Straight out of the gate, let me tell you that I’m an absolute sucker for management games in which you build up a business, hire employees, and progressively upgrade your workspace for greater efficiency. I love to optimize and expand. It’s the strategy gamer in me, honestly. So, when I had the chance to write up a Tavern Manager Simulator review, I couldn’t resist!
Editor’s Note: The Guide Hall received a review copy of the game from the developer/publisher/PR for this review. Their generosity does not impact our overall opinion or thoughts on the game!
The Good
There’s a lot to love in Tavern Manager Simulator, with its colorful fantasy aesthetic, the minigames that draw you into the experience, and the progressive upgrades and interior customization that allows you to personalize your tavern. It’s enough to keep you busy for many tens of hours.
First and foremost, let’s talk minigames. They’re satisfying from the start. Filling a mug of ale perfectly provides a dopamine hit as you watch the suds sparkle. The same goes for stirring a pot of stew until it’s perfect, tenderizing and grilling meat, and even washing the dishes.
Honestly, I thought the dishwashing minigame would become tiresome after washing so many mugs, bowls, and plates, but it’s not. It’s satisfying. A quick rinse through the well water, rapidly and frantically shaking your mouse to clean off the gunk left behind by medieval peasants—it’s all done perfectly well in that it doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Next up: Setting! I love the medieval tavern setting of Tavern Manager Simulator. Whenever you explore the simulation genre on Steam, it’s full of modern businesses. You have car washes, gas stations, supermarkets, and even cafes, but too few medieval settings. It’s a breath of fresh air!
It helps that everything is uniquely designed with great care; nothing appears flat or asset-flipped. There’s an attention to detail that helps immerse you in the world, from the mug meant for a troll to the inscription on the bar of soap at the dishwashing bench; it’s a labor of love that shows through.
Lastly, let’s talk about the tavern itself. As you grow your popularity with the peasantry of the land, you’ll earn more coin and unlock additional upgrades. These upgrades range from more cookware, like mugs and plates, to additional table space to serve more customers.
Furthermore, you’ll unlock additional dishes to serve, with workbenches and unique minigames for each one. There’s stew, sausages, meat, and more. It becomes frantic as you attempt to cook everything perfectly, serve customers, clean dishes, manage the firepits, de-stinkify the outhouse, shoo away beggars, and so much more. But that frantic nature ensures you’re constantly busy, chasing that “one more turn” style of gameplay, but it’s one more mug of ale here!
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The Bad
There is very little I dislike about Tavern Manager Simulator. Some annoyances, to be sure, such as the smelly guests that wander in far too frequently, dropping bits of trash and leaving behind muddy footprints. They’re bothersome, and I want them out of my pub!
Secondly, your “helpers.” Instead of allowing us to hire peasants, we hire fairies by feeding them and assigning them to different workstations. It’s a fine mechanic on paper, but I’d prefer a human tending to the patrons, washing dishes, or stirring the stew pot. More often than not, I wind up doing it all myself.
Lastly, and perhaps the biggest con I stumbled upon during my playthrough, is that I don’t see much reason to play it again. Once you hit the last level, you’ve optimized your tavern, and you’re making money hand over fist; there’s little reason to continue or start fresh. Sure, you can decorate slightly differently in a second playthrough, but there’s little staying value here. It’s a one-and-done game, which is a shame considering everything it does right.
Should You Play Tavern Manager Simulator?
Overall, despite the few negatives I mentioned, if you’re a fan of the simulation genre and want something to play while you listen to a podcast or catch a stream, Tavern Manager Simulator is a fantastic addition to your library. Thankfully, the few cons don’t take away from the overall experience. It’s just a matter of price. Are you willing to pay for a simulation game with little replay value?
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