Potion Permit

 Switch
Potion Permit Image
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 5 Ratings

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  • Summary: The town of Moonbury has always been wary of the advances of the outside world, preferring to rely on their traditional methods of healing. Until one day, when the mayor's daughter falls ill, and the local witch doctor can do nothing to help her, they are forced to look outside their smallThe town of Moonbury has always been wary of the advances of the outside world, preferring to rely on their traditional methods of healing. Until one day, when the mayor's daughter falls ill, and the local witch doctor can do nothing to help her, they are forced to look outside their small community for help.

    The Medical Association decides to send their most accomplished chemist - you - to help cure the mayor's daughter and convince the residents of Moonbury of the wonders of modern alchemy. Gain their trust and tend to each person when they fall ill in this open-ended sim RPG.    … Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Gamezebo
    Jun 27, 2024
    100
    I think my love for Potion Permit comes down to the stunning world design, weird villagers and homely, whimsical charm. That and I’m not immune to being a witch doctor. Echoing what I said at the start of this review, you need to try this game! Potion Permit is stacked with a great storyline, freedom of choice but a linear progression, lovely visuals and a huge sense of accomplishment as you build relations between the characters.
  2. Pure Nintendo
    Oct 31, 2022
    85
    Potion Permit is a unique cozy game with adorable pixel graphics that will keep you busy for hours. The difficulty is relatively easy, but the gameplay is still fun and engaging.
  3. Nintenderos
    Sep 23, 2022
    80
    Potion Permit is a pixel art adventure game now available for Nintendo Switch that we have loved. It tells a story with really emotional moments. Also, its soundtrack will not leave you indifferent and allows you a real connection with Moonbury and its inhabitants. With many different mechanics, after playing this game, it couldn't have left us with a better feeling. A really cozy game to spend hours and hours playing.
  4. TouchArcade
    Sep 27, 2022
    70
    Potion Permit is fine. Occasionally quite good. It certainly makes an effort to do some different things, to varying degrees of success. Apart from some performance problems in this Switch version, the biggest thing dulling Potion Permit‘s shine is just how familiar its structure is. When you take into account the somewhat grindy nature of this sort of affair, the lack of any particularly inspiring derivations makes it one best consigned to fans of the genre looking for another hit.
  5. Nintendo Life
    Oct 1, 2022
    70
    Potion Permit makes an effort to implement engaging minigame mechanics through potion brewing and patient diagnosis, but outside of that, a lack of challenge and a feeling of repetition means it struggles to stand out in the vast field of life sims. Still, it presents a fun and enchanting experience which gets a massive shot in the arm from excellent presentation in both the audio and visual departments. Potion Permit fits the bill for something to pick up now and then and pass a few hours, and there are certainly enough quests for you to sink your teeth into and keep you entertained for a while, even if it's not as catching as the best in the genre.
  6. GameSpot
    Sep 28, 2022
    70
    Despite all these issues, however, Potion Permit is one of my favorite games I've played this year as well as one of the best life sims in recent history, which is a massive testament to just how high its highs are. Coming to the game's end was bittersweet because of how much I adored my time in Moonbury--how much I was enamored of the art, gameplay, characters, world, and writing as a whole. More than anything, I long for a Potion Permit series. I believe it has the potential to proudly stand next to games like Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, and Story of Seasons and, if it addresses some of its most glaring issues, could push the genre forward in meaningful ways.
  7. Screen Rant
    Sep 16, 2022
    60
    Despite these frustrations players will likely still find themselves returning to Potion Permit for hours at a time - it's incredibly easy to get in a "just one more day" loop despite some of the game's duller moments, because the puzzling and progression elements like improving as a chemist, forging friendships, and upgrading the clinic are so satisfying. At its core, Potion Permit is a unique and cozy indie game that clearly has a large amount of effort and ambition behind it, which helps it overcome some - but not all - of its flaws. For players looking to sink dozens of hours into a different style of simulation title, brewing up a life in Potion Permit may be just what the doctor ordered.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. heybranny
    Jan 7, 2023
    8
    A nice easy cozy game that never asks too much of the player. Characters and cutscenes are adorable and the artwork is gorgeous
  2. Tortor
    Jul 30, 2023
    5
    Cozy but kinda boring due to a lack of gameplay elements that can be challenging. Overall it's sorta like a farming sim without the hassle ofCozy but kinda boring due to a lack of gameplay elements that can be challenging. Overall it's sorta like a farming sim without the hassle of farming and instead you go out into the open to forage for materials that the map will reset everyday. The lack of permanence when foraging or even waiting times to get materials sucked any challenge out of collecting.

    Its like a easy mode farming game in a genre already incredibly easy.

    I didn't really like gameplay loop although I can imagine this would be a good introduction to this style of game for a very young audience.

    The writing was also not really engaging me. So many of the characters felt like hollow puppets with repeated lines constantly. Like... Talking to a character 4 times it game me the same line each time and gave experience towards that characters friendship each time. It's so lazy seeing how the writers really didn't even try to make the NPCs feel alive.

    The minigames also were more of an annoyance then fun.

    Overall I think if you're looking for something mindless and cozy after a stressful day then this might be an ok game to pick up, once you're relaxed enough into the game though you really start seeing the flaws and will quickly get into something more engaging.    … Expand
  4. Kalitha
    Aug 22, 2023
    5
    Es un juego que tiene potencial, pero hay mecánicas que encuentro ridículas como por ejemplo para desbloquear todas las cosas disponibles delEs un juego que tiene potencial, pero hay mecánicas que encuentro ridículas como por ejemplo para desbloquear todas las cosas disponibles del juego (aprender recetas, entre otras cosas) tienes que enamorar a todos aldeanos disponibles, hay cosas que aprendes al final del juego y no se les saca provecho.
    Las recetas de cocinas no tienen mucha utilidad, es decir, los mobs son tan débiles... Te aprendes el patrón de movimiento y con el alimento más básico es más que suficiente para sobrevivir.
    Otro problema es que tienes que sanar a la gente del pueblo, pero ningún momento hay presión en sanarlos, nunca colapsa la clínica ni nada. No hay dificultad.
    Lo compré por sugerencia de un amigo que le tiraba muchas flores (Eso afecto a mis expectativas que estaban bastante altas y no era para tanto), reitero, es un juego con potencial y espero que en algún momento puedan pulirlo.    … Expand