Mîkiwâm is a free simulation video game wherein you can create and blend magical tea. Developed by Ekosi Games, this quaint visual novel is about an indigenous fantasy story centered around plants, magic, and the gift of giving back to your community. This version is only a demo and features only a few characters but shows the tutorial of how to make tea to serve to your guests.

The power of a good cup

In Mîkiwâm, the story takes place in a land called Meddow and is set in the aftermath of its decolonization from another nation. You play as Awâsis, the helper and apprentice of local healer Kohkum. For some reason, the old woman has disappeared—leaving you to run her place all on your own. Kohkum is known for making tea that helps people’s moods and now, you must take up the slack while trying to investigate her disappearance.

The mechanics for magical tea-making are pretty simple. Each guest will have their current moods corresponding to a certain element from the four—water, wind, earth, and fire—that surround their character sprite. The other three are grayed out and will only light up if you pick their corresponding jar of herbs on the shelf. The goal is to choose a jar and make tea with that in order to influence a character’s mood and help your interactions.

Simply click and hold on a jar to check which element it supports and then drag it to the kettle if that’s your choice. After the kettle finishes boiling, drag it to the cup and then drag the cup to the character to serve. If you change your mind or made a mistake, you can just drag the kettle or the cup to the sink and start over. However, this demo is pretty much just a tutorial.

Too short

All in all, Mîkiwâm is an interesting VN that combines cooking mechanics and the story of ancient magic. The art style is unique and distinctive, highlighting the plot’s indigenous background. However, the whole game is cut into chaptered chunks and players will have to wait a while after only a short demo that doesn’t give much of a teaser for what’s to come.