While my experience with idle game is somewhat limited I did try a few of them.
A few things grabbed my attention before going into the requested feedback:
- Artstyle, the UI and game have different art styles. While the difference is not that big, it is something that is quite easily observed when you first paly the game. I got used to it after a while.
- This felt a bit less like a idle game (clicker game) and more leaning towards a tycoon game (i guess you can consider that a idle game as well =), but the mechanics usually differ )
- Conflicting gameplay, when you start the game it feels like a chill relaxing game (morning coffee kind of vibes), but as the game progresses it becomes more and more action like.
My recommendations would be to try to make the UI and game art feel consistent, either by turning the UI into pixel art or by changing the game art to match the smooth art that the UI has.
Try separating the 2 types of gameplay, the more relaxing parts from the more action/chaotic parts. One way I can think of changing that is to, have 2 game states, one for prep time where you prepare the cafe shop (relax, upgrade, feed the cats) and one for serving customers/taking care of the cats.
Requested Feedback:
Is game clear in what you are supposed to do?
Yes. The tutorial is pretty straight forward. The implicit narrative of you taking care of the cat cafe shop is also pretty good.
There is one thing that was not that clear and that is what is my end goal. The why am I doing this and where am I going are not exactly clear.
Found out in the end that I have to buy/adopt all the cats. Mby there was some text informing me about this and I simply didn't read it.
Does interacting with game feel fun?
The game feels relaxing at the beginning and then slowly start to feel more tense. I finished the game quite fast so I can't really say I got to the point I felt like I was having fun. I did enjoy it.
Do automation upgrades feel rewarding?
Not really. It seemed like I can get more money by buying upgrades. Since there is no change in the world after you buy them I can not say that I feelt that anything changed.
Some tycoon games have a degree of customization/decoration to them usually such that when you buy something you actually feel like you made progress. Similar to getting more cats, with is nice. It would be nice if something like that that would happen for the rest of the upgrades as well.
Are any gameplay elements unclear?
What I already mentioned I guess.
I didn't understood what is the difference of buying one upgrade over another and what is the purpose of upgrading them beside getting more money.
As it is now the game is quite nice and I enjoyed playing it. I would love to see how the development progresses from here.
Good luck!