Best Served Cold

Solid murder mystery adventure set in a lively speakeasy in an alternate history Europe

A cocktail of mystery elements, engaging characters, and some drink mixing makes for a refreshing treat for the right audience

I’ve always been a sucker for detective stories. Which is why Best Served Cold attracted me from the start. A game where you play a bartender solving murders? Sign me up.

Best Served Cold is a decent game for fans of mystery and intrigue. The setting is perfect for the style, and the stories are so well done that it felt like reading an old-school choose-your-own-adventure if it had been written by Susanna Calkins or Nancy Bilyeau. If you enjoy a good mystery game with plenty of booze and murder, then this just might be the game for you. So as the developers themselves put it: “It’s time to flip that sign to open, turn up the jazz, and welcome your first customers of the night.”

All in all, Best Served Cold delivers a unique blend of detective storytelling and bartending mechanics, creating an experience that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Its strategic approach to conversation and investigation challenges players to think critically, while its richly developed world provides a compelling backdrop for the unfolding mystery. The game’s noir aesthetic and atmospheric visuals enhance its immersive quality, making each interaction feel meaningful. While some pacing issues (in story and gameplay) and minor technical inconsistencies exist, the game succeeds in crafting a memorable journey through a world of secrets and deception.

I absolutely adored Best Served Cold, despite not normally enjoying visual novels. I find it hard to keep my attention focused on actually reading what the characters are saying, but this game really had me hooked. The characters are really well written, charming and (mostly) likeable. You can even meet some of them over the course of multiple cases! It is really nice to see their character development and watch them make friends with other patrons. The story is great and has some unexpected twists and turns that keep you on your toes. The game isn’t really difficult, but it doesn’t need to be to get you invested. If you enjoy this type of game, I definitely would not skip this one. Best Served Cold very much deserves the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.

Best Served Cold is an investigative visual novel which merges bartending detective work to create a novel cocktail.

Overall, Best Served Cold is a must-play. Every second with this game has been nothing but a delight. The developers have clearly put a lot of effort into delivering a smooth experience, and you can see it everywhere in the game, from sprites to music to even the mini-games.

If you like detective adventures with Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot style, you will definitely enjoy Best Served Cold. It offers quite interesting detective cases, even with a little drop of alcohol.

Best Served Cold masterfully blends tense detective work with inventive bartending mechanics, delivering a stylish, immersive noir experience. While the lack of voice acting is noticeable, its rich atmosphere, compelling characters, and smart gameplay make it a standout indie gem.