Best Served Cold Review

Best Served Cold, Best Served Cold Review

Best Served Cold, developed by Rogueside, is a detective visual novel set in an alternate historical Europe during the era of Prohibition. The game blends bartending mechanics with investigative storytelling, where you need serve patrons, gather clues and navigate a world of secrets, deception, and carefully mixed drinks. With its unique approach to narrative-driven gameplay, Best Served Cold offers an experience that challenges players to think critically while immersing them in a richly detailed setting.

Shaken, not Stirred

The gameplay revolves around the player’s role as a bartender at The Nightcap, an underground speakeasy where patrons come to drink, talk, and occasionally reveal more than they intend. Unlike traditional detective games that rely on direct interrogation or puzzle-solving, Best Served Cold introduces a dynamic system where players must mix drinks to influence conversations. Each customer has their own preferences, tolerances, and moods, which affect how much information they are willing to share. Serving the right drink at the right time can loosen tongues, while a poorly mixed cocktail might shut down a conversation entirely. In theory this system sounds super interesting, however I think it was maybe a little too easy. You drag an arrow around a specific shape, and as long as you stay ahead of the red arrow you’re golden. And I was. For the whole game.

You can only serve each customer one drink per night – so if you’ll need to balance out gaining friendship (which is easiest by serving them their favourite) and getting them the right amount of buzzed to get as much information as possible. As with in real life, people will generally be in a better mood after a good drink so make sure you get them relaxed before potentially accusing them of murder.

Beyond bartending, the game incorporates investigative elements that require players to piece together clues from conversations and interactions. After gathering clues you an combine them to develop new theories/clues on your clue board. While I love a clue board, there were times where, like the drink mixing, I found this a bit simplistic. You can just try everything together if you’re stuck, and some things seemed so heavily implied by on of the clues you used to make it I was unsure why it was a new clue.

The challenge lies in interpreting subtle hints and deciding how to approach each patron. Some characters respond well to friendly persuasion, while others require a more aggressive or deceptive approach. The game provides feedback on customer moods and intoxication levels, but ultimately, success depends on the player’s ability to read the situation and make informed decisions. While this system is engaging, it can sometimes feel restrictive, as certain interactions follow predetermined paths that limit player agency. I sometimes found myself running out of questions with the patrons in the bar, as the person I needed to present evidence too in order to proceed wasn’t in that evening.

Drinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

The story of Best Served Cold is a noir-inspired tale of crime, corruption, and survival. Set in the fictional city of Bukovie, the narrative follows the protagonist, a bartender with a troubled past, who becomes entangled in a series of murder investigations. Deputised by the local authorities, you need to navigate a world where every patron has secrets, and trust is a rare commodity. The game excels in its character writing, presenting a diverse cast with distinct personalities and motivations. Conversations feel natural, with sharp dialogue and moments of dry humor that add depth to the interactions.

The overarching mystery unfolds gradually, with each case revealing new layers of intrigue. The setting plays a crucial role in shaping the narrative, as Bukovie is a city on the brink, plagued by war, political unrest, and the ever-present threat of Prohibition enforcement. The game’s world-building is meticulous, creating an atmosphere that feels believable. Themes of morality and survival are explored through the choices players make, reinforcing the idea that every decision carries consequences. While the story is engaging, I sometimes found the pacing uneven, with certain sections feeling drawn out before major revelations occur. However, the gradual buildup ensures that the emotional weight of the narrative remains impactful.

Club Noir

Visually, Best Served Cold adopts a stylised noir aesthetic that complements its themes of secrecy and deception. The environments are richly detailed, capturing the essence of a speakeasy filled with shadows and intrigue. The use of lighting and color enhances the atmosphere, creating a world that feels both inviting and dangerous. Character designs are expressive, with subtle animations that convey emotions and reactions effectively.

The animation work, particularly in the bartending sequences, maintains a sense of fluidity and precision. As mentioned above, mixing drinks is presented as a mini-game, where players must trace specific shapes to create cocktails. This mechanic adds an interactive element to the gameplay, but the simplicity of it, alongside the frequency made it a little repetitive. Having a mechanic where you actually had to select the ingredients ala Coffee Talk may have spiced it up a bit. While the overall visual experience is strong, there are occasional inconsistencies in texture quality and environmental rendering. These minor flaws do not significantly detract from the game’s immersive quality, but they are noticeable in certain areas.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Best Served Cold delivers a unique blend of detective storytelling and bartending mechanics, creating an experience that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Its strategic approach to conversation and investigation challenges players to think critically, while its richly developed world provides a compelling backdrop for the unfolding mystery. The game’s noir aesthetic and atmospheric visuals enhance its immersive quality, making each interaction feel meaningful. While some pacing issues (in story and gameplay) and minor technical inconsistencies exist, the game succeeds in crafting a memorable journey through a world of secrets and deception.