Tavern Tycoon

65%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,122 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Tavern Tycoon Game Cover
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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.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

65%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,122 reviews
gameplay50 positive mentions
stability44 negative mentions
  • Great concept with a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic tycoon games like Theme Hospital.
  • Active developer who is responsive to community feedback and regularly updates the game.
  • Fun and engaging gameplay that allows for creativity in tavern management.
  • Game is still in early access and has many bugs that can disrupt gameplay.
  • Lacks depth and variety in content, making it feel repetitive after a short time.
  • User interface can be clunky and lacks clear feedback on customer satisfaction and game mechanics.
  • gameplay150 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 introduce variety, others are poorly explained or feel overly simplistic, leading to frustration. Overall, the game shows potential but requires further development and refinement to enhance the player experience.

    • “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.”
    • “I like the gameplay a lot; you can really enjoy playing this game, but you have to discover many of the things in the game for yourself.”
    • “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.”
    • “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), the amount of content is just awful, there is nothing to do, no content at all.”
  • graphics90 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the art style as cute and detailed, while others criticize them as dated and lacking polish. Many appreciate the smooth transitions and overall aesthetic, but there are complaints about performance issues, such as frame rate drops and graphical bugs. Overall, while the graphics are functional and carry 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 in 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 can't keep a stable 60fps with all graphics settings turned down to half - not even during early game.”
  • story82 mentions

    The story mode features a challenging progression with a mix of lighthearted and dark narrative elements, though it is relatively short and lacks depth. Players appreciate the unique challenges presented in each mission, but many express a desire for more content, such as additional chapters and customization options. Overall, while the gameplay is enjoyable, the story feels somewhat generic and could benefit from more engaging quests and a sandbox mode for creative freedom.

    • “After the last level, there is a little story with surprisingly dark twists.”
    • “The story mode offers a task list of increasing challenges, so you'll never feel quite like you've mastered this game.”
    • “I enjoyed the story, the silliness (my poor dwarf!), and the attention to detail for NPC animations.”
    • “And while I recognize that it's not an adventure or story game, it seems like the devs didn't do much but put some fantasy paint over a generic city builder game.”
    • “While technically it does deliver, the graphics are quite corny and cartoonish, and the quests are somewhat bland and lifeless.”
    • “Another issue is that at the beginning of a mission, the customers start asking for food that we don't even have, making your reputation lower because they end up leaving your tavern.”
  • music50 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 and not fitting the medieval/fantasy theme. Many users noted the lack of a music/sfx slider and suggested that the music could benefit from improvement to enhance the overall atmosphere. Overall, while some find the music enjoyable, a significant number feel it detracts from the game's intended ambiance.

    • “The music gives a cozy feel and being able to smash rats thrilled my viewers.”
    • “Traveling bards will look for a stage to play music to please your guests.”
    • “Uplifting music, nice humor, and good diversity in what you can do and how you can play.”
    • “The music is painful to listen to... over and over again.”
    • “The music is actually rather annoying and does not fit the medieval/fantasy theme that is here.”
    • “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.”
  • humor50 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it charming, funny, and often hilarious, contributing to the game's addictive nature. While some players appreciate the creative scenarios and gags, others express frustration with bugs and the overuse of humor in the user interface. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch, making the game enjoyable despite its imperfections.

    • “Fun little scenarios and some humorous elements keep the game interesting.”
    • “A funny and quite addictive game with nice mechanics and pleasant humor.”
    • “This game is funny, fun, replayability is priceless and well done, with even more now.”
  • stability44 mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its instability and numerous bugs, with players reporting issues ranging from unresponsive mechanics to glitches affecting gameplay. Many users express frustration over the lack of meaningful updates and polish, suggesting that the game feels abandoned in its current state. While some acknowledge that it is in early access and expect improvements, the overall sentiment is that the game is currently a "buggy trainwreck."

    • “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.”
    • “However, in this state, it's a buggy trainwreck.”
    • “Great tycoon but still has so many glitches - I get queues and queues of people waiting to use/get in rooms, but the rooms are empty and not in use. It seems to happen especially with guest and shared rooms that are empty with 4 reception desks and staff, and still the rooms are empty. This is happening in every room and urgently needs a fix.”
  • optimization14 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 the ability to select graphics drivers, as the game's performance does not match its visual requirements. Some design choices also detract from the experience, further complicating the optimization aspect.

    • “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, it 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 temps on this game.”
    • “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).”
    • “The performance is abysmal - for a game that looks like it could run on my Android, it sure runs poorly.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game; while the changing music and pleasant art help alleviate tedium, the removal of the popular endless/sandbox mode has led to frustration, making the career mode feel monotonous and tedious. Some users express disappointment over the lack of variety and engaging gameplay, suggesting that the grinding experience has been negatively impacted by recent changes.

    • “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.”
    • “Been grinding nonstop since I bought it.”
  • replayability6 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 fun and engaging, making it a worthwhile investment at its introductory price.

    • “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!”
  • monetization4 mentions

    Reviews highlight a strong disapproval of monetization practices, particularly regarding the use of ads, with users praising developers like Peter who prioritize quality and genuine communication over profit-driven strategies. The sentiment suggests a desire for more integrity in monetization approaches, avoiding cash grabs.

    • “What is the point of all the ads?”
    • “Peter is a true developer who cares; he sets a benchmark for those who do not want to cash grab or put on a show, and he values quality and communication with his customer base.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game has been criticized for failing to align with its fantasy tavern theme, lacking appropriate music, graphics, and interface elements. Despite the appealing concept of managing an RPG-style tavern, reviewers feel that the overall ambiance is disappointing and does not enhance the experience.

    • “The concept of running your own RPG-style tavern is great, but the atmosphere of this medieval pub left much to be desired.”
    • “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 disjointed and fails to immerse players in the fantasy setting.”
    • “Despite the potential for a rich environment, the overall ambiance is lackluster and uninspired.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
5-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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