Should You Play Coffee Caravan?

Intro

                Ever dreamt about running your own food truck or coffee shop? Maybe both at the same time? The indie side of video games has done a good job of zeroing on people’s cozy fantasies and desires. One such game that facilitates this is Coffee Caravan. A simply designed business management sim that puts you on the ground in your own coffee food truck where you must make coffee as fast as people order it.

       Released by Broccoli Games in May of 2024 the game has had moderate success and has given many people chance to trial run their very own mobile coffee shops. But is this the game for you? This article is here to give you all the information you need to know if a game is right for your specific tastes. Ready to see if this game is the perfect gaming brew for you? Keep on reading to see if you should play Coffee Caravan.

        

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Story

                As far as stories go this game is pretty simple. You own and operate your own little coffee truck and your goal is to keep upgrading your business until you reach the top of the skill tree. There isn’t really a story or a background to this game. Just you, your truck, and the millions of customers who want their coffee. And boy do they want it NOW.

                The great aspect about this game is that there really isn’t a story and the game is what you make it. It’s a simple feature with uncomplicated gameplay that gives you the ability to relax and unwind after a long day. This game functions much in the same way a business management sim from your childhood would with a huge focus on gameplay that facilitates levelling up your business.

If you’re looking for something with a story or a game that functions as more of a visual novel then this game may not be for you. However, if you’re looking for a well made business sim game that drops you directly into the game, and let’s you immediately have at it, then Coffee Caravan may just be what you’re looking for.

Gameplay

                Very much the meat and potatoes of Coffee Caravan the gameplay is relatively simple with a few variations to keep it interesting. This title utilizes a basic business management format where you have X amount of customers and you have to serve them Y amount of cups of coffee before the time runs out. You have to prepare each cup and serve it to each customer while also making sure no customers waiting lose their patience before deciding to leave altogether. Pretty simple.

              However, what the game adds in for variation is the fact that there is a skill tree style choose your own adventure element. After each day you choose which way to go on the skill map. As you level up your business you choose what to buy with your money and what upgrades to add to your shop.

You also have to upgrade your food options before moving on as your business won’t go very far without variation. This adds more of a challenge to the game as you decide each day what recipes to use which makes the game more difficult as you keep adding on new recipes.

Still want to run your own business but looking for a bit more story? Check out this article to see of Magical Delicacy is the game for you.

                Finally, the most challenging aspect of this game is that fact that if you miss one customer your tree resets entirely and you must start back at the beginning. The game doesn’t punish you too hard though as anything that you have bought, such as coffee grinders and extra tables, stay with you. This means that even if you do miss a customer and must restart you get to keep the equipment that you’ve earned.

You can also toggle this feature on and off as well as adjust the difficulty setting if you want to change the pace of the game. That said, the gameplay can be quite repetitive so if you’re not about trying to replay the game a bunch than you may want to reconsider Coffee Caravan. In saying that, if levelling up through repetitive gameplay and adding to your coffee truck sounds like fun to you then you will likely enjoy this game.

Pros

• Simple yet addictive gameplay.
• Cute aesthetic.
• Levelling capabilities.
• Customizable difficulty modes.
• You can customize your truck.

Cons

• Some gamers may be put off by the repetitive gameplay.
• There is no story so those looking for a plot will not find it here.

Conclusion

                Simple games are the backbone of a lot of the gaming industry. Often times we just want something with very little fuss and a whole lot of fun. Coffee Caravan is just that with enough variety to ensure a hefty amount of addictive play. Some gamers should express caution they may not find this title to their taste due to the lack of story and the repeating play style. In saying that, many gamers will love this game for those exact reasons and even more. Looking to make a business out of brewing coffee and winning hearts? Then maybe you should play Coffee Carvaan.

Purchase Coffee Caravan for PC here.