Tails by the Foxfire

Tails by the Foxfire’s Indie Spotlight Review of Something to Drink? by Adam’s Games

Made by Polish solo developer Adam’s Games, Something to Drink? follows Tom: a new bartender at Warsaw’s Men’s Pub, who is learning the ropes of bartending and getting accustomed to the horrors of customer service. Designed with a detailed pixel style, Something to Drink? looks cozy on the surface, but hides wickedly dark humour that had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions. Characters feel authentic and environments feel true to their inspirations, right down to the detail on the bottles you’re pouring and the day-to-day grind of mixing drinks and processing payments. While you’re trying to do your job, you’ll be faced with multiple-choice conversations, some of which have lasting consequences on which ending you’ll end up with. Replay value is plentiful with multiple story routes on offer, and drink pouring and mixing is a very moreish experience that becomes relaxing the more you do it, even though Something to Drink? isn’t necessarily what I’d call cozy: it’s got edges, it’s got darkness, and it’s quickly become one of my favourite games in the drink-pouring genre.

TL;DR: Something to Drink? Foxfire Review Scores & Rating: 3.8

Price Point:4/5 Retails at $11.99 CAD, which I feel is a fair price for the scale of content and replay value offered.
Fun Factor: 4/5
Gameplay: 4/5
Story, Characters & Worldbuilding: 4/5
Maps & Environment: 4/5
Music: 3/5
Recommended: Yes!

[Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://www.keymailer.co]

Keep reading for Tails by the Foxfire’s full review of Something to Drink?, and find your copy on Steam to start your shift at Men’s Pub!

More Story-Driven Job Simulator Game Recommendations from Tails by the Foxfire
Coffee Talk Review: A Healing Retreat in Cozy Game Form
Kemono Teatime Review: A Heartfelt (and Heartbreaking) Journey
Cold Calling Review: Fast Paced Puzzles & Historical Hilarity
Fine Work Act I Review: Not Your Traditional Rhythm Game

What is Something to Drink? by Adam’s Games?

Developed by solo indie developer Adam’s Games, Something to Drink? Is a pixellated bartender simulator that puts you in the role of Tom on his first day behind the bar of Men’s Pub. I affectionately refer to it as ‘the uncozy Coffee Talk’, as its excellent pixel art, atmospheric service settings, customer interaction quality, and ASMR bar sound effects feel in line with Coffee Talk’s attention to detail, but the games couldn’t be more different in tone. For one, I don’t remember being bullied by my boss or some old drunk turning up to heckle me in Coffee Talk, but the character depth, scenery & sound detail, and pacing put Something to Drink? on par with story-driven titans like the Coffee Talk series, Last Night Last Call, and Kemono Teatime (to name a few) where the cast and lived-in setting feel strong enough to hold your attention, and you’ll want to get to know all of them. I’m still thinking about that guy who got mistaken as a waiter while at a restaurant, followed through by taking the person’s order, then fled the scene to the nearest pub to immediately order an entire bottle of vodka. I also developed a soft spot for the old man who turned up and proceeded to haze me about looking too young to tend bar, and not being half the bartender his son would be. Next time I play through Something to Drink? I’ll be curious to take a route that tells me just what that guy’s problem was, because I need to know more. I don’t expect it’ll be long before I’m back behind the par of Men’s Pub: I’ve reached one ending after about 6 and a half hours, and the game is already calling me back for my next runthrough.

What’s the Gameplay Loop Like in Something to Drink?

In Something to Drink? your job is less about lending a shoulder to cry on, and more about getting the drinks in the glass. As Tom, you’ll take orders, pour drinks, process payments, and not lose your apartment. Days will pass and end with rent payments, and any extra money you have left over can be spent on upgrades like automated change calculation, automatic bottle opening, and more. The more customers you serve, the more money you’ll earn, kind of like a Papers Please style format, but with bartending. You’ll start by serving beer on tap, then practice with pouring bottles (the drinks have liquid physics and can spill, which adds an extra challenge) and work your way up to mixing more complex cocktails with garnishes, all while efficiently managing your time so you don’t leave customers waiting too long. There are also multiple endings, adding a wealth of replay value that will keep you coming back to find out what’s going to happen this time. You’ll meet some interesting people and some truly terrible ones, but you’re sure to have some fun along the way.

Do Choices Matter in Something to Drink?

In Something to Drink? You’ll sometimes be faced with pivotal decisions that can alter how other characters perceive you, change the trajectory of the game, and decide which ending you get… including the fates of Tom and the people around him. Choose wisely (or don’t), as a bad decision or two can be the difference between one job and the next, or end in homelessness as a result of the consequences. Tom has chosen a hard life for himself, and the stakes are incredibly high. Be careful who you trust and maybe you’ll be fine. Maybe.

Not to be Missed: Something to Drink? Showcases Lovingly Crafted Art & Sound Direction

In praising the gameplay loop and story crafting in Something to Drink? I’d be remiss not to also mention the game’s thorough visual and auditory details, which work together to craft an immersive experience with a distinct vibe. Graphics are crafted in a pixel style, with sound effects added at every opportunity to make its environments come alive. Satisfying effects include the sounds of bottles opening (with different sounds depending on a bottle’s size, material, and fastening), drinks being poured, glasses clinking and being set down, cans crinkling, and a choice of 8-bit notes or nonsense babbling to indicate customers talking. Colours are vibrant enough to feel lived-in without seeming unrealistically bright: it’s got a perfect balance of light and dark that’s used to feel upscale or run down. Characters are also given enough details to make them feel unique (a skill pixel games need to form that connection with the audience, and which varies widely in style, especially in contemporary gaming, depending on the artist). Attention has also been paid to the unique looks of each drink, ranging from bottles paying homage to well-known drink brands rather than just using funny names and palette swapping the bottles, adding yet more charm to the game’s overall vibe that complimented its moments of dark humour well.

Where Can You Play Something to Drink?

If you’re eager to get behind the bar at Men’s Pub, Something to Drink? is available now on Steam! Check out the free demo or snap up the full game today for $12.99 CAD and see how Tom fares in the very worst job he could think of.

[Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://www.keymailer.co]

Video Game Reviews, Deep Dives, and Quickstart Guides at Tails by the Foxfire

Thank you again to Adam’s Games for offering Tails by the Foxfire a review key of Something to Drink?. We really enjoyed our time tending bar with Tom at Men’s Pub and it’s our absolute pleasure to share it by the Foxfire!

If you’re interested in playing Something to Drink? yourself, make sure you check it out on Steam, or try the demo to try your hand at pouring drinks! I’m curious to know how your time as a bartender went, so let me know in the comments!

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[Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://www.keymailer.co]