Let me tell you, I was not sure what to expect when starting up the game. I am not an expert on visual novels, but the title and the premise immediately convinced me. Necrobarista is an emotional ride through barista and serving culture and plays with the trope of the server as your personal therapist. But hey, we all sometimes need an open ear that listens. Especially, if you sit in this super cozy coffee shop, enjoy the ambience and a hot beverage and then you find out you are not really alive anymore? But why are you here? There is a slight possibility that this liminal space is either a prison for eternity or then – a rite of passage. Whether you are here because of something you did or did not do or if this is your final destination. The question, which lies before of us: Is this how the actual nirvana looks like?
Welcome to the “Terminal”, the space where life and death meet on a coffee!
Whether you have lost your memories on the way out, can’t really come to a conclusion or are simply fine with being stuck in this Café space between the living and the afterlife, this is where you cross. When I entered the Café, I got this feeling of home, a familiar emotion and without knowing the context of what the space was all about I started to explore and interact with the characters of Necrobarista.
Necrobarista is a visual novel, and it isn’t. Walking around in the café feels odd, yet it contributes to this liminal feeling between story arcs. After the story advances you always return back here. It further enhances the feeling of familiarity. The atmosphere of this hub stays similar throughout the game, and it provides comfort despite the topic of death connected to letting go and moving on. To what degree the Living appreciate this coffee shop, you need to find out yourself!
Don’t rush your decision, we are not in a hurry…
The story is worth it, has interesting turns and twists, develops the cast of characters with their individual arcs, and is not too long. Even though the game lives on the margins of visual novels and walking simulators, I would still highly recommend giving it a chance if you are interested in storytelling, reading, or simply if the art-style, the aesthetics or the theme appeal to you!
As I am writing from the perspective of someone who did not have much exposure to visual novel storytelling or who defends the visual novel genre, I find it rather interesting how Necrobarista incorporates different aspects of genres to deliver an excellent narrative experience.
Basic information:
Publisher: Route 59, Coconut Island Games, PLAYISM.
Developer: Route 59
Platforms: Windows, MAC, PS4, Nintendo Switch (Reviewed on Windows PC)
Release Date: 22.07.2020 (Steam)
Genres: Visual Novel/ Walking-sim
Age Rating: N/A
Pictures:
All article pictures have been taken by the author in-game (Necrobarista, Route 59, 2020).
E-Sports enthusiast, Dog-dad, 90s kid, part-time event organizer and full-time game studies student, when not writing papers they do enjoy playing first-person shooters or games with deep narratives.
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