Developer – Etherous Games Limited

Publisher – HARRISONWORLD CO. LTD, Etherous Games Limited

Platforms – PC (reviewed)

Preview copy given by publisher

NOTE:

The following game is being reviewed in an Early Access State, the game may change after the release of this review, this review reflects the game at the time of publishing.

When your sibling makes an impulsive purchase, you are now the co-owner of a run-down tavern. With barely any money, it’s up to you to turn the tavern into a great success. Thankfully, a previous tenant is willing to teach you the basics and help out. Various allies and enemies play a part in your tavern’s fate. As your tavern grows, you slowly build up a team and turn your tavern into the success you always wanted.

Dragon Song Tavern: Cozy & Adventurous gives you a cozy farming experience with some adventuring and business management. You must create a new menu and craft the dishes with your produce or items you gather. This involves a different way of thinking that may be tough to adapt to. It’s also not unique from other titles in the genre though it is in the early stages. While the game is fun now, there’s not much of a reason to buy the game other than support.

The story is your standard cozy game narrative; you are in charge of a business that’s run down. If you don’t make it successful, you are broke. Fortunately there’s no risk of failure though running out of money is common early on. As you run your business, you meet a new cast of characters that either help or hinder you. While the story isn’t bad, it doesn’t break new ground for a cozy game.

Gameplay consists of stamina management while you take care of daily activities. You must grow crops, harvest plants, and purchase supplies. However, your stamina only supports a limited number of activities. This means you must monitor your activities carefully or you will run out of time. You also have a day/night cycle to watch out for, meaning you can’t spend all your time on one activity.

This makes you prioritize your actions to avoid wasting time. It’s tight and restrictive at first but you eventually adapt. Tackling tasks on your list with precision pushes you to organize your schedule and factor in new activities. Fortunately, your stamina doesn’t drain with certain activities like battles, preventing days from being too short. Once you figure out the main chores for the day, stamina stops being a limitation.

Dragon Song Tavern: Cozy & Adventurous is a fun game but it also doesn’t have any distinguishing characteristics. Other titles in the genre resemble the gameplay found here and have their own. While the game is in Early Access and has room to develop, right now the game is mostly fun if you enjoy the general cozy experience. If you want something unique and different, you may want to wishlist and follow along.

There’s a lot to like with Dragon Song Tavern: Cozy & Adventurous. It gives you a cozy experience on a timer that makes you efficient with your tasks. Building your business from the ground up is always fun. There’s not much that stands out from other titles at the moment, but there’s plenty more to look forward to.