Entering the dangerous world of cosy games again, here’s Bear & Breakfast by Romanian indie team Gummy Cat. Launching in July 2022, it’s available on PC, PS4/5, and Nintendo Switch.
The goal? You take control of the bear Hank and in classic management game style you run a bed and breakfast type jaunt. Think of the iconic Stardew Valley (2016), but with a bear. Hurray!
Have a Pawsome Time of it in Bear & Breakfast
Due to Stardew Valley’s success (for those not in the know, it’s one of the most popular indie games ever) there has been a massive influx in casual management sims.
Stardew Valley itself was inspired largely by the Harvest Moon series from the Super Nintendo.
In this one, you take control of Hank the bear who (in classic management sim fashion) is handed ownership of a dilapidated bed and breakfast. The goal? Well, you the player must fix it all up good and proper and turn it into a thriving business.
And that means fixing everything. These type of games have you doing mindless and repetitive tasks, all with the goal of further down the line your bed and breakfast being all lovely and stuff.
The ultimate goal here is to start having guests arrive and ensure they have a happy, comfy stay. Intrigued? Well, here’s the opening 30 minutes to have a gawp at.
We do think the management sim market is a little oversaturated. Stardew Valley perfect the genre, really, and we don’t think the copycats such as the slow-paced Spirittea (2023) have come close to it.
Bear & Breakfast doesn’t reinvent the wheel either, offering more of the same. The formula is to find a cute concept and then add in the management sim stuff.
It does deliver on its promise in many respects. It’s a cute, cosy, charming game with lovely graphics and an even lovelier soundtrack. The score is by musician Andrew Landry.
In fact, the dev Gummy Cat has put the entire score on its YouTube channel for free! Rather nice of them, eh? As this is one of the game’s highlights.
Bear & Breakfast is a cute, good fun game. There’s around 20 hours of gameplay here, too, so not on the vast scale of Stardew Valley’s 100+ hour potential.
That makes it a breezier and more accessible gameplay experience.
However, as has been noted in the gaming press, the pacing of the title is a little slow going. It’s a very narrative driven experience with lots of text to wade through, interspersed with limited adventure mode gameplay. Players just don’t really get to explore very much—adventure is dangled before you, but never really materialises.
In fact, The Guardian’s review put it best.
“[A] management game that’s obsessed with managing its players, rather than letting them exercise control.”
That’s likely down to budget restrictions, as indie teams have to work on a limited amount of finances. Whereas something such as $300 million boredom generator Starfield (2023) doesn’t have that excuses. It’s just crap, cynical game design.
We do think Bear & Breakfast’s limitations may even appeal more to some players. You just go with the flow and enjoy all the lovely graphics and swoon-worthy music. But if you’re after a more challenging management sim, then Stardew Valley is the one for you.
Yet… man, you get to control a friggin’ bear in this game.
And run a bed and breakfast!
Whilst its problems block its full potential, we still had fun with this one. And that 20 hour gameplay time means the game drifts in and out without outstaying its welcome.
The hallmark of any great bed and breakfast.
