So before I get into this review, keep 2 things in mind. First of all, I was gifted this game so the cost factor didn't affect whether I'd recommend the game or not. You should keep in mind your own budget and what you consider "fair" to pay for a shorter indie title when reading this review. Secondly, the game is very rough around the edges in certain aspects which I will be going into later in my review, but despite that I did enjoy my time with this game and could see it having more potential if it's a bit more polished.

What I liked: For starters, I loved the aesthetic. While some assets do seem out of place, the character designs and animation all have great personality to them. The 2D art style of character models boldly stands apart from the more muted and detailed backgrounds. Additionally, I really like how this game shows characters and creatures seen in folklore from around the world, however offered a take on these familiar stories that felt unique to the game.

The best part of the game by far though was the potions themselves. It's no wonder the game is called "potions", because while there is indeed some combat required to beat the game, most of the gameplay involves finding unique uses for the potions. You may need to use a water potion to grow a plant, or a metal spear potion to harvest certain ingredients. Creatures each have their own reactions to certain spells, as well as different behaviour upon being encountered - not all attack you immediately, some will only attack if provoked.

Now for my issues with the game. First of all, there are a lot of small things that need to be fixed just for the sake of QoL improvements. For one, enemies can hurt you while you are teleporting or walking down stairs. I actually took damage exiting an underground area because an enemy respawned over the staircase. Secondly, the potion satchels are not properly placed on all maps and can make reloading your potion stock downright impossible. Also, the final boss honestly felt anticlimactic to me. But maybe there were some out there who had a harder time with it than I did?

All in all, Potions: A Curious Tale makes for a fun, albeit flawed experience. The demo this game offers gives you a decent idea of what the game is like, so if you're on the fence about it, I highly recommend playing that first to see if this will be your cup of tea.

So before I get into this review, keep 2 things in mind. First of all, I was gifted this game so the cost factor didn't affect whether I'd recommend the game or not. You should keep in mind your own budget and what you consider "fair" to pay for a shorter indie title when reading this review. Secondly, the game is very rough around the edges in certain aspects which I will be going into later in my review, but despite that I did enjoy my time with this game and could see it having more potential if it's a bit more polished. What I liked: For starters, I loved the aesthetic. While some assets do seem out of place, the character designs and animation all have great personality to them. The 2D art style of character models boldly stands apart from the more muted and detailed backgrounds. Additionally, I really like how this game shows characters and creatures seen in folklore from around the world, however offered a take on these familiar stories that felt unique to the game. The best part of the game by far though was the potions themselves. It's no wonder the game is called "potions", because while there is indeed some combat required to beat the game, most of the gameplay involves finding unique uses for the potions. You may need to use a water potion to grow a plant, or a metal spear potion to harvest certain ingredients. Creatures each have their own reactions to certain spells, as well as different behaviour upon being encountered - not all attack you immediately, some will only attack if provoked. Now for my issues with the game. First of all, there are a lot of small things that need to be fixed just for the sake of QoL improvements. For one, enemies can hurt you while you are teleporting or walking down stairs. I actually took damage exiting an underground area because an enemy respawned over the staircase. Secondly, the potion satchels are not properly placed on all maps and can make reloading your potion stock downright impossible. Also, the final boss honestly felt anticlimactic to me. But maybe there were some out there who had a harder time with it than I did? All in all, Potions: A Curious Tale makes for a fun, albeit flawed experience. The demo this game offers gives you a decent idea of what the game is like, so if you're on the fence about it, I highly recommend playing that first to see if this will be your cup of tea.