Developed by Voracious Games and published by XSEED Games, Potionomics functions as a “deckbuilding and management simulator” that tasks players with crafting the ultimate concoctions. If this sounds like your cup of tea, mark October 17 on your calendar because that’s when Potionomics will release on Steam. You can purchase the game for $24.99 USD, but you can also get the Deluxe Edition for $39.99 USD if you want the game’s official soundtrack and a digital artbook. The standard version will be discounted by 10% throughout its launch week, whereas the Deluxe Edition will come with a 15% discount. Both discounts will last until October 24.
According to a press release, Potionomics sets players within Rafta, a lively island where adventurers gather and magic abounds. You control an up-and-coming witch named Sylvia who finds herself short on cash after the death of her uncle. She ends up serving as the new proprietor of her uncle’s old potion shop, a position that she initially feels ill-equipped to handle. Fortunately, she soon meets people that have no issue with teaching her the potion crafting and business. With the help of these newfound allies, Sylvia aims to perfect her craft, overcome her rivals, and build the best potion shop that Rafta has to offer.
How do you play Potionomics?
As you no doubt already guessed, you’ll spend much of your time in Potionomics creating potions that you will then advertise and sell to local adventurers. The press release admits that the process of creating ideal potions can involve a bit of trial and error sometimes, so don’t feel discouraged if you cannot get the best results right away. Making negotiations with customers involves a card-based system where you’ll have to get as much money as possible from them while keeping Sylvia’s stress levels in check. Fortunately, Sylvia has the option of befriending customers to receive various benefits, such as tips on how to bargain more effectively. By achieving certain conditions, some customers might “become more than just friends.”
Of course, not every customer will be this friendly, so you will have to do your best to deal with any unsavory personalities. Whenever you take a break from the stresses of the job, you can deck out the shop with all sorts of decorations and trinkets. Doing so doesn’t just make your shop look nicer, it can also provide tangible benefits, which include better item prices as well as decreased potion brewing time.
Where can I learn more?
If you want to see Potionomics in action, take a look at the release date trailer below. Character models and animations are surprisingly detailed, so you may come away pleasantly surprised by how the game looks. Additionally, you can tune in to the developer’s official live stream of the game that will take place during next month’s Steam Next Fest event, which will also house a free playable demo to try.
