Tavern Tycoon

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In "Tavern Tycoon" , players run a tavern catering to retired heroes, managing its day-to-day operations while ensuring their customers are regaled with thrilling tales. The game offers an engaging mix of management and narrative, as players balance the tavern's needs and the desires of their legendary clientele. By creating a welcoming atmosphere, players help former adventurers relive their glory days and make new memories.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

65%

Audience ScoreBased on 561 reviews

gameplay25 positive mentions

stability22 negative mentions

Great customization options and mechanics that allow for creative tavern management.
Fun and engaging gameplay reminiscent of classic tycoon games like Theme Hospital.
Active developer support with regular updates and responsiveness to community feedback.

Game can become repetitive and lacks depth after a few levels.
Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as pathfinding issues and unresponsive UI.
Limited content and features in early access, with some mechanics feeling unpolished or incomplete.

gameplay
75 mentions
33 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its fun mechanics and customization options, but criticizing its repetitiveness and lack of depth over time. While some mechanics are engaging and the game offers a nostalgic feel reminiscent of "Theme Hospital," others find the gameplay simplistic and poorly explained, leading to frustration with unclear mechanics and bugs. Overall, while there is potential for enjoyable gameplay, many players feel it currently lacks sufficient content and polish to keep them engaged long-term.
- “The graphics are beautiful and the gameplay is fun.”
- “Each level introduces a new mechanic (i.e. new rooms, different NPCs, etc.), which keeps things fresh as you play.”
- “Super underrated game, easy-to-understand mechanics and tons of replay value with different tavern setups.”
- “The gameplay is lackluster; there just doesn't seem to be much bang, and it's too simple in certain areas while being too complex in others.”
- “There's unexplained mechanics and plenty of bugs that will tank your reputation and ruin your entire game.”
- “Honeslty, I don't know how this game has a positive review; not only is the gameplay terrible (you place everything in the first 5 minutes then just wait till you get enough fame), but the amount of content is just awful, there is nothing to do, no content at all.”
graphics
45 mentions
40 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the art style as cute and charming, while others criticize it as dated and lacking polish. Many appreciate the attention to detail in the visuals and smooth transitions, but there are complaints about performance issues and a lack of optimization. Overall, while the graphics are functional and have character, they are seen as needing improvement to match the game's creative potential.
- “The graphics are really lovely, even the main menu has a lot of detail.”
- “It has excellent graphics and I think that the developers of the game will continue making new content about the game.”
- “The graphics are quite enjoyable and the controls when placing rooms and furniture are very easy to get a hang of.”
- “Some of the worst graphics, not even from this decade, boring gameplay and the devs didn't put any effort at all into the AI to the point of making the game borderline unplayable.”
- “While technically it does deliver, the graphics are quite corny and cartoonish, and the quests are somewhat bland and lifeless.”
- “I don't have any issues with the graphics, it looks like it belongs in the 2000s, but graphics are not why you're playing a tavern management game.”
story
41 mentions
10 % positive mentions
85 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story mode features a challenging progression with a mix of lighthearted and dark narrative elements, though many players find the difficulty spikes frustrating. While the missions provide engaging gameplay and unique challenges, the overall story is perceived as short and somewhat generic, lacking depth and variety. Players express a desire for more content, such as additional chapters and sandbox modes, to enhance the storytelling experience.
- “After the last level, there is a little story with surprisingly dark twists.”
- “I enjoyed the story, silliness (my poor dwarf!), and the attention to detail for NPC animations.”
- “The story mode offers a task list of increasing challenges, so you'll never feel quite like you've mastered this game.”
- “The story mode levels have a steep curve, even in easy mode.”
- “While technically it does deliver, the graphics are quite corny and cartoonish, and the quests are somewhat bland and lifeless.”
- “So far there seems to be only a kind of story mode where you have goals.”
music
25 mentions
28 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its uplifting and cozy feel, while others criticize it for being repetitive, annoying, and not fitting the medieval/fantasy theme. There are also complaints about the lack of a music/sfx slider and the need for more diverse and thematic music choices. Overall, while some find the music enjoyable, many feel it detracts from the game's atmosphere and immersion.
- “Music changes between levels, which makes it less likely to get tedious and no critical bugs so far.”
- “The music gives a cozy feel and being able to smash rats thrilled my viewers.”
- “Uplifting music, nice humor, and good diversity in what you can do and how you can play.”
- “The music is actually rather annoying and does not fit the medieval/fantasy theme that is here.”
- “The music is painful to listen to... over and over again.”
- “Cons: poor writing, music does not fit the theme, janky UI, bugs including issues with adjusting sound and graphics levels, issues with room use, not very polished.”
humor
25 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it charming, funny, and often hilarious, contributing to an enjoyable experience. While some critiques mention bugs and a lack of flexibility in scenarios, the overall sentiment highlights the game's creative and amusing elements, making it a fun and addictive play. However, there are mixed feelings about the humor in the user interface, with some players finding it cringeworthy.
- “Fun little scenarios and some humorous elements keep the game interesting.”
- “A funny and quite addictive game with nice mechanics and pleasant humor.”
- “Just want to say that this is a funny, pleasant and good game to play.”
stability
22 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and unpolished mechanics that hinder gameplay. Many users express frustration over issues such as broken tutorials, empty rooms with long queues, and game freezes, leading to a perception that the game is a "buggy trainwreck." While some acknowledge that it is in early access and hope for future improvements, the overall sentiment is that the game currently lacks the necessary stability and polish.
- “Incomplete and buggy.”
- “As no meaningful updates have been released in almost a year, it looks like the developers have abandoned this game, leaving it in a buggy, unpolished state.”
- “Complete waste of money, even for £7. It's so buggy that it doesn't even work mechanically; for example, maidens cook, serve, and clean for less gold than it costs to pay them, and they constantly get angry for no conceivable reason.”
optimization
7 mentions
14 % positive mentions
86 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly without major bugs, many players report significant performance issues, including high temperatures and low frame rates. There are calls for better stability and options for selecting graphics drivers, as well as criticism of certain design choices that detract from the experience.
- “The game runs smoothly; I haven't encountered any major bugs in the latest build.”
- “For me, this game is about cash flow and optimization of bar layout.”
- “K (a steady 30fps) but like many indie titles does need work on stability and optimization; also, a method in which a user can pick the graphics driver I want the game to use would be helpful (I know my card could run it a lot).”
- “Performance is another question though, as I'm hitting huge temperatures on this game.”
- “It runs at a steady 30fps, but like many indie titles, it does need work on stability and optimization. Also, a method for users to select the graphics driver they want the game to use would be helpful, as I know my card could run it a lot better.”
- “The performance is abysmal - for a game that looks like it could run on my Android, it sure runs poorly.”
grinding
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game; while some appreciate the changing music and relaxing sounds that help alleviate tedium, others are frustrated by the removal of the popular endless/sandbox mode, leading to a more monotonous career mode. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as tedious by some, particularly due to the lack of variety in gameplay options.
- “The art feels old school, the sounds are pleasant and relaxing yet not tedious, and the gameplay is impressive.”
- “Well, the dev has gone and mucked it all up again, removing the much wanted and most played (no, I don't care what he says it will easily be) endless/sandbox mode. Yep, that's right, the numpty has taken it out, so now there's only a boring, tedious career mode. Do not bother; as buggy as it is, at least Crossroads Inn is trying different modes and different playstyles. This, well, this has been ruined for the last time. Avoid.”
- “Been grinding nonstop since I bought it.”
replayability
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, featuring easy-to-understand mechanics and various tavern setups that encourage multiple playthroughs. Players find it enjoyable and worth the low introductory price, highlighting its fun and engaging nature.
- “Super underrated game, easy-to-understand mechanics and tons of replay value with different tavern setups.”
- “The replay value is very high.”
- “Great replayability, fun, upbeat sound, and worth the intro price right under ten bucks!”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for its reliance on ads, which some players find unnecessary. However, the developer, Peter, is praised for prioritizing quality and maintaining open communication with the community, contrasting with typical cash-grab practices.
- “What’s the point of all these ads?”
- “This game feels like a cash grab rather than a genuine experience.”
- “The monetization strategy is frustrating and detracts from the overall enjoyment.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is criticized for failing to align with its fantasy tavern theme, lacking cohesive music, graphics, and interface that would enhance the experience. While the concept of managing an RPG-style tavern is appealing, the overall ambiance is deemed disappointing and uninspired.
- “The concept of running your own RPG-style tavern is great, but the atmosphere (or lack thereof) of this medieval pub left much to be desired.”
- “I recognize that tycoon games can't help but draw from each other to some extent, but a game about a fantasy world tavern should have a matching atmosphere in terms of music, graphics, interface, and so on, and this absolutely doesn't.”
- “I recognize that tycoon games can't help but draw from each other to some extent, but a game about a fantasy world tavern should have a matching atmosphere in terms of music, graphics, interface, and so on, and this absolutely doesn't.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the immersive qualities that one would expect from a game set in a vibrant fantasy world.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich environment, the overall ambiance is dull and fails to engage the player, making the experience feel lifeless.”