Gather ‘round, adventurers and inn-keepers, for a tale is brewing. Gentle Troll Entertainment, the devs behind the beloved narrative game Tavern Talk, has unveiled their next project: Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker. This new standalone game is a prequel, set 36 years before the original, and features a brand new location, stories and maybe some familiar faces.
Welcome to the portside town of Borkam, a new location in the world of Phesoa. As the owner of the seaside sanctuary, The Drowsy Dragon, you possess a unique gift—bestowed by a Great Dragon God or perhaps born of a bartender’s hubris—that allows you to craft fate-altering drinks. Your patrons range from mean mercenaries to savvy sailors, each carrying their own dreams and burdens. But a shadow looms, threatening to twist the dreams of the realm into living nightmares. Your role as tavernkeep is about to become the first line of defence.
A New Chapter in a Familiar Universe
For those who have already poured drinks in the world of Tavern Talk, Dreamwalker offers a chance to explore its deeper lore. This is a “standalone story,” meaning you need no prior knowledge to enjoy it, but if you’ve played Tavern Talk, you’ll understand more about the history that shaped the land of Phesoa.
Stepping into this prequel, you’ll find that the core fantasy of being a magical bartender remains. Yet, the setting has shifted to a bleary portside locale known as Borkam. You’re the owner of The Drowsy Dragon, and you’ve traded the familiar sights of the original for the fresh aesthetic and salty rumours of this bustling seaside town. Some of them are old sailors’ yarn, so sort them thoroughly before sticking them up the wall.
As you meet new and familiar faces, all seems well; your establishment is flourishing, and friendships are made over tankards of your finest brews. Yet this cozy peace is fleeting, for all is well until something starts brewing on the horizon, a looming shadow that’s going to twist your brightest dreams into your darkest nightmares.
A Bartender’s Guide to Shaping Fate
So, what does a day in the life of a fate-weaving tavernkeep entail? Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker builds on from the previous game, with even more exciting and varied gameplay. Fully reworking the game’s original drink mixing system, allowing for more challenge and variety in recipes and drink orders.
- Branching Narratives
At its heart, this is a character-driven visual novel. You will engage in deep conversations with a diverse cast of eight characters. Your dialogue choices matter, leading to a branching narrative with three unique endings and offering at least six hours of immersive reading on your first playthrough. Every interaction is a chance to build relationships and uncover crucial information. - Mixing Magical Drinks
This is your primary active skill. Patrons will come to you with their problems, and you’ll have to mix the perfect magical potion to aid them. The game promises a “casual drink mixing and quest building with a dash of challenge.” With a “wide ensemble” of ingredients, there is often more than one solution to a patron’s plight, encouraging experimentation and replayability. Will your concoction bring courage, reveal truth, or perhaps soothe a troubled soul?
- Gathering Rumours & Building Quests
A good tavernkeep is also a well-informed one. As you listen to the tales and “sailor’s yarn” of your guests, you’ll gather rumours. It’s your job to sort the tall tales from the truthful leads and post the most promising ones as available quests on the tavern wall. This mechanic directly ties the social aspect of the game to the progression of the overarching plot, as you help direct the flow of adventure. - A Note on Tone & Content
While the setting is cozy, the narrative isn’t afraid to delve into darker themes. The developers have issued a content warning for mentions of death, grief, and violence, promising a story with emotional depth and high stakes as you work to stop dreams from corrupting into nightmares.
Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker
Welcome Tavernkeep! In this D&D-inspired visual novel, you will run a cozy seaside tavern, meet adventurers, gather rumours and mix fate-altering drinks to stop dreams from twisting into nightmares.
Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker does not currently have an official release date, but you can follow along their journey by wishlisting the game now on Steam. Curious tavern keepers are also able to play the demo out now for PC.
