What is Gloomy Tavern Stories?
You might expect a tower defense game when you see the genre tag, but Gloomy Tavern Stories is actually a potion-throwing adventure that flips the script on the genre. It’s a weird, low-stress alchemy sim where you craft bombs to solve puzzles instead of managing lanes of turrets. If you’re ready to trade strategic depth for creative chaos, this indie gem might just hook you.
Gameplay
Let’s get one thing straight right out of the gate: this isn’t a Tower Defense game. If you’re looking for Kingdom Rush or Defense Grid, you’re in the wrong place. You’re playing as an alchemist in a fantasy world, and your main job is gathering materials to brew potions. But don’t think of them as just buffs; you throw these potions like bombs to solve puzzles and clear paths. It’s a weird, low-stress mix of crafting and shooter mechanics. You’ll spend your time exploring, collecting ingredients, and figuring out how to use your concoctions to bypass obstacles. There’s a combat layer where you hire mercenaries to handle the heavy lifting against bosses, but the core loop is all about that potion-crafting puzzle solving. It’s lean, with just ten levels and one big boss fight in this Early Access build. You’ll feel like the guy supplying the heroes rather than being the hero himself, which is a cool twist, but it lacks the strategic depth of traditional TDs.
Key Features
- Craft potions to use as bombs
- Hire mercenaries for boss battles
- Solve environmental puzzles with alchemy
- Ten levels with one final boss
- Early Access vertical slice
Screenshots
Verdict
If you’ve got $9 and want a weird, low-stress alchemy game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, go for it. But if you’re craving a real Tower Defense fix with deep strategic lanes, keep scrolling. Wait for more content if you want a complete experience, because this feels like a vertical slice rather than a full game.
View on Steam →* Price at time of publication (checked 30.10.2026). Prices may vary by region and are subject to change. This is an editorial review, not a commercial offer.