Loving Coffee Talk Episode 2? There's something special about the laid-back storytelling with gorgeous visuals, especially for those who love a character-driven game. If players are looking to plan their next game in preparation, there are several indies worth checking out that they might enjoy, too.
The games on this list share similar themes and mechanics to the Coffee Talk games; they're visually appealing, with well-written dialogue and interesting characters with depth and complexity. They may also share similar vibes to Coffee Talk: Laid-back, sweet, and surprisingly emotional. If players want to fill the impending gap left by the second episode of Coffee Talk, they could try one of the following games.
8 A Short Hike
Opening up with a sweet game, A Short Hike has a chilled, laid-back vibe, similar to Coffee Talk. The player, controlling a penguin named Claire, must reach the top of a mountain to get cellphone reception, encountering many other animals along the way. They can get lost in pleasant side quests: a spot of fishing, a volleyball match, and digging for treasure.
It's a relaxed, unique game with a visually striking low-poly art style that feels comfortingly retro. If players loved the calm escapism they got from Coffee Talk, they might enjoy A Short Hike, too.
7 Citizen Sleeper
The joy of Coffee Talk is the ability to get to know the locals; players slowly build up a silent rapport with the customers, depending on the drinks they brew. The world of Citizen Sleeper is much less cozy; it's a harsh and hostile environment for the player as they try to keep their head down and survive.
A sci-fi narrative RPG, Citizen Sleeper's world-building is incredible, and it's easy to get lost in the setting of the ruined space station, chatting with the residents and piecing together their relationships with each other. A gorgeous game and worth playing if players enjoy Coffee Talk.
6 When The Past Was Around
Some games are quietly, subtly beautiful: short but memorable, they tell a moving story by depicting the relationships between characters. When The Past Was Around is a point-and-click adventure puzzle game about a woman trying to make sense of her life in the aftermath of pain and loss.
It's a gorgeous game with an important message about love and how to let go. Fans of the emotional storytelling in Coffee Talk will enjoy this experience, too. At around two hours to complete, it's a cozy game to settle down with on a quiet evening.
5 Unpacking
If players enjoyed the gorgeous pixel art in Coffee Talk, they'd love Unpacking. The player must slowly unpack belongings in a series of homes; following the unnamed protagonist as they move to different locations, it's their job to put everything exactly where it belongs.
Unpacking shares more than just pixel art in common with Coffee Talk. It tells a surprisingly moving story, even without the use of narration. It's a unique and beautiful game, and dedicated players will enjoy completing the sticker challenges.
4 Roadwarden
Roadwarden is another good-looking game. An illustrated RPG/visual novel, the accompanying pixel art is gorgeous, with a stunning, muted color palette. While Coffee Talk has some fantastical elements, Roadwarden is set in a more traditional - and pretty grim - fantasy world. The lore is incredible without being too heavy, and the story is fantastic.
While Roadwarden's game mechanics are fairly different from the mechanics of Coffee Talk, the player will still have to control the outcome by making certain decisions, and the dialogue is beautifully written.
3 Doki Doki Literature Club
One of the most famous visual novels of recent times, Doki Doki Literature Club was enormously popular back in 2017/2018, and it has a dedicated fan base to this day. Doki Doki is a slow-burning game; it allows the player to slowly develop relationships with the girls at the literature club, choosing which girl they would prefer to focus on and beginning to dig into their backstories.
At least, that's how it starts. It's hard to say more without giving anything away. The vibe, it has to be noted, is entirely different from Coffee Talk, but the in-depth characterization and interesting conversations are similar. Players should take heed of the content warnings if they have any particular triggers they want to watch out for.
2 Night Call
The protagonist of Night Call is a cab driver. Working the night shift in Paris, it's their job to pick up and drop off customers. There's a twist, however; they're also looking for the person who tried to kill them, slowly unraveling the mystery by talking to the (many) customers in the back of their cab.
It's an interesting story with an intriguing puzzle to solve. The theme is darker, but the concept of listening carefully to conversations will feel familiar to fans of Coffee Talk.
1 I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
-(1).jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist has a stunning art style. Unlike Coffee Talk's pixel art, it's rendered in beautiful watercolor illustrations, bringing the landscape of the planet Vertumna to life. The protagonist is a child settling on an alien planet; having known nothing but life on a spaceship, it's their job to explore, learn, and stay safe.
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist packs a surprisingly emotional punch; as the player interacts with other characters, they'll start to form attachments to them. But Vertumna is not a safe space, which leaves the player with an underlying sense of tension. A gorgeously told visual novel with card-based gameplay elements, fans of Coffee Talk are bound to enjoy it.