Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator

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As a holder of a fancy university history degree, I really enjoy historical games. They may not all be entirely accurate, but it’s really fun to see how creators are inspired by history. Reality is almost always stranger than fiction anyway; there’s plenty of material in the historical record to make an interesting story.

However, I think we can all agree that an area of history many games draw from is the medieval era. There’s Assassin’s Creed, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, A Plague Tale: Requiem…even the undisputed 2022 Game of the Year, Elden Ring, has elements of medieval history to it. This is just the short list, but the Middle Ages is quite a popular theme for RPGs – and for good reason.

via YouTube

Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator is a new entry to this lineup of medieval settings. You take on the role of an aspiring alchemist new in town who happens upon the abandoned home that once belonged to a wizard. With a garden full of enchanted herbs and crystals and your trusty mortar, pestle, and cauldron, you set to work fulfilling the orders of the townsfolk. Create recipes, tend to your garden, and build up your business as you learn how to reach your alchemic potential!

There are two areas of gameplay: management and puzzle-like creation. The management portion involves tending to the garden through growing and harvesting ingredients, tending to customers and giving them the correct potions based on the information they give you, and handling merchants by either buying from them or telling them to kick rocks. The management portion of the game also allows you a little freedom to play with the type of shopkeep you’d like to be. Are you the altruistic alchemist, willing to sell at the lowest price to keep the people happy? Are you feeling a little greedy, always wanting to haggle with the customers? Are you spiteful, turning away patrons on a whim?

You have all of those options and more to play around with and try to balance any way you’d like. I found this a fun little extra to the management side of the gameplay, and admittedly, I did become the guy that turned away people asking for health potions a lot. I know, I know, that makes me sound mean, but I was always woefully unequipped for the amount I needed. So, take a note from my mistakes: if you notice a certain type of potion being used a lot, maybe start your day by mixing and stocking up on those.

The other part is where potion mixing comes in. The garden and various merchants will supply you with the materials you need – herbs, mushrooms, crystals, etc. – to mix your magic serums, but you’re but a fledgling alchemist. You don’t have a recipe to your name! All you have is a map to guide you; each time you add a component to your cauldron, a trail will appear on the map to show you where that ingredient will take you. As you move forward, the fog disperses and you can see a more clear path to the next recipe. It’s a sandbox approach.

You can use so many different combinations to get to the end product, but which one you find – and which one works best – is completely up to you. This aspect is ultimately what makes the game so enjoyable.

Expect lots of trial and error as you learn about the ingredients and techniques in making the potions, and there’s never any real push to figure it out fast. Customers wait as long as you want them to with no penalty, so you have plenty of time to experiment. It gives the game a much more laid back feel than most management simulators, but it never makes the game feel less challenging or fun.

The look of the game lends to this easygoing vibe, too. The visuals are based on medieval art and texts, which looks amazing and provides this really great color scheme that’s muted but comfortable. The soundtrack is relaxing, and the ambient noises are incredibly satisfying to listen to. Everything lends to the calm vibe of a cozy cottage shop.

Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator takes a different approach than most management games, and that’s taking it easy. This game isn’t rushing you to keep customers happy or to put out your product quickly; instead, management takes a backseat to the act of creation. And that’s a great thing! Crafting potions is the most exciting part of the experience as there’s no guide and no time limit. It’s just you, a neat soundtrack, and an inventory full of ingredients to play with. It’s highly recommended that you get in here and start mixing up a little magic. Alchemist’s orders!