Potionomics

The game was well received by critics, who commended its complex gameplay and its graphical style, but were disappointed at its lack of any voice acting.

• Developer — Voracious Games • Publisher — Xseed Games • Platforms — Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Nintendo Switch • Released — October 17, 2022 • Genre — Business sim, life sim, dating sim • Modes — Single-player • Composer — Greg Nicolett

Potionomics is a simulation video game. Set in a fantasy universe, it revolves around a witch named Sylvia who inherits her uncle's potion shop, along with debt she must pay off. To do this, she trains for a potion competition that will repay the debt, while running the potion shop for money, ingredients, and to prevent the shop from being repossessed. The game incorporates elements of dating simulators, as the player can build relationships with other vendors, deck building games as the player plays a minigame to bargain with customers over the prices of potions, and business simulation, as the player must manage their shop. The game is turn-based; each day is divided into six time units, which the player can use to run their shop or perform other actions. The game's actions primarily revolve around brewing and selling potions. The player can take actions to obtain ingredients for potions, either from merchants or from heroes. Ingredients are then used to brew potions based on a system of balancing ratios of components of ingredients, called magimins. Rarer ingredients, and more categories of magimins, are required to brew more complex potions and to win the competition. Potions take a certain number of time units to brew, but the player can take other actions during this time.

The soundtrack to Potionomics is written by Greg Nicolett and includes various collaborations with artists like Artemisia, Patti Rudisill, Joni Fuller, Tina Guo, Kristin Naigus, and Ro Rowan. The soundtrack consists of 50 songs including character themes, background music, and event tracks. The Original Game Soundtrack spans for 1 hour and 38 minutes, each of the 50 tracks averaging about 2 minutes. The soundtrack contains music from a variety of genres from dubstep to bossa nova, combining both orchestral and electronic elements. The overall soundtrack is described as “whimsical” and “catchy” and elicits a sense of magic and fantasy even among those who have not played the game.

Potionomics was initially released on October 17, 2022, for Windows. On October 22, 2024, a console edition for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Nintendo Switch, titled Potionomics: Masterwork Edition was released, accompanied by an update that introduced more difficulties, gamemodes and voice acting.