Beastro is a cozy cooking game that introduces players to a delightful world of flavor and adventure. I had the chance to try an hour-long demo during The Game Awards, and it left me craving more.
At the heart of Beastro is Panko, a sous chef living in the peaceful village of Palo Pori. The village is surrounded by a protective wall, keeping out the darkness and monsters lurking outside. When Panko’s mentor goes missing, he must run a restaurant to help a group of heroes called the Caretakers. Their mission is to face the darkness, and by feeding them, Panko hopes to find his teacher.
The game’s format is enjoyable. Each day is divided into three parts. Mornings are relaxed, letting players gather ingredients before the restaurant opens. Strolling through the village, I collected grubs to feed birds, fished at the pier, and tended to my garden. It’s a peaceful start before the restaurant hustle.
Once prepared, it’s time to serve the diners. The cooking takes place through mini-games that are both fun and challenging. For instance, chopping vegetables is a race against time, while sautéing involves carefully turning the pan to avoid hazards. You even shoot ingredients like a basketball into pots! Each completed dish is then served quickly to waiting customers.
During my demo, a Caretaker named Oyshi came in, craving eggs. Each Caretaker has specific tastes, and satisfying them builds their card decks for battles. The dish I created used Tetris-shaped ingredients with five flavors: Umami, Salty, Sour, Bitter, and Sweet. Matching these flavors affects the dish’s overall quality and can enhance the Caretaker’s abilities for their adventures.
As the day ends, Panko visits Oyshi, who shares tales of their adventures through a charming puppet show. This kicks off typical roguelike gameplay, which involves navigating through different paths filled with both challenges and rewards.
Combat in Beastro is card-based, where players must match the Caretaker’s food-themed cards against enemy cards. For example, a green Umami card can defeat a lower-value monster card of the same flavor. Balancing flavors can weaken enemies, and there’s a helpful color wheel to guide players in choosing their cards.
While I found the combat challenging, the cooking and ingredient gathering were highlights for me. A report from the International Game Developers Association highlights that cooking games have seen a rise in popularity, often attracting players looking for calming gameplay. This trend mirrors the current focus on wellness and self-care, especially during stressful times. The calming vibe of Beastro suits this perfectly.
Beastro has a lot of promise. It combines cozy restaurant management with exciting battles, and I’m looking forward to its full release in 2026. In the meantime, if you’re curious, you can try out the demo currently available on Steam.
