of comfort and nostalgia, making it an enjoyable space for casual gameplay and creativity. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal as a laid-back management experience.

    • “The atmosphere has a nice charm to it.”
    • “Despite the stylized graphics, the atmosphere is just beautiful, with relaxing tavern music and lots of decorative items at your disposal to create your cozy dream tavern.”
    • “The progression feels rewarding, and the visuals and sound design create an immersive atmosphere.”
    • “Really doesn't match the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Pretty basic on the charm, customization, atmosphere - would love to see those areas expand.”
    • “While the charming graphics and immersive sound design enhance the overall atmosphere, it's worth noting that some UI elements can be improved to enhance user-friendliness.”
  • stability46 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting minor glitches and occasional crashes, while others describe it as largely bug-free and smooth. Issues such as freezing, rendering glitches, and control responsiveness have been noted, particularly on certain hardware configurations. Overall, while some users enjoy a stable experience, others encounter significant stability problems that detract from gameplay.

    • “Tavern Master is a simple and bug-free tavern management game with beautiful art.”
    • “It has a solid gameplay loop, beautiful art, and is bug-free.”
    • “The game runs great, no slowdown even in maxed out sandbox mode.”
    • “Game boots, but freezes computer entirely; only a reboot fixes it.”
    • “I genuinely enjoy the game, however graphical glitches, artifacts, and constant crashing hinder what can otherwise be an extremely fun game.”
    • “It's buggy and crashes frequently.”
  • humor33 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying its quirky characters, funny animations, and lighthearted challenges that enhance the tavern management experience. Many reviews highlight the delightful blend of strategy and comedy, making the gameplay feel engaging and entertaining. Overall, the game successfully incorporates humor into its mechanics and visuals, providing a fun and amusing atmosphere for players.

    • “The humor sprinkled throughout the game adds a delightful touch and makes managing your tavern feel like more than just numbers and efficiency—it brings personality to the experience.”
    • “Balancing the needs of your guests, keeping your staff happy, and making sure everyone gets their ale on time can be a hilarious challenge.”
    • “The animations are precise and funny; you can just sit back and enjoy looking at what they are doing.”
  • monetization13 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with players expressing frustration over unskippable ads for DLC and other titles on the main menu, likening the experience to mobile games that rely on advertising to extend gameplay. While there are no microtransactions, some users feel that the game employs mechanics designed to stretch playtime, leading to concerns about it being a cash grab rather than a genuine gaming experience. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to prioritize advertisement visibility over player convenience.

    • “All these systems seem a lot like mobile games but without the monetization issues, just the dumb systems for you to click.”
    • “Great game, but there's this great big advertisement for the DLC and another game the developers are working on that I can't hide on the main menu.”
    • “In fact, it felt exactly like a mobile game - hooking you in with something fun then making you watch ads over and over again to get access to another tiny sliver of content.”
    • “Tavern Master comes heavily equipped with typical mobile-like systems that, in the absence of in-app purchases, only really exist to pad length.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally engaging, as it allows them to cultivate and grow their own tavern, fostering a sense of accomplishment and connection. The overall experience is described as wholesome and relaxing, enhanced by enjoyable music and solid mechanics, making it a delightful escape into a medieval setting.

    • “It made me feel like I created this tavern, improved it over time, and nurtured it into an extremely successful medieval business!”
    • “The game is wholesome, fun, and relaxing.”
    • “If you want a gentle, fun, wholesome medieval experience, look no further.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is somewhat limited, but players appreciate the sense of progression as they witness their staff grow and improve. The varied and appealing character designs also contribute positively to the overall experience, especially given that the game is developed by a single individual.

    • “The character designs are varied and appealing, especially considering there is only one developer.”
    • “While there's limited character development, watching your staff grow and improve does give a sense of progression.”
    • “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack meaningful growth throughout the game.”
    • “I found it hard to connect with the characters as their development is shallow and predictable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

12hMedian play time
14hAverage play time
9hMain story
17hCompletionist
7-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 98 analyzed playthroughs

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