Potionomics

With Potionomics being described to me as a deck-building shop simulator, I knew that this was a game I had to give a try. I have always had a thing for magic, potions, wizards, witches, and fantasy style adventure ever since I was a kid and got the epic board game hero quest for Christmas one year. With a very fun and whimsical fantasy style to it all, this is a game that has a ton of charm and it is one of the more hidden gems of the year in my humble opinion.

Inheriting A Magical Mess!

The plot of Potionomics takes place in the magical realm of Rafta where all kinds of magical beings and adventurers hone their magic skills and look for epic quests. We play the role of a feisty young witch whose uncle has just passed away. Her uncle ran a magic shop that had certainly seen better days. He has left this magic shop to you and now it is up to you to make it the best damn magic shop in the realm! The whole game has a fun and cute vibe to it that I got a real kick out of.

Whipping Up A Fresh Batch

One of the main aspects of gameplay that Potionomics has going on is the actual running of your shop. You make money by selling potions and it is up to you to craft these potions. You will have to use the right ingredients to make the best potions and some very special potions that some of your pickier customers are requesting. You can experiment a bit and this can lead to great or very messy things!

It Is All In The Cards!

One of the more interesting things that Potionomics offers is the deck building/card game gameplay that it has. The shop managing aspect is great and probably what I would describe as the main part of the game. However, you will have to negotiate with other shop owners and adventurers to get what you want and at a price you are comfortable, even saving just a couple of coins on a transaction can go a long way! The fun thing here is that this is done with a deck-building style of game where you have to use various cards to try and swing the negotiation in your favor.

Making Your Uncles Shop, Your Own!

Something that I am sure is going to hook a great number of people in Potionomics is the way that you can have a lot of say in the way your shop looks. It is one thing to manage your shop, but you also get to choose how it looks. This is a great deal of fun and the game offers way more customization options than you would think. You always feel like you are on the verge of getting something new to spruce the old shop up with and this can actually have a pretty big impact on your customers in regards to keeping regulars and attracting new ones as well.

Pros:

• I like how whimsical and charming the whole game is
• It is the kind of game that is very easy to get into
• The gameplay is a mixture of shop management, crafting, and deck building
• This could end up being a very addictive game

Cons:

• I hope that you do not have to just deal with the same characters over and over again
• I do wonder if it will be addictive to a point and then you will just lose all interest in it