The Boba Teashop

About

The Boba Teashop is a single player casual simulation game with horror and business themes. It was developed by Mike Ten and was released on April 20, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

The Boba Teashop is a cozy horror game where you manage a boba tea shop, preparing drinks and serving a variety of customers. As Risa, you balance the peaceful daily routine with eerie visions and unsettling occurrences that hint at a haunting. Navigate customer demands and supernatural mysteries to keep your shop running smoothly.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 563 reviews

story35 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The Boba Teashop combines cozy boba shop management with effective psychological horror elements, creating a unique and engaging experience.
The game features well-timed jump scares and a satisfying twist at the end, keeping players on edge throughout the short playtime.
The atmosphere is beautifully crafted with VHS-inspired visuals and a soundscape that enhances the sense of dread, making the mundane tasks of running a shop feel unsettling.

The game is very short, typically taking around an hour to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content or replayability.
Certain gameplay mechanics, such as having to restart the day after failing specific tasks, can be frustrating and disrupt the flow of the game.
Some players found the story and character motivations to be underdeveloped, leading to a lack of depth in the overall narrative.

story
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
The game's story is a blend of horror and charm, evolving from a cozy boba tea shop setting into a darker narrative filled with unexpected twists and eerie atmosphere. While some players found the story engaging and well-paced, others criticized its brevity and lack of depth, suggesting it could have benefited from more development and player choice. Overall, the storytelling effectively combines jump scares with a unique premise, keeping players curious and entertained throughout the experience.
- “A lovely little story about working at a boba tea shop that slowly takes a darker, more horrific turn as the days go by.”
- “The story is well written, the characters show development, even in just short dialogue boxes, and it makes for a really solid story that functions as both a good horror and a portrayal of the depressing and unempathetic nature of corporate life.”
- “The story develops at just the right time.”
- “The plot is pretty lame (especially the ending), and the making-fun-of-fat-people character gets pretty tired pretty quickly.”
- “However, the game reduced itself to a generic and unexplained ghost story, leaving it mediocre and flavorless.”
- “I think the story that the game was trying to tell had some promise but it ultimately wasn't anything too meaningful due to how short this game is.”
gameplay
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
46%
5%
The gameplay is characterized by its simple yet satisfying mechanics centered around making boba tea, which some players find addictive and engaging despite its brevity and repetitive nature. While the horror elements, including jump scares, add tension, many reviewers note that the overall experience feels familiar and lacks depth compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, the game offers a cozy atmosphere with a straightforward gameplay loop that is enjoyable for a short playthrough, though some players desire more complexity and content.
- “The gameplay is simple but satisfying, and the overall vibe is relaxing without feeling boring.”
- “On one hand, players engage in the straightforward, almost meditative gameplay of mixing milk teas, adding tapioca pearls, and carefully sealing cups—a process that feels both familiar and oddly satisfying.”
- “The setup is nice and slowburn, with enough creepiness for the early game to build intrigue and a simple and satisfying gameplay loop/boba making system that's honestly fun despite the spooky bits.”
- “The crucial part of such horror games is the gameplay about serving customers, and in this game, it's plain boring and not fluent.”
- “I'm baffled at the amount of positivity this has garnered considering how barebones the gameplay itself is.”
- “Also not worth the price at all; there is less than 1 hour worth of gameplay.”
atmosphere
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
36%
6%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its effective blend of cozy and creepy elements, creating a unique tension that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers note that the game skillfully builds suspense without relying heavily on jump scares, instead using environmental storytelling and sound design to evoke a sense of dread. Overall, the atmosphere is described as engaging and immersive, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The atmosphere is the perfect blend of unsettling and cozy, the graphics give that almost analog/early 2000s feel, and the characters are just fleshed out enough to keep you interested without the story overstaying its welcome.”
- “On the other hand, subtle yet persistent supernatural hints build tension in the background, creating a layered atmosphere where the mundane and the terrifying coexist.”
- “The atmosphere builds up real smooth, and the jump scares, not the cheap kind, and I love it.”
- “The game itself is so creepy just in its tense atmosphere and the building suspense of what will happen next that I think the jump scare stuff could have been left out entirely and you'd still have the right effect.”
- “To avoid spoilers as much as I can, I will just say that the atmosphere in this game, although it seems rather lighthearted at first, slowly shifts to mounting dread that made me take numerous breaks during my playthrough.”
- “I've played so many horror games, but the atmosphere in this is just so tense and awful, more than a lot of them.”
graphics
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
44%
13%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic PS1 and VHS-inspired aesthetic that effectively enhances the eerie atmosphere and sense of dread. While some users describe the visuals as simple or "mid," they appreciate how the art style contributes to the overall horror experience, with well-crafted environments and unsettling character designs that evoke a cozy yet creepy vibe. Overall, the graphics are praised for their ability to create a compelling and immersive horror experience.
- “The visuals, environment, and cleverly crafted and implemented scares create a perfect mix that will make your boba-mixing experience simply terrifying.”
- “Visually, the game embraces a VHS-inspired aesthetic that beautifully complements its eerie mood.”
- “The atmosphere is the perfect blend of unsettling and cozy, the graphics give that almost analog/early 2000s feel, and the characters are just fleshed out enough to keep you interested without the story overstaying its welcome.”
- “The graphics are simple but contribute to the feeling of dread as you stand behind the counter waiting for the next simpleton to order a drink.”
- “Also, because of the graphics, it reminds me a lot of PS1 games.”
- “Graphics are pretty mid.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to enhance atmosphere and evoke emotions, while others found the lack of music detrimental to their experience. Notably, the game's soundtrack effectively builds tension and complements the gameplay, creating a sense of anxiety without relying solely on traditional horror tropes. Overall, many players appreciate the thoughtful integration of music, rating it highly for its contribution to the game's immersive experience.
- “Great music and atmosphere, hard to get right but it's been pulled off fantastically here.”
- “The vibe, music, and tasks are perfect.”
- “It's not terrible, but the lack of music and unbalanced time requirements ruined my experience.”
- “This is the kind of indie horror game that doesn’t rely on creepy music to create an oppressive atmosphere; it manages to build genuine fear.”
- “I could feel the anxiety the character was feeling with the music and what the customers were saying, so I feel the whole situation was portrayed very well.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players finding the blend of comedy and horror amusing, often laughing at unexpected moments like jump scares and quirky customer interactions. The lighthearted tone, combined with amusing visuals and scenarios, creates a unique experience that leans more towards humor than genuine fright. Overall, the game successfully balances funny elements with its cozy atmosphere, making it enjoyable and entertaining.
- “When I first booted up the game, we both started laughing instantly.”
- “Honestly, the jump scare made me laugh more than scream.”
- “Very interesting story with some funny interactions with customers.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Overall, the game's replayability is largely criticized, with many users noting a lack of content that encourages multiple playthroughs. While some mention the potential for achievement hunting as a reason to replay, the consensus is that the short length and absence of additional modes significantly limit replay value.
- “Good atmosphere that properly sets the mood for the same, with some replay value to get all of the achievements.”
- “♥ re-playable - short and sweet”
- “I don't regret buying this, but I just wish there was a sandbox mode or some kind of replayability.”
- “There is no replay value; what you see is what you get.”
- “There's probably zero replay value, so keep that in mind.”
- “The only 'bad' thing I have to say is that it ended way too fast (about 1 hour long) and, as an extension of this, doesn't really have any replay value unless you like to go for achievements, I guess.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
Overall, users report a stable gameplay experience with no significant bugs or glitches, and the game performs well on the Steam Deck.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck!”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense action sequences.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's optimization is noted to be a key consideration for potential buyers, as it is relatively short and may require players to approach it with a strategic mindset to maximize their experience.
- “I may have played a bit too optimized, but it's important to keep in mind before buying that it's not a long game.”
- “The optimization in this game really enhances the overall experience, making it smooth and enjoyable.”
- “I appreciate how the developers focused on optimization, ensuring that even on lower-end systems, the game runs beautifully.”
- “Maybe I played a bit too optimized, but it's important to keep in mind before buying that it's not a long game.”
- “The game feels rushed and lacks proper optimization, leading to frustrating performance issues.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs and glitches that severely impacted the overall experience, indicating a lack of attention to optimization.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be repetitive and tedious, particularly when required to restart entire shifts, which can lead to frustration.
- “But having to start the whole shift all over again, it gets really repetitive and tedious.”
- “The grinding feels endless, and it often takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- “I find myself doing the same tasks over and over, which makes the experience feel monotonous.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally impactful, with a mix of calming music and disturbing elements that create a unique experience. Many express a strong emotional connection to the characters and story, leading to feelings of loss when the game concludes. Overall, it is described as a wholesome yet intense journey that leaves a lasting impression.
- “The calm music made me feel good, but the game gets really disturbing by the last day!”
- “Cool game, definitely a wholesome experience!”
- “Instead, I blinked twice, lost 3 years of eyesight, screamed 3 times, bonded with pixel customers, and now I'm emotionally unemployed because the game ended too fast.”