Steam's latest free release is cozy take on Red Dead Redemption I can't get enough of

If you’ve ever wondered what Red Dead Redemption 2 might look like as a cozy game, well, Frontier Tavern is it.

Every now and then I find myself browsing PC storefront Steam’s selection of demos. It’s a bit of a lucky dip.

Sometimes you download something and wish you never had, and sometimes you take a chance on an unlikely title and have a great time.

Frontier Tavern, for me, falls into the latter camp. Did this game change my life? Absolutely not, but I had a rootin’ tootin’ time whiling away a cold, autumnal night.

Developed by Dclares Dev, Frontier Tavern is a first-person cozy sim that unsurprisingly sees you thrust into the position of running a tavern in a frontier town.

You’ll need to serve your customers, pour drinks, restock supplies and, eventually, hire employees.

The better you do, the more upgrades you’ll be able to unlock. Whisky, for example, isn’t something you’ll instantly have access to, but it’s something your customers will want.

“Start with water and lager, then work toward unlocking whisky. Pour drinks into physical glasses, carry orders to tables and collect payments,” teases the synopsis.

“Unlock a serving tray to carry several drinks at once. Watch your portions and waiting customers: good service takes more than a full glass.”

Dclares Dev

As you employ more staff, you can extend the tavern and so on. Extending and improving your tavern enters you into a The Sims-esque build mode with a nice level of customisation.

It’s important that you think about where your tables are placed, how your stock is displayed … anything that customers may notice.

The better your establishment looks and runs, the more tips you’ll get. You can then take all profits to the local merchant to stock up on new goods.

This is the Wild West though, so this experience isn’t going to be without some … bumps in the road.

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Shoot at bandits and wrongdoers who pose a threat to your cozy little tavern

Frontier Tavern also tasks players with fending off bandits and those who wish to loot your wares.

You’ll begin the game with a simple bayonet but as with all other areas, you’ll be able to upgrade your weapon in time, ending up with a revolver before you know it.

Not only can you shoot at those who wish your business harm, you can humorously fling their lifeless bodies into nearby canyons to cover up the trail of evidence against you.

In the demo, you’ll have the chance to play through Frontier Tavern’s first couple of missions which includes those early days of the tavern's opening.

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There’s not long to go until you can get your hands on the entirety of Frontier Tavern as it’s due to launch on PC on October 30.

It’s a funny little title with a charming premise. It is a small budget release, so don’t expect perfection but its free slice is entertaining enough that I can recommend it.