Launched on consoles earlier this year, Alchemist: The Potion Monger didn’t exactly set the world on fire. This is a shame as while the likes of Botany Manor received much attention, Art Games Studio’s cozy puzzle-adventure is just as well rounded. What’s more, it has a little action thrown into the mix. As well as a bit more of the ol’ gamification. This Alchemist: The Potion Monger review will explain exactly why in a sea of cozy game releases, this is one which shouldn’t be overlooked.
The awkward label of ‘cozy game’ isn’t really one of genre. Instead, it’s more of accessibility and challenge. With the latter, being that there’s never any time pressure or significant consequence for failure. These are games you take at your own pace. While the objectives may be mandated, you rarely feel you’re forced down a path you don’t wish to go. Alchemist: The Potion Monger excels in this area. The tutorial limits you to arranging a few items in your new home and creating specific potions. But you’re soon off into the big wide world to go about your life however you may wish.
And it’s a world that’s worth exploring. A high fantasy setting (and a Furry’s dream), Alchemist: The Potion Monger isn’t exactly of the grand scale of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. But it doesn’t need to be. It’s a pleasant space for you to meet characters, buy and sell ingredients and potions, build your home and fight the occasional bad guy. None of which are particularly demanding, and the only potential punishment for failure is being warped back to your home.
The game dishes out tasks progressively, and it’s natural to want to follow them. However, during the course of this Alchemist: The Potion Monger review we found it just as equally entertaining to ignore them entirely and set about an adventure of our own choosing. At one point we were hellbent on building as luxury a homestead as we possibly could. Thus we created lots of potions and sold them for money to buy new furniture. Then, we realised, if we were to discover new potions they may be worth more gold. Thus helping us to achieve our goal quicker. At no point did the game put up any artificial walls or restrictions.
The two main ‘action’ elements of the game are the combat, and of course creating potions. The latter is a simple QTE upon bringing the correct ingredients to your cauldron. Failing it doesn’t result in failure to create the potion however, simply a lesser quality in the final concoction. Combat is real-time, and demands you wielding a weapon of sorts. With the game being played out in first-person, it’s hard not to think of Alchemist: The Potion Monger as an Elder Scrolls-lite at times. Frankly, there’s nothing wrong with that. With its colourful graphics and generally friendly disposition, it’s an adventure game that’s suitable for players of all ages.
As we got deeper into Alchemist: The Potion Monger while writing this review, we couldn’t help but feel this is a previously untapped market. There are plenty of gamers of a certain age looking to share their experiences with their children, and Art Games Studio has created a welcoming stepping stone. Adventure game fans can easily enjoy Alchemist: The Potion Monger with younger gamers, without the worry of too much violence or punishment for failure. In this regard, Alchemist: The Potion Monger is a certified recommendation. But also for gamers who simply want to slow down and enjoy a pain-free adventure for a short while. It’s a good time. And an easy one for all to enjoy.
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