Diner Dash meets Stardew Valley in Thundertale Studio’s Wolf with Inn, a cozy tavern simulator full of fantasy, charm, and an enchanting, fairy tale atmosphere. Players take hold of Fen, a newly turned werewolf who wakes up in a run-down tavern with no memory of how he got there (we’ve all been there, right?).

As Fen gets himself wrapped up in reopening the tavern and familiarizing himself with the local forest, players get to serve patrons, gather ingredients, unlock new menu items, and interact with a fascinating cast of characters.

Wolf with Inn demo was part of Steam Next Fest: October 2025, so we had the chance to meet the beast and explore the opening section of this cozy tale.

Welcome to Mystmoor

The game’s developers said that the main focus with this demo is atmosphere, and that’s obvious from your very first moments in the game. The warmly lit tavern, lush forest scenery, mysterious monuments and architecture, and other beautiful details throughout the area create an intricate world that is fun to explore. The music and sound design make wandering around and collecting resources enjoyable, while the characters you come across in the wild create a world that feels alive.

The character art that appears alongside dialogue also helps bring the story to life. The illustrations are full of vivid details that deliver so much personality, helping you get to know these characters with every conversation.

Even the pacing supports the cozy vibe with an easy rhythm that helps the story and setting unfold little by little. Every new character and quest you encounter, from the snooty elf demanding wine to the cliffhanger information about fairies and debt money at the end of the demo, teaches you more about this world.

A Fun, Fantasy Twist

Of course, the big draw of the game is the titular wolf within. Named “Beast” in the dialogue cards, your inner werewolf is a fearsome creature full of spunk and personality. He spends most conversations urging Fen to show some aggression and let out his wild side, while Fen exasperatedly ignores him in favor of being his endearing self. It’s a humorous relationship that vaguely resembles Marvel’s Venom and Eddie, and there’s definitely room for both characters to grow as they continue to get to know each other and the world of Mystmoor.

But the wolf isn’t the only fun character you’ll meet. There’s also Fausto, the gruff demon tavern owner, and Bjorn, a charismatic fellow werewolf.

Some of the characters can feel a bit cliché at times, but with plenty of game to come, they might yet surprise us. There are also a few fun modern twists, such as Bjorn’s rockstar nature, or the snooty elf adventurer who comes into your tavern—anyone who’s ever worked a customer service job will know his type immediately. Then, of course, there’s Fen himself: a kind, charming, hunky lumberjack pulled straight out of a romance novel, now paired with a bloodthirsty inner wolf.

There are even more characters around the world who are either non-interactive or blacked out during dialogue, so we’re sure to meet an even bigger cast of fun, quirky, and charming personalities in the full game.

Minigames Keep Play Fresh

Gathering ingredients and running the tavern are the core gameplay mechanics, but they never get old. Minigames accompany every action, so whether you’re chopping trees, pouring beers, or grabbing eggs from a nest to go in your delicious egg bake, there’s always a quick skill check to keep things interesting.

The games are short and sweet. It might take you a few tries to get used to a new mechanic, but you’ll soon be speeding through them as you gather sage or grind wheat. Rustic HUDs and satisfying sound effects also help create a cozy atmosphere within the minigames, so you can stay immersed in this mysterious fantasy world.

There are times when gameplay feels slow. You only pick up one resource for every minigame, which means you’ll be wandering all over the map even if you only need a couple things. And when you need a lot of one resource, it can get tedious. For example, you need to chop down four trees just to fix a single chair—which can be particularly annoying, given that it only takes one unhappy customer to break your furniture.

The movement speed can drag, too, which can make keeping up with orders difficult on a busy night. I found myself keeping broken chairs in the tavern so I could limit the number of customers coming in and make it easier to serve them all. That said, this is still early game. There could be upgrades, cool new tools, tavern staff, and other fun things waiting around the corner. And even if there aren’t, you can still let the wolf attack those rude patrons. That alone makes this gig better than most other customer service jobs.

Wolf with Inn’s demo released as part of Steam Next Fest: October 2025. It is still available to play as of publication. Playing the demo will automatically open a Google review form with your email upon exiting the game, allowing players to give feedback.