Just when I think I've hit the peak of Steam Next Fest, I find this cozy cafe management sim with cute critters and strong Animal Crossing energy which is also hitting Switch

GamesSimulationJust when I think I’ve hit the peak of Steam Next Fest, I find this cozy cafe management sim with cute critters and strong Animal Crossing energy which is also hitting SwitchWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesSimulationJust when I think I’ve hit the peak of Steam Next Fest, I find this cozy cafe management sim with cute critters and strong Animal Crossing energy which is also hitting SwitchWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Sumo Digital) There are a few days left of theSteam Next Fest, and there’s one demo I’d recommend trying above all so far: Critter Cafe, a charming little life sim with some seriously cozy vibes and irresistibly cute creatures to collect. Sumo Digital is cooking up an absolutely adorable game, and I got to play it early thanks to its new demo. I had no idea it would hook me so quickly, but just two minutes in and its wholesomeAnimal Crossing-esque flair had my full attention. The character creator, which I admittedly spent far too long in, was the first part of the sim to snag my heart with trendy accessories, chibi features, and vibrant colors. I eventually created a whimsical anime-style version of myself and settled on a lovely dress I only wish I could wear in real life. From there, I was tasked with decorating my cafe with everything from bookshelves to cat trees. I definitely overdid this bit, but boy did I enjoy it. It felt like I was back inNew Horizons, doing up each of Tom Nook’s overpriced room expansions in my house - and as usual, I made everything as pink as I possibly could. After decorating every nook and cranny of my new cafe, it was time to get to work - and this part got surprisingly stressful considering how cozy the game is otherwise. It was almost reminiscent of PlateUp! in a way, with all of the running back and forth from increasingly impatient customers to the kitchen, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t fun. The chaos of it all was a welcome rift in the relaxing gameplay loop, and it kept me more engaged. The minigames available during my shift as a virtual cafe worker were brilliant, too. From the rhythm game-aligned latte art to the timed cake slicing, I was reminded of another iconic Nintendo series: WarioWare. The excitement didn’t end after my cafe closed, either. It was then time for what’s likely my favorite part of Critter Cafe: capturing the titular critters and caring for them. Collecting creatures isn’t like what I was used to in Pokemon, though. In Critter Cafe, you don’t walk up to an animal you want and throw a ball at it. Instead, you open a portal and complete a sequence of brain-tickling puzzles to reach the critter before rescuing it. Once you’ve secured a creature, you’ll have to care for it in a pasture-like portion of the map dubbed the “habitat” until it trusts you enough to help out around the cafe. It’s a system I’ve never quite seen before, and I honestly love how it plays out. After playing Critter Cafe for a short period, I’d recommend a quick playthrough of thedemowhileValve’s seasonalSteam Next Festis still underway - especially to fans of cozier games. The cafe management is chaotic but genuinely fun, the customization is top-tier, the creature collecting feels unique in its integration of puzzle mechanics, and the whole sim deliver an enchanting energy I won’t soon forget. The full game is coming to PC and Switch next month. 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