Coffee Talk 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly is the second episode in the Coffee Talk series. In it, you play as the proprietor of a cozy little coffee shop that’s only open at night. Set in an alternate present-day Seattle, join a cast of fantasy friends and serve up some delicious hot drinks as you explore the world by listening to their stories. Even use your phone to follow their lives outside of the coffee shop via social media, and return lost items to further influence story outcomes.
I’ll be honest, I did not play Coffee Talk. I have only played Coffee Talk 2, but I don’t feel like I missed out on anything vital to the story. I’m sure meeting the characters in Coffee Talk would have made their stories richer, more fleshed out. However, it was easy to settle into the story, overall. The characters are interesting and diverse. They have varying personalities that you get to experience through the conversations you have with them. Each person struggling with their own real-feeling issues, as well as sharing their joys and achievements with you really adds a beautiful, personal touch to the game. You’re more than just a barista at their favorite late-night hangout. These characters feel familiar and real. Nevermind the sass and sarcasm that’s thrown around. You’re genuinely a friend to everyone, and it’s heartwarming.
Besides the fun characters, the setting is nice and cozy, too. Set in rainy Seattle, the ongoing rainstorm provides a wonderful sound backdrop. Pair that with the lofi chillhop beats that play and Coffee Talk 2 really has a great, relaxing environment. The overall color palette is pleasing to the eye, too. Some characters wear some bright colors, like Lucas in his bright yellow hoodie, but it’s not overwhelming. The coffee shop is decorated in neutrals and muted colors, too. It’s an easy-to-look at environment that still offers a great variation in color so it’s not boring. It is the perfect cozy environment.
Figuring out what people want to drink via hints (mostly) was an interesting game play element. It not only gives Coffee Talk 2 a sense of replayability so you can discover all of the drinks and outcomes, but makes it a little bit more than just a reading experience. Correctly, or incorrectly, guessing someone’s drink gives you just a touch more immersive play than if you simply read the pre-written dialogue and picked pre-made drinks. Now, you can influence the conversation and other game outcomes by serving drinks. Plus, the latte art portion is fun. I’m by no means good at it, but it’s fun to play with and see what you can make. I made a palm tree once! Accidentally.
This was a chill, relaxing game. It was fun serving drinks, and interesting reading the conversations with everyone. There’s no rush to complete things, and you can save in the middle of a day. Coffee Talk 2 is the perfect cozy visual novel, really. I can’t recommend this enough for anyone looking for a relaxing, no stakes, no pressure game to play. It’s perfect for curling up on a comfy couch, cozy blanket on a rainy day.
I give this game:
You can find Coffee Talk 2 on Steam, Epic Games, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox!
Coffee Talk is a talking/conversation simulator game in which you bend your ear to the troubles of all manner of beings, human and not. Brew up a fine cup of joe, and serve it to someone or something that could also really use someone to talk to.
You take on the role of a barista in an alternate universe version of Seattle, Washington. The perfect setting for any game that revolves around a relaxing coffee shop experience, while aiding the woeful hearts of the inhabitants.
You will meet all sorts of fantastical creatures to talk to throughout the game, including mermaids, elves, orcs and many of the other usual casts of mythical beasts. To the best of your abilities, make delicious drink for your patrons, by hand, while helping them unburden themselves of the daily grind through stimulating conversation.
Coffee Talk currently has a demo version available on Steam, if you’d like to try before you buy. The game will become available in the Nintendo eShop tomorrow and will cost $12.99. Pre-purchases are also currently available through the eShop.
Coffee Talk is a casual talking simulation game developed by Toge Productions. This game caught my eye in early development due to your customers being fantasy characters! Now, not only do we know that Coffee Talk will be releasing January 29th, 2020, but that it will also release simultaneously on PC, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One! Anyone else excited about serving coffee and listening to the stories of elves, orcs, mermaids and the like?
You can wishlist Coffee Talk on Steam here or for an amazing physical copy for the PS4 and Switch version in Japanese, go here. That package consists of the game, 2 soundtrack CDs, and a mini artbook! The developers assure us that “Even though it’s only available in the Japanese version, the game will still feature the same language options as the digital version (EN, JP, KR, CN, RU, and many more). The artbook also has some developer commentaries in English and Japanese.”
Let’s not forget that the Nintendo Switch is region-free. Meaning, you can pop in a Japanese disc into your Switch, and even select the language you want as mentioned above! Sounds like the physical Switch version will be accessible to all!
You can already download Coffee Talk’s updated demo on Steam now, or wait for a possible upcoming Switch demo.
Chorus Worldwide, the publisher of Coffee Talk teased fans with a tweet today. According to their post it appears that a Nintendo Switch Demo of this exciting and relaxing story game could be on the way!
For anyone who doesn’t know, Coffee Talk is a narrative game currently in development and production by Toge Productions. You may know Toge for games like She and the Light Bearer or Magicat. Although seemingly dark, I find Coffee Talk to be a warm and relaxing story of everyday problems through the lens of magic.
The tweet states that the publisher is currently prepping a demo but it isn’t 100% confirmed yet. Chorus Worldwide is asking fans to stay tuned for more information on this.
I think it would be wonderful to get a first gameplay glimpse at this upcoming relaxing story driven game. If you are already intrigued check out more about Coffee Talk including the first trailer right here.
If you enjoy free demos, I compiled a list of currently available demos for the most wholesome, cute and relaxing games – take a looksie right here.
[source: Chorus Worldwide Twitter]
Coffee Talk is a narrative game currently in development and production by Toge Productions. You may know Toge for games like She and the Light Bearer or Magicat.
Although seemingly dark, we find Coffee Talk to be a warm and relaxing story of everyday problems through the lens of magic.
Set in an alternate version of Seattle, Washington, you will be a barista serving fantastical patrons. As rain fills the night outside, you’ll get a glimpse into the lives of orcs, elves, mermaids, and more. You will participate in dialogue with customers while also trying to perfect whatever drink they order.
Unlike other narrative-based games, the storylines and decisions will branch not from your dialogue options but from “how you treat and serve the customers of your café.”
A dark and earthy color scheme meets with a ‘90s anime-inspired art style that is both beautiful and calming. On top of that, the music is a jazzy assortment of lo-fi. Toge calls the game “an experience to make you think, feel, and help rest your body and soul.”
Coffee Talk is slated for a PC and Mac release “sometime after midnight” this year. A playable demo is available on Steam, itch.io, or directly from Toge Productions’ website. You can follow updates for the game on Twitter.
Need a relaxing game while you wait? We recommend Unpacking. Want more visual novel games? We’ve got that, too, with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy and What Remains of Edith Finch.
If you aren’t familiar with Tavern Talk, you really should go take a look at it. I had the chance to play the demo back in November and just absolutely enjoyed myself. The game is a charming mix of D&D fantasy elements and the chill, laid-back drink mixing and interactions that make Coffee Talk so lovely. It is perfect for those who love fantasy-themed games, but are looking for something that branches away from the usual fighting and saving the world.
In Tavern Talk, you are the owner of the Wayfarer’s Inn, a popular pit stop for adventurers crossing the land of Asteria. As the owner, you’re in charge of everything, including being the barkeeper! However, your drinks aren’t simply ales and wines, but magical potions that will alter the fate of the drinker. In fact, adventurer’s come to you before they embark on important quests and tasks to bolster their abilities to help their outcomes. But you’re also a dealer of quests, yourself. As you speak to your patrons, you’ll gather bits and pieces, rumors, and hints of what’s going on in the world beyond your doors. Arrange those pieces of information into tangible quests for your patrons to complete to further the story and discover what fate awaits the world around you.
I’ve been eagerly awaiting Tavern Talk for a while now, and today they’ve announced the release date! You will be able to grab the game for yourself June 20th from Steam! You can still check out the demo in the meantime, and add this beautiful visual novel to your Steam Wishlist! There are also plans for a Switch release, too.
Thanks to the folks over at Gentle Troll Entertainment for an extended look demo!
If you love visual novels, and also love Dungeons and Dragons or Pathfinder, then look no further! Tavern Talk is described by the developers as a “Coffee Talk meets D&D” type game, and they’re spot on. You play as the faceless owner of the Wayfarer’s Inn, a cozy tavern and comfortable place to sleep after a long adventure. But you’re not simply an innkeeper, as you’re a master at crafting useful and tasty potions for your patrons. You’re also adept at gathering the rumors you hear and turning them into quests for intrepid adventurers.
The demo only includes some short interactions with a few of Tavern Talk’s characters, but it perfectly captured their personalities and stories. Each character is distinctly their own person with their own quirks and mannerisms. There’s no recycled models or different faces on the same personality type stuff going on here. Some are relatable, some are grumpy, and some are perfect for a good laugh. It’s a lovely variety of different types of characters to encounter.
Again, it was a demo so I only got a taste of what the story is about, but it feels like how many of my D&D campaigns have gone. There’s a little bit of silliness, and a little bit of seriousness all mixed together. Tavern Talk really nails that mix, I think. Nothing is ever too serious that it bogs you down as levity is thrown into the story well. But, there’s never a time where the levity is over the top and sweeps away any bit of deep story there is. It’s a well-crafted balance necessary for a good experience.
As for the drink making, well that was a lot of fun! Coffee Talk has you making coffees and teas, which is a nice mechanic. However, they don’t really influence the story much. A wrong choice can lead to a different outcome, but in Tavern Talk what potions you serve a patron can change the course of their whole quest! Will they succeed or fail? Will they accomplish their mission through stealth or brute force? That can really depend on which drink you make them! It’s a great way to break up the visual novel bits with some activity, while giving you some freedom of choice to direct your story.
If you like visual novels, if you like Coffee Talk, and if you like D&D, or just fantasy questing, you need to try the Tavern Talk demo! Besides the story, drink making, and characters, the visuals are gorgeous. Everything looks lovingly made and is just beautiful. I can’t recommend it enough! Nor can I wait for the full game to come out. If it’s anything like the demo, it’ll be a fantastic time!
You can find the Tavern Talk demo on Steam!
If you’ve missed out on the Coffee Talk series, here’s my review of the second game!
If you loved Coffee Talk and Coffee Talk 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly, then this might be perfect for you! Tavern Talk is another pretty visual novel full of unique characters, fun drinks, and good times!
In Tavern Talk, you walk into a tavern and find yourself the owner of Wayfarer’s Inn. It appears to be a normal inn in the middle of the world, but looks can be deceiving. And you have a special gift! You can infuse beverages with magic that can influence someone’s fate. You’re known for helping the people of the realm via these magical drinks.
You’ll listen to the stories of the unique cast of beautifully designed adventurers that come in. From boasting about their glory or commiserating about failures, you’ll experience a variety of different personalities and tales. Help them find a place that feels like home by building relationships and creating an inviting environment inside the inn. Craft different interesting drinks, while you’re at it, but be careful what you serve. Your drink choices will alter their fate and the path their quests will take. Your choices shape the story of Tavern Talk!
Tavern Talk has no release date listed, but you can find it on Steam. There is a demo available too!
If you haven’t already, check out Coffee Talk and Coffee Talk 2!