Potion Craft

In the business simulation aspect of the game, players are required to create potions that meet the needs of customers visiting the shop; for instance, a player may need to create a healing potion for a visitor with a headache. The game features a daily gameplay loop, with a number of customers visiting the shop once a day, requiring players to meet the customer's needs or turning them away before they are able to progress to the next day. Players create potions by grinding ingredients in a mortar and pestle and mixing them together in a cauldron. The choice of ingredient and the extent to which they are ground and mixed affects the direction of the course.The map is enshrouded, requiring players to use different ingredients to explore and identify new effects. Chuprakov stated that the game was inspired by a "mix of mechanics" adapted from a line of alchemy-themed titles previously published by the developer, and the inclusion of a potion-making minigame in the 2018 role-playing video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Writing for PC Gamer, Fraser Brown describe the game as a "clever, abstract alchemy sim", writing that it "captures the magic of invention and creation in a way more 'realistic' crafting systems often don't." Jordan Devore of Destructoid described the mechanics as "easy enough to grasp", whilst noting the game features "depth", with "operating shop in a sustainable way" amounting to a "satisfying gameplay loop". Describing the mechanics as "the best crafting system ever concocted", Rachel Watts of Rock Paper Shotgun praised the gameplay as "tactile but never difficult, and takes a wonderful finesse to master...that really captures the art of potion brewing." Jahnathan Haven of CBR described the game's crafting system as "exciting and vivid", writing that the game "gives its players a personal and meaningful relationship with every ingredient and makes sure that players understand the purpose of every crafting step." Reviewers also highlighted the game's evocative presentation and relaxed tone. Fran Soto of Hardcore Gamer praised the game for its "charming medieval artistry", writing that the game "offers a cozy atmosphere...wood cut visuals mimic the period while creating a fantasy aesthetic". Fraser Brown of PC Gamer praised the attention to detail in the game's animations, writing "simple, playful animation maintains the manuscript aesthetic while slapping a bit more whimsy on top of it, usually to make interacting with your little shop just that bit more satisfying." Describing the game as "calm to play" and "beautifully presented", Robert Purchese of Eurogamer wrote "there's a soft parchmenty feel to everything and a sense of humour running through it." Describing the game as "tactile", Rachel Watts of Rock Paper Shotgun praised the game's sound design, writing " lovely set of details go into the way that everything sounds: the bubbling of the brew as you heat it up, the crunch of a root as you crush it into powder, and the gentle clanking of the mortar and pestle." Potion Craft received several 'honorable mention' nominations for awards at the 2023 Independent Games Festival, including for 'Excellence in Design' and 'Excellence in Visual Arts'. The game was also nominated for the 'Sit Back and Relax' category at the 2021 Steam Awards, and 'Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year' during the 26th Annual D.I.C.E.