Monster Cuisine is an action RPG that combines monster hunting with cooking and tavern management on PC. Players take on the role of a tavern keeper who ventures into dangerous areas like the Forbidden Forest to hunt mythical creatures, gather ingredients from defeated foes, and return to prepare meals for customers.
Gameplay
The core loop alternates between expeditions into the wilds and time spent back at the tavern. Combat involves selecting weapons and armor sets to create different fighting styles against enemies with distinct patterns. Boss encounters provide unique loot that can be used for crafting new equipment and recipes. Exploration covers multiple biomes where players hunt monsters and collect materials while managing resources during outings.
Back in the kitchen, cooking turns gathered ingredients into dishes through a series of hands-on steps including butchering, seasoning, and searing. These meals feed into a growing recipe book that expands with more successful hunts. Tavern operations include serving patrons through mini-games that involve fulfilling orders, keeping drinks refilled, and managing disruptions from the crowd. Reputation with customers influences how the business develops over time.
Game Modes
Monster Cuisine is a single-player experience with no separate multiplayer modes. The gameplay centers on a repeating cycle of hunting expeditions and tavern operations that players handle in sequence. During the initial playtest, limited content showcased two bosses, five cookable dishes, basic kitchen tools, and an introduction to the management loop, allowing testers to try both the combat and service elements in one continuous session.
Exploration and Progression
Expeditions take players across five planned biomes, with the Forbidden Forest serving as a key area filled with stronger monsters. Defeated creatures yield materials for both cooking and crafting armor or weapons. As the tavern grows, players can expect additions like an alchemist who supplies potions and traps, plus upgrades that introduce new end-of-day activities such as arm wrestling or dice games. Reputation ties into quest progression, linking tavern success more closely with the wider world.
Is It Worth Playing?
Monster Cuisine remains in development with a planned 2027 release and no user reviews available yet. The first closed playtest attracted thousands of participants and gathered feedback that is shaping improvements like full controller support and expanded reputation systems. Players who enjoy blending action combat with management simulation in a single-player format may find the hybrid loop appealing once the full version arrives. Those interested can follow updates through official channels as more content, including additional biomes, enemies, and dishes, is added based on ongoing work.