Chocolatier: Decadence by Design

Now and then comes a simulator that's so abstract you can't help but be intrigued. Chocolatier: Decadence by Design is a unique game that puts players in the shoes of an aspiring chocolatier, determined to build a thriving business leveraging the economic boom of the post-WWII era. But the question remains, what kind of mechanics could you add to a title like this to make it even remotely exciting?

Furthermore, how do you expand the existing series to make it more exhilarating? Chocolatier: Decadence by Design is determined to showcase the thrilling side of becoming a globally renowned chocolatier, throwing in a curated narrative, series of objectives, and gameplay that facilitates creative potential. Is the game going to succeed on the front? Well, the title has our attention; now let's see if it can deliver.

A Life in Decadence

Let's set the scene for Chocolatier: Decadence by Design. You take the role of Alex, the granddaughter of the famous Baumeister chocolatier tasked with saving a failing business that has declined since the war. Now that the economic circumstances are more favorable, you'll leverage the opportunities to rebuild the chocolate empire by discovering new recipes, getting endorsements, and feeding the world tasty sweets again.

So, what will players have to do to gain that fame again? The core gameplay revolves around traveling the world and discovering ingredients for new chocolate recipes. One could have figured that out from the title and continued to ask, is there anything else to it? Despite plenty to explore regarding recipes, ingredients, locations, and processes, making chocolate is the only thing you'll do.

It may seem uninspired, but the parallel Baumeister narrative gives players direction helping them achieve their ultimate CEO status in this relatively short game. The main issue with Chocolatier: Decadence by Design doesn't come from the simplistic gameplay but more in the visual delivery. Often, achieving anything feels like a mess because of the clunky UI or inconsistent presentation.

I found myself lacking immersion only because each screen seemed like we were looking at a different game, where the wealth of sharp colors on the screen does more to blind and confuse a player than impress them. It's easy to find Chocolatier: Decadence by Design far too decadent.

Curating the Chocolate Empire

The critical angle of Chocolatier: Decadence by Design comes not from the elementary gameplay. Mechanically, the title can be entertaining and palatable for players of all ages. My core issue is how the title is presented, feeling more like a slab of chaos on screen than a curated management sim. Even visually erratic sims like Cookie Clicker tend to be more consistent.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Plenty of opportunities to be creative
• One of the more unique management sims
• A good game for younger players

Cons:

• Visually the game is inconsistent
• More straightforward than some would like in a management sim
• A relatively short experience