From afar, Spill the Beans from Skeletal Games looks like a simple visual novel about the interpersonal drama of magical characters, all set in a quaint corner coffee shop. However, much like ordering a marshmallow, nutmeg, and caramel hot chocolate, you’ll learn that there’s a lot more to this game than a simple cup of joe.

Be the manipulator

You take the role of a non-magical human in the land of wizards, sirens, and other magical creatures AKA spirits. Feeling outcast from this magical society, you decide to plot against Artifice County and steal a secret recipe in the backroom of The Familiar. As the new hire, you’ll spend your time manipulating your coworkers and patrons, either gaining their favor, upsetting them, or swaying suspicion onto other characters.

Spill the Bean’s overall goal to pin the theft on someone else so you can walk away scott-free. However, the developers have hinted that there might be a more peaceful solution for those who grow attached to these colorful characters. Sadly, we don’t get to see the results of our choices, as the demo ends right as emotions start to ramp up. This did leave me wanting more and a bit vexed, but I suppose this speaks volume about the writing as I’m eager to learn the results of my efforts.

Create your CV

When it comes to character creation, the demo offers little in terms of visional options. But with visual novels, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The inclusion of a hijab as well as a full array of pronouns is a wonderful inclusion. Where choice really matters is your descriptors and soft skills, which provide small changes in the game’s dialogue, leading to some interesting and humorous interactions.

Spill the Beans makes your choices actually mean something. I wasn’t expecting a seemingly small discussion about protection against teleportation spells to make my foul-mouth cat-boss, Fred, run to the middle of the café and start casting a ward on the entire building. This is such a welcomed experience to know that every small decision could lead to a wildly different scene.

Worth a thousand words 

Spill the Beans’s striking character design and clever writing helps give each character their own distinct look and personality, except for one in my opinion. Props to Skeletal Games for taking the time to create a multitude of expressions and reactions to keep these characters from feeling one-noted. From the calm and caring stone construct Sloane who clearly holds some suppressed resentment towards her boss, to the bubbly yet ambitious vampire Jessie who has something to prove to their powerful family.

Each one is unique in their own right except for one: the human Dave, the shop’s delivery man. I can only assume that he was created to either be a mirror to your own character who’s already self-proclaimed as mundane. Or he houses a secret quality or appearance in the full game. Regardless, his portrayal in the demo is practically forgettable.

Café ambience

From my count, the demo gives us about 4 different musical tracks ranging from jazzy to stressful. They’re all wonderfully constructed to give the player the apt emotion that the scene calls for. It’s a solid amount for the demo but here’s hoping for more variety in full game.

The choice to add sound effects to some actions while others are ignored was a bit odd, though I wouldn’t say it was distracting. I would have loved to hear some kind of blown kiss effect from the influencer siren, Alexandra or the coined payment made by our leather jacket wearing skeleton, Grudge.

Pour me a cup

The visual novel genre has seen some incredible entries all with their stereotypical premise flipped on its head. From the 4^th wall breaking Doki Doki Literature Club, to the rejection sim of Class of ’09. Spill the Beans could join these beloved entries with its reversed whodunnit premise. However, only time and the full release will tell. In the meantime, I encourage you to download the demo and give this game an extra shot or two depending on how you take your coffee.

Spill the Beans‘s demo is available on PC through Steam. NeverMore Niche received a free demo key generously provided by Skeletal Games.