Studio Daimon has officially announced that its strategy RPG, Food Devils, will be released on November 5th. The game aims to blend tactical combat reminiscent of Fire Emblem with restaurant customization and dating sim mechanics. Players take on the role of a chef tasked with recruiting demons in a post-apocalyptic world, attracting them by preparing meals.
Gameplay involves hunting monsters in grid-based tactical battles to gather ingredients. These ingredients are then used to cook dishes that provide buffs for the player's party. Players can customize their restaurant, which will be visited by adventurers. Successfully attracting these adventurers and preparing the right food can lead to forging a Devil Contract or even romance with the five titular Food Devils.
Studio Daimon's game director, Alfred Kamon, explained that the various systems are designed to intertwine. Monster hunting provides ingredients for cooking, which in turn buffs the party for subsequent expeditions. The restaurant's customization influences the types of adventurers who visit, and these adventurers can then be taken on future expeditions. Even the narrative is structured around this gameplay loop, with characters reacting to in-game events and the restaurant evolving between runs.
Kamon elaborated that changing restaurant furniture can influence the traits of visiting adventurers, and the food prepared affects expedition buffs like healing potency or movement. The restaurant aspect is intended as a complementary, relaxing element to the core tactics gameplay, with no cooking mini-games to allow players to focus on character relationships and tactical combat.
Character Progression and Devil Contracts
The Devil Contract system allows for significant character reclassification. An adventurer's stats and traits can be altered, along with their appearance and starting abilities, by partnering them with a different Devil. This allows for varied strategic approaches from one playthrough to the next, with roguelite elements like Skill Packs and Events further influencing unit evolution during a run. This means a single character could be built to focus on defense and enemy manipulation or support through healing and summoning.
Twists on Tactical Combat: Calories and Hunger
Food Devils introduces unique mechanics to its tactical combat, deviating from traditional RPG systems. The game features a powerful "pre-promote" Devil character and up to four human adventurers per expedition. Devils require "Calories" to perform their strongest attacks, which are generated by the human adventurers interacting with the battlefield. Players select a "Master Rule" at the start of each run, dictating how Calories are generated, such as ending movement near a Bonfire or causing summons to explode.
However, generating Calories comes at a cost: each Calorie produced inflicts 1 "Hunger" on the adventurer. Excessive Hunger can lead to permanent character death, creating a strategic balance between maximizing the Devil's power and ensuring the survival of the human party. This system is inspired by roguelikes like Darkest Dungeon and Aethermancer, emphasizing a player's willingness to take risks.
Evolving World and Ideologies
The game tracks the "culture" of the player's restaurant based on their playstyle, such as aggressive or peaceful combat. These choices can influence characters, relationships, and the overall story. Aligning with a specific Devil means engaging with their ideology, which can eventually alter the game's core mechanics. For instance, following the Poison Devil's advice might introduce monetary systems and scientifically enhanced skills, while adhering to the Vegan Devil's ideals could unlock a pacifist route that favors neutralizing monsters over defeating them.
Romance and Inter-Devil Relationships
Beyond romance with the Food Devils, players can influence relationships between the Devils themselves. Nurturing these relationships through quests and support conversations can increase a Devil's power and unlock meta-progression abilities. Bonds between Devils can also introduce unique strategic options. For example, if the Hunter Devil grows fond of the Poison Devil, some adventurers might be allowed to use the Poison Devil's Contract, creating hybrid skill sets and Master Rules.
Support conversations are also integral to the main story's progression. Studio Daimon aims to provide satisfying dialogue and meaningful consequences that make player choices feel impactful, with an emphasis on "spicy dialogue" and consequences beyond simple stat bonuses.
A free four-hour demo for Food Devils is currently available on Steam for players eager to experience its genre-bending gameplay. The full game launches November 5th.