Developers at Timberline Studio stopped by during this year’s Day of the Devs: The Game Awards Edition with an updated look at Beastro.
If you’re a cosy gamer and a fan of RPGs and this one isn’t already on your radar, you’re going to want to think about changing that.
Set to be published by Kepler, Beastro is what I’d pitch as a wonderful combination of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed masterpiece Spirited Away.
Beastro centres around young chef Panko whose job it is to run an eatery in the peaceful village of Palo Pori.
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“When Panko’s teacher goes missing, a mysterious visitor arrives with warnings of the dangers beyond the wall,” a synopsis reads.
“It's up to Panko to step up and take over the restaurant and tend to the ingredients and patrons. But that’s not all, Panko also finds himself serving the Caretakers, brave adventurers, sent to save the world. In this adventure, preserving peace starts in the kitchen!”
Panko will cater to a wide array of anthropomorphised creatures and while his intentions are wholesome unlike Spirited Away bathouse owner Yubaba’s, you can likely see the comparison I’m making.
As for that Baldur’s Gate 3 link, well, while cooking is mainly done via mini-games, Beastro intersperses this with the surprising addition of deckbuilding turn-based combat.
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When you’re not foraging for herbs and ingredients, unlocking new seeds, chopping, frying, or concocting delicious recipes, you’ll engage in battle.
Those caretakers I mentioned? After you feed them up, it’s their shoes you’ll step into, venturing out into the world where you’ll have to fend off monsters.
The ingredients you use in your dishes as Panko will determine which deckbuilding abilities your caretaker will have.
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These turn-based sections switch to a 2D style of animation that’s got a Paper Mario feel to it.
The game cleverly has the caretakers recount these battles to Panko, which gives Beastro a handy way of linking the jumping between these two protgaonists.
Caretakers “might even bring you back some MONSTEROUS ingredients from their ventures,” developers tease.
“Outplay the monsters, by matching their flavour magic or neutralising it with a balancing card. Add an enhancing card to power up your moves! Your magic can turn the tables!
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“Utilise the unique effects of your ingredients to put your enemies to sleep, blow away their cards, and more, but watch out, you’re not the only one with special abilities. If you’re not paying attention, you might get burned.”
It’s such an interesting and frankly unexpected formula, but I just have a feeling that it’s going to work so well.
And It’s Launching in 2026
Beastro is targeting a 2026 launch, and it’s set to land on two platforms.
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You should be able to enjoy the game on both PC via Steam and Xbox series X/S.
For Xbox users, Beastro is currently down to release Day One on Xbox Game Pass, so there’s an incentive to check it out.
I also want to remind you that you can support Day of the Devs, a non-profit organisation dedicated to highlighting the very best in indie gaming.
Those involved in putting on the showcase do so on a voluntary basis, relying on sponsors and donors.
Topics: Baldur's Gate 3, Xbox, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PC, Steam, Indie Games