Video Game Review: Cat Cafe Manager

Developer: Roost Games

Publisher: Freedom Games

Genre: Simulation

Reviewed For: Nintendo Switch

Also Available On: PC

Since Stardew Valley ushered in a new era of indie comfy games, there have been many games that are perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon. The best part of these gams is that the tend to work with many different genres. Unsurprisingly, one of the best genres for this are simulation games, and Cat Cafe Manager checks many boxes required for both enjoyable comfy and simulation games.

In Cat Cafe Manager, players return home to a small town that their grandmother used to reside in. Their grandmother’s cat cafe is in disarray, and its up to the player to rebuild it and inject life into the town. While running their cafe, players will take in cats, help them get adopted, and build relationships with the eccentric people around them.

Cat Cafe Manager is rather simple, but it isn’t “mobile game” simple either. Players have access to a few basic building tools to get their cafe off the ground. The furniture isn’t great, and there aren’t enough resources to make a massive empire just yet. As players earn more of the game’s various currencies, they will be able to expand.

Speaking of, the currencies of Cat Cafe Manager are one of the most unique aspects of the game. Rather than just money, players have access to many types of currency that almost act as crafting materials. Different customers carry different currencies, and different currencies allow for different things to be purchased or crafted. Early on, players will be hoping that the right customers come in and will be working around a random timeline, but it won’t take long for players to be able to advertise for specific customers, bringing in more of the resources that they need. 

When players aren’t building up their shop or getting goods, they will of course be serving customers. The gameplay loop here is simple, with it mostly consisting of walking to a point and pressing a button to take orders, make food/beverages, and fulfill orders. Those who are familiar with the formula popularized by Diner Dash will feel right at home here. Outside of taking orders, players can also chat with the clients to build bonds and get gifts. They can also feed and pet the stray cats outside until they are convinced to live with the player. 

Skill trees allow for players to perform better in specific areas or gain access to new enhancements. Players can also hire staff to help them around the shop. Different staff members have different skills, so players can use them to cover their own weaknesses or enhance what they are good at.

As simple as Cat Cafe Manager is, it’s addicting. The days are just short enough so that players can feel like they got something done while also having the need to play just one more. 

Although the game controls are simple, they are at times rather clunky. Early on, moving around to find the perfect angle to interact with the customer can be frustrating. Fortunately, the more you play, the more familiar you are with find just the right spot.

Earlier in the review I mentioned Stardew Valley, and I don’t necessarily like to compare all cozy games to that one, but this one in particular really reminded me of it. From the lost family member sending the player to a sleepy town to the sound effects and music sounding like they were done by ConcernedApe, this game just feels like a spinoff. Sure, the art style is unique (Simple and adorable), but there were times where I was humming the tunes after playing that game and needed to remind myself that I am not humming Stardew songs. This isn’t a negative by any means, it just feels like Cat Cafe Manager was heavily inspired by Stardew Valley. 

It’s not deep, but it’s still a satisfying management game with the potential to entertain players for many hours. Anyone who likes cats and relaxing simulators will want to check out Cat Cafe Manager.