Touhou Mystia's Izakaya

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,039 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • story
Touhou Mystia's Izakaya Game Cover
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In "Touhou Mystia's Izakaya," players manage a bar and serve a variety of food and drinks to quirky Touhou characters, striving to keep them happy and increase their establishment's reputation. The game features a casual, relaxing atmosphere with a focus on building relationships and customer satisfaction. As the story progresses, players may uncover hidden adventures and engage in bonus events.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,039 reviews
gameplay185 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions
  • gameplay414 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet addictive loop that combines ingredient gathering during the day with restaurant management at night, featuring charming pixel art and a delightful soundtrack. While the mechanics are easy to grasp, they offer enough depth to keep players engaged, though some find the gameplay can become repetitive over time. Overall, it provides a relaxing and enjoyable experience, appealing to both fans of the Touhou series and newcomers alike.

    • “The gameplay loop is addictive, the characters are wonderful, and the pixel art is jaw-droppingly beautiful.”
    • “The gameplay is challenging without being too difficult, and you don't really need prior Touhou knowledge to enjoy it, but it definitely helps.”
    • “The gameplay is delightfully strategic yet soothing, perfect for unwinding after a long day.”
    • “It's quite enjoyable for about the first 10-20 hours and then it becomes very repetitive without any new mechanics to freshen things up.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay doesn't really change; after you get used to it, it starts to feel stale and repetitive.”
    • “The gameplay loop is simple if not a bit repetitive, but fun.”
  • music405 mentions

    The music in this restaurant management game has received widespread acclaim for its charm and quality, featuring a delightful mix of remixed Touhou tracks that enhance the overall atmosphere. Players appreciate the dynamic audio that evolves with gameplay, rewarding them with more engaging tunes as they progress. The soundtrack is described as relaxing and catchy, making it a significant highlight that complements the game's cute pixel art and engaging mechanics.

    • “The music is fantastic and there is even a rhythm mini game to get buffs when cooking.”
    • “The music is charming and the fact the music ramps up as you do better during gameplay just gives each night more life as your place is packed and filled with customers.”
    • “The soundtrack is extraordinary and really helps set the tone.”
    • “I liked the dialog, the graphics, the foraging during the day and restaurant management at night, but be warned: just after you've played enough to void a return, the game introduces a music note mini game you're now forced to do every single time you want to cook a dish and it just killed the game for me.”
    • “The only thing I dislike is the music game.”
    • “The music gets tedious.”
  • story353 mentions

    The story of "Touhou Mystia's Izakaya" is generally described as light-hearted and charming, featuring a mix of culinary adventures and character interactions that are engaging even for those unfamiliar with the Touhou lore. While some players find the writing and dialogue to be somewhat shallow or repetitive, many appreciate the cute art style and the overall cozy atmosphere that the narrative creates. The game effectively balances its story with gameplay mechanics, making it enjoyable for both fans of the franchise and newcomers alike.

    • “The game's captivating story, accompanied by a cast of unique characters, adds a superb layer of depth, while the mouthwatering food and diverse ingredients further enhance the immersive experience.”
    • “The story is light-hearted and chill, which fits this game perfectly.”
    • “The story follows Mystia as she expands her business from a small food cart to multiple restaurants throughout the world, learning new recipes to sell and making new friends.”
    • “The game has a lot of story and it kind of expects you to know the lore of Touhou to understand some details in conversations.”
    • “Besides the fact that most characters look extremely identical, making it difficult to tell who they are and follow the storyline, the dialogue is also so ridiculously shallow that 90% of the time I have no idea what the characters are talking about, and I know 100% of the time I don't care a bit because these characters look all so dumb.”
    • “The story is simple but effective as every character is charming and their interactions fun.”
  • graphics203 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, vibrant colors, and adorable character designs, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the artwork and the seamless integration of visuals with the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience. The combination of cute graphics and a delightful soundtrack contributes to a relaxing and enjoyable gaming experience, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The hand-drawn visuals and traditional Japanese-inspired soundtrack create a warm, inviting atmosphere.”
    • “The artwork is wonderful, every character and environment is well drawn in a very appealing pixel style, and are all very very very cute!”
    • “The graphics are cute, the music is amazing, and the dialogue and story are well thought out, making it a delightful experience.”
    • “Looks very cute, though I would have preferred more 'full resolution' CGs and character artwork.”
    • “The computer graphics while your assistants having spas sail close to the wind.”
    • “I was initially enticed by the visually pleasing aesthetics and it being set out in the Touhou universe, but I did not expect much at first.”
  • humor93 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and light-heartedness, featuring funny character interactions, witty dialogue, and whimsical scenarios that resonate well with fans of the Touhou universe. Players find the writing to be both cute and engaging, often highlighting the amusing antics of the characters, particularly the "funny bird" protagonist, which adds a delightful layer to the gameplay experience. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere, making it a standout feature for many players.

    • “Meeting familiar characters like Reimu and Marisa adds charm and humor, while experimenting with recipes ensures the gameplay never grows stale.”
    • “Touhou Mystia's Izakaya is hilarious, calming, and 100% worth the price and more.”
    • “The dialogue between the characters is also hilarious and captures the whimsical feel of the Touhou universe.”
  • emotional52 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with players highlighting its wholesome and heartwarming narrative, charming character interactions, and relaxing gameplay. The soundtrack enhances the emotional experience, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a light-hearted and engaging escape. Overall, it is celebrated as a feel-good game that evokes joy and nostalgia, making it a favorite for emotional detox and casual play.

    • “The dialogue is wholesome, and interacting and bonding with the characters within the world is fun and rewarding.”
    • “This game truly melts my heart with the wholesome and cute interactions between the characters!”
    • “The story is really cute and heartfelt too; big love for this game.”
  • atmosphere34 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Touhou Mystia's Izakaya" is widely praised for its warm, inviting qualities, enhanced by beautiful hand-drawn visuals and a soothing, traditional Japanese-inspired soundtrack. Players appreciate the cozy and charming environment, which balances a sense of comfort with subtle tension, making it a delightful and engaging experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as relaxing and homey, perfect for casual gameplay while enjoying its quirky characters and delightful music.

    • “The hand-drawn visuals and traditional Japanese-inspired soundtrack create a warm, inviting atmosphere.”
    • “The art is beautiful, the characters are cute, and the atmosphere is so comfy.”
    • “One of the best parts of this game is probably the atmosphere; the world and the characters are all so charming, and the game just gives off a homey feeling overall.”
    • “I bought the game due to its warm and comfy looking atmosphere, but what I ended up with was the opposite.”
    • “The gameplay cycle might not be the most ambitious or creative, but that's part of the relaxing atmosphere, I guess.”
    • “It's not out of ignorance - I feel like these are intentional changes the devs made to keep this game's cozy atmosphere, in a world that can be somewhat dark at times.”
  • grinding19 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious but ultimately rewarding, with many noting that the extensive content and engaging mechanics make the effort worthwhile. While some aspects, like resource gathering and cooking, can feel overwhelming or repetitive, the cozy atmosphere and unique gameplay elements provide a satisfying experience overall. Despite the grind, players appreciate the balance of challenge and relaxation, making it a memorable journey.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The game is soothing just how its atmosphere relaxes whilst cooking... cooking in immense ingredients this had me put all my blood and sweat for 100 hours of grinding, training, memorizing every ingredient known in existence and have my time spared for every achievement there is to exist purposely collect.”
    • “That being said, as a resource gathering game with an extensive story and NPC backgrounds, this game may feel grindy at times.”
    • “Hope they have a way to spice up this section as it can be a tad tedious once you repeat it over and over again.”
  • character development11 mentions

    The character development in the game is praised for its depth and individuality, with each character showcasing unique personalities and storylines that enhance the overall experience. The stunning and adorable character designs contribute to the game's charm, making it an engaging introduction to the Touhou franchise for both newcomers and fans alike. Overall, the combination of well-written characters and appealing art style creates a cozy and enjoyable atmosphere.

    • “The characters and dialogue are great and have their own quirks and character development in regards to the main character.”
    • “In terms of character development, I find each of the characters so full of personality and with their own individualistic storylines.”
    • “Tl;dr: Touhou Mystia's Izakaya is a charming and cute restaurant sim with a surprisingly interesting story and solid character design.”
    • “In terms of character development, I find each of the characters so full of personality and with their own individual storylines.”
  • stability9 mentions

    The game's stability is mixed, with players noting that time freezes during cooking and menu interactions, which alleviates stress. However, issues such as interface freezing, clunky controls, and translation bugs detract from the experience, with some players experiencing significant glitches that require restarting gameplay. Overall, while the game runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck, it still suffers from various stability-related problems.

    • “This game is an absolute bargain and runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “Whenever you're cooking, serving drinks, or interacting with customers, time completely freezes.”
    • “Opening a menu/window doesn't guarantee the highlighted box is where you'll expect it to be (starts at random places), screen/control labels vibrate intensely if you try to use your mouse to get around the clunky controls, and sometimes the interface freezes.”
    • “Still buggy; however, on some occasions, I had to restart the whole cooking day.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players noting its engaging mechanics and charming aesthetics. While some mention a degree of repetitiveness, the abundance of content and enjoyable gameplay loops contribute to a lasting appeal, allowing for extensive playtime. Players can expect to invest significant hours into the game, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.

    • “This is genuinely such a cute and cozy game, it's so chill and fun. I spent a lot of time on it and I'm planning to play more of it soon. All the interactions were cute, the story was lighthearted and intriguing. It can be a little repetitive, but it's still definitely very replayable!”
    • “The game has plenty of replay value if you enjoy cooking games, and getting 50-60 hours without running out of content is totally possible.”
    • “Even without any Touhou knowledge, the core mechanics of the game, as well as the gameplay loop, create a replayable and exciting experience.”
    • “This is one of the most replayable games I have ever played.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game is well-optimized, running smoothly with a charming aesthetic and pleasant soundtrack, making it enjoyable to play. While it performs best with a USB controller, the overall experience remains engaging and allows for personal performance improvement. Players appreciate the balance of optimization that keeps the gameplay interesting without overwhelming them.

    • “There's enough optimization to figure out to keep it interesting, without being overwhelming.”
    • “Its adorable characters, enjoyable storyline, and the freedom to pause and explore at my own pace have made it a game that I've thoroughly enjoyed restarting to improve my performance.”
    • “This is a game that begs to have nearly every performance bar tweaked down, making this a game that is absolutely entertaining while being a battery sipper.”
    • “This is, however, an extremely minor complaint given that I have a USB controller and it is much more comfortable that way. The game seems to be optimized for that more so than keyboard; I highly recommend using one if you have one.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received criticism for appearing to be a cash grab, with users expressing disappointment in the overworld design and the use of recycled promotional images for DLC. This has led to concerns about the developer's commitment to originality and quality in their offerings.

    • “The overworld game is a bit of a letdown; it feels like a cash grab typical of RPG Maker titles.”
    • “The developer posted an advertisement for DLC2 for their project 'Touhou Mystia Izakaya' using an image that has been seen a thousand times before.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

23hMedian play time
33hAverage play time
8-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 21 analyzed playthroughs

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