Preview | Coffee Talk Tokyo: 'Ghosts, Lattes, And Emotional Damage'

Confession time: I haven’t played the original Coffee Talk (don’t come at me). However, I’ve heard many good things about it, so it was an easy decision to check out the demo of its sequel, Coffee Talk Tokyo. It’s set in — you guessed it — Tokyo in 2025, and serves up the same beloved mix of storytelling, emotional baggage, and delicious beverages.

The moment the demo starts, I’m pulled into a pixel-art Haruki Murakami novel cinematic, and I’m drawn into the 2D cotton-candy coloured world with its lofi music (is this a Clair de Lune remix?). Honestly, it feels like I’ve stepped into a Japanese fiction novel. Or Midnight Diner. But with more emotionally available patrons, and with beverages.

The vibe is surreal in the best way. You’re running a cosy little café in Tokyo — one where your regulars might be humans, demons, ghosts, or something in between. I spot a tail flicking outside the window. No biggie. Here at Coffee Talk, we don’t discriminate. All species welcome, as long as they sip respectfully.

*I make this at home, so I’ve got this.*

In the short half-hour demo, I meet four customers, each with a story, a sadness, and probably unresolved trauma that we unpack over drinks. I’m less a barista and more a therapist with a steam wand. I expect to see more of them in the full game. There’s a lot of talking in Coffee Talk Tokyo, and I mean a lot. If your ideal game has fewer words and more explosions, you may want to scroll past. But if you love emotionally rich conversations and broody synth soundtracks, you’re in the right café.

The brewing takes a little time to figure out. There’s a mobile phone on the bottom left that tracks recipes, with a couple unlocked to give you an idea of what to brew. You need three ingredients to brew anything — something I learned after trying to brew with just one ingredient. Hopefully the full release has a quick tutorial, but I didn’t mind making the mistakes in the demo. The customers let you know if you get it right or wrong anyway.

Coffee Talk Tokyo keeps the “talk” part front and centre. It’s all about listening, empathising, and occasionally guessing if a ghost wants chamomile or hot chocolate. If you’re not into reading dialogue or unpacking a stranger’s existential crisis while frothing soy milk, this might not be your thing. But if you love soft storytelling and games that feel like curling up under a blanket in rainy weather, this game will likely hit the spot.

The full game of Coffee Talk Tokyo is expected later this year, but you can sip on the demo right now on Steam.