One of the fun things about app gaming is that developers have come up with every kind of game you can imagine. Some recreate the full-on 3D action of console games, some go tactical, some go cartoonish and zany. My Cafe: Recipes & Stories has a compelling and fun theme, which as you might guess, is about running a café! Simple as it may sound, there’s a lot to do in this app and it does provide a challenge.

What does running My Café actually involve?

My Cafe: Recipes & Stories starts out as a typical simulator, giving you a small premises and the means to make basic drinks. You are guided through the game by your friend Ann, the voice of the café. From there, things can grow considerably, as all good sim games allow. You can build up a diner, a restaurant or a bakery as you expand the capabilities of your building and staff. Hiring staff is good fun, as they each have quirks and stats that affect their jobs, while you also get to put your personal stamp on the café with furniture buying. In terms of day to day play, you have to buy and bake the right treats for the right customer base, while keeping an eye out for special recipes like the Sweet Tales Latte to boost the happiness of your patrons.

Easier than running a real café… sometimes!

Most of My Cafe: Recipes & Stories is played in story mode, which takes you through a charming tale about the café staff and regulars and the various trials that small businesses undergo. This is where the ‘Stories’ part of the title comes in and it’s surprisingly compelling to learn about the lives of the townsfolk. You can even steer the dialogue somewhat by choosing your responses to people. The art style of the game is cartoonish with large heads, which you quickly stop noticing as you get to know the people. Everything is clear and easy to see, arranged in a typical isometric grid pattern. You may find yourself browsing a lot of menus, but that’s par for the course with a sim game. Customising your café is nice and easy, thanks to a simple drag and drop mechanic and there are over 200 items to choose from, so you won’t get bored. Naturally, you can also use social connectivity to compare your café with friends.

A steaming cup of fun!

There’s far more than meets the eye with My Cafe: Recipes & Stories as it draws you in with a very simple idea that grows. The story mode is the best part of this game, letting it feel like more than just an endless simulator. The actual sim mechanics are nothing new here, so veterans may not find anything new to enjoy, but the story might go some way to assuaging those doubts.