Coffee Talk Game Review

Sometimes life feels like it’s a mile a minute and the shit just never stops. It’s times like that where it can be soothing to sit down with a warm drink and exhale for a bit. That’s the premise of Coffee Talk, an intriguing new indie game that takes place in an after-dark Seattle populated by creatures from fantasy worlds. You play as the barista at this late-night spot, serving patrons who are often going through a lot.

During these conversations, you’ll learn about the characters and their problems. From vampires trying out synthetic blood to a room service robot struggling with people treating him like a curiosity, the diverse cast of Coffee Talk is full of interesting and resonant stories. The fact that they’re told in a setting tinged with the fantastical rather than grounded in straight-up reality makes them all the more interesting, as well.

The gameplay focuses almost exclusively on these conversations, with the only “gamey” aspect being that you have to accurately make certain orders using whatever ingredients are available to you. There’s also a nice touch where you can create latte art, which is more of a small diversion than an actual game element but helps to break up the mostly narrative-driven experience.

As a networking coffee chat, it’s important to be upfront about your intentions and why you want to pick the other person’s brain. You can also ask about their personal interests and hobbies to help find common ground and build rapport, though these are less important than career-related topics.