Spill the Beans currently has a release date of “To Be Announced” on Steam.
- Play Spill the Beans Demo on Steam (free)
- Play Spill the Beans Demo on itch.io (free)
I don’t often cover game demos because, well, they tend to speak for themselves as far as promotional materials go. They are free, easily accessible, and give you a better feel for the game than a write-up ever could. But Spill the Beans was so compelling, so unique, that I started making notes for an article before I could even stop myself.
As the newest hire at a cafe and bakery called “The Familiar,” you find yourself trapped amidst a quirky cast of characters—both employees and customers of the shop—after a dreadful crime has been committed: The cafe’s super secret recipe has been stolen from the safe! Now, it’s up to you to interrogate a list of suspects to see who will break first. But there’s a twist: You are actually the thief.
Using dynamic dialogue options, your task is to sew suspicion on anyone but yourself. You can manipulate people into liking you and having your back, or stir up some discontent so they are more likely to break under investigate pressure. You can encourage others to act in ways that may come across as suspicious, or can drop tidbits that make your scapegoat of choice seem like the real culprit. All the while, your every action (and inaction) is being sized up by everyone else.
Approximately 40 minutes long, the Spill the Beans demo overflows with humor, uniqueness, and possibilities. As the timer ticks down to the arrival of the authorities, you must scramble to set-up a likely scapegoat and motive to ensure the crime isn’t pinned on you.
Will it be hard-working baker Sloane who doesn’t seem to have an evil bone—er, stone?— in her construct body? Or what about Fred, the combative cafe owner and demon in the shape of a cat familiar? Or Alex—self-absorbed influencer who was about to post about the cafe to her followers online? What about Grudge, the prickly job applicant who was turned down in favor of you (the player)? Or maybe Jessie, the progeny of a business mogul who may have a vested interest in the cafe business? Or, heck, maybe it’s the delivery guy—just because.
During cut scenes and amateur interrogation (Fred puts you in charge, of course), you’ll have the option to sway hearts and minds and frame the perfect candidate for your crime. By learning more about your compatriots/fellow captives, you can start to weave a convincing story from motive to execution. Using the interactive visual novel style of storytelling, Spill the Beans lets you point-and-click your way to pulling off the perfect heist.
With a whimsicle hand-drawn art style, an inclusive and diverse cast of characters, and the perfect blend of comedy and tension, Spill the Beans has reinvented the “whodunit” in a charming visual novel format.
And if you need any more convincing: Just look at Fred. Look at him!!!! An absolute lil’ buddy. (Though I doubt he would appreciate me saying that.)
Stay cozy, gamers!