Ale & Tale Tavern by Scienart Games
Ale & Tale Tavern is a mash-up of fantasy tavern simulation and RPG adventuring.
Combining cooking, waiting tables, decoration, fishing, combat, farming, and more, Ale & Tale offers an immersive and diverse experience. All of this can be enjoyed solo or with up to three other players as a cooperative tavern management adventure.
Bar Rescue
Ale & Tale doesn’t waste much time with scene-setting; the game opens up with the titular tavern in a run-down state and in need of a clean-up. After clearing away all the debris and brushing away the cobwebs, it’s time to begin setting the place up for business.
A merchant is right outside the front door – perhaps a little too conveniently positioned, really – to provide all the essentials and a little tutorial guidance along the way.
A simple rhythm soon emerges, beginning with the purchase of some resources. Early on this will be some barley, tables, and other essential goods like barrels and an oven.
Once supplies have been gathered, it’s time to brew some ale and cook some food before opening the tavern to guests. A more hectic period of taking orders and rushing dishes to tables will follow before it’s time to shut up shop and kick out the drunks.
There is a pleasing cadence to this process of flowing in and out of opening hours, and the many tasks necessary to run the tavern are satisfyingly presented. A menu can be managed to offer a selection of options based on available resources, and guests will soon start placing orders.
Tasks range from waiting tables to washing dishes and brewing up emergency supplies when the visitors go through stock faster than expected.
Party of Four
Up to three other players can join in with running the tavern, and this enriches the experience enormously. There’s plenty for everyone to do even beyond the tavern itself, including delivering orders to NPCs across the map and exploring to find resources. This can be dangerous without a little preparation; I found myself having to retreat from some troublesome orcs early on in my travels.
Whether or not you’re recruiting some friends, you might also want to automate some aspects of tavern management; adorable owl helpers can be enlisted to handle the more repetitive activities like cleaning and waiting tables.
This really helps to broaden the experience from task simulation to a true sense of management, and there’s something rather lovely about looking across your bustling tavern to see this whirr of activity.
Ale & Tale Tavern is beautifully presented with a wholesome design philosophy running through every aspect. The tavern itself is a cozy, wooden environment, and beyond its walls stretch wide green fields and forests. The music is relaxing and welcoming, and the voice acting is enthusiastic.
There are a couple niggles in the design; I’d like to be able to close the back door to the tavern, for example, and the locked-off areas remain a bit of an eyesore until they’re opened up.
The Verdict:
Ale & Tale Tavern is a rich and inviting simulation experience that also offers some light adventuring and exploration. Being able to dive in with some friends makes this a lovely way to pass time in a relaxing environment, and there’s plenty to unlock as the tavern grows.
This is easy to recommend to anyone looking for a cozy game to get lost in as the nights draw in.
Ale & Tale Tavern is available via Steam.
Watch the trailer for Ale & Tale Tavern below:
