What took us so long? Ah, apologies. As much as we'd love to drop updates faster than a garlic clove clears the Vampiric Council, we sometimes get buried (alive!) under a pile of coding, testing, and tweaking. But fear not, as we're getting closer to the finish line, we’ll be posting more and more updates along the way! Today we'll delve in our cooking system - one of the biggest systems in the entire game!
First, let’s address the bat in the room...When is it coming out? While we can’t share all the juicy details just yet, we’re hoping to unveil some big news in the next few months. To set your expectation, the game won't be launching next week or this year - we’re deep into development making more progress each day. But more clarity as to the release window with a roadmap is probably coming within a month or two.
Quick clarification before we delve into this update: Bloody Hell Hotel has a bunch of systems that work together like a well-oiled (or well-blooded?) machine. Our last update was all about the Blacksmithing System, but this time we’re dishing up the Cooking System, which is even bigger in scope. So how are these systems connected to the hotel management aspect of the game? Here’s the scoop:
- Crafting weapons and exploring dungeons let you gather resources for hotel upgrades - and sometimes, yes, you’ll even come across some “exotic” cooking ingredients (say hello to the Werewolf Tooth Broth).
- By farming (another big system to be unveiled soon) and cooking for guests and villagers, you can increase customer satisfaction, which allows your hotel to grow and prosper.
- Even though these systems are all intertwined, Bloody Hell Hotel is a sandbox sim, so you’re free to go off the rails if you want. Want to ignore the hotel and just craft weapons and slay monsters in dungeons? Go ahead! Prefer a peaceful life of farming and cooking for villagers without all the fighting? Totally valid. There’s no wrong way to play, even if you skip some systems entirely.
- Finally, these updates are meant to give you a taste of how big each system is. The game itself won’t feel overwhelming though. You’ll be introduced to each game mechanic gradually, from cooking and farming to blacksmithing, monster-slaying, and managing your hotel.
A few fast facts about cooking in Bloody Hell Hotel:
- As a vampire, expect all interactable objects to feel super responsive, fast, snappy, and just a little… supernatural. With the power of telekinesis, you can toss ingredients and tools around effortlessly.
- You can open and close the kitchen whenever you like, so no pressure to cook for guests on demand. If room service isn’t your style, no worries - the vast majority of guests won’t even notice. And later on, you’ll be able to pass off room service duties to a hired chef from the Vampiric Council.
- You can accept or reject room service orders from most guests. Orders from Snobs and Royalty have to be accepted, but there's no rush with delivering them super fast. Food can be delivered to a room anytime while the guest is still in the hotel. The only exception? Guests with the “Impatient” trait. If you keep them waiting, expect some dramatic (and mildly amusing) outrage.
- Occasionally, rival chefs from other hotels will challenge you to a cooking duel. You can accept or decline, but be warned: these are timed, and they’ll push your kitchen skills to the limit! These challenges are completely optional though.
This door leads to the underground farm. It's a shortcut that can be unlocked later in the game.
This is no ordinary kitchen. It’s inhabited by three friendly (and occasionally mischievous) gnomes: Puffle, Waffle, and Draftle.
They’re always eager to lend a hand - just as long as you treat them well (sort of) and don’t work them too hard. But push them too far, and you might find yourself in the middle of some unexpected chaos in the kitchen!
The gnomes have a special role in your kitchen: they’re experts at crafting complex ingredients, like chocolate milk, turn herbs into teas, hops into beer....you get the idea. They rely on raw materials you can either farm or find in the dungeons. Just bring them the ingredients and assign tasks. Early on, they won't know how to make super complex stuff, but as they level up, they’ll master even more complex ingredients, allowing you to tackle increasingly intricate recipes!
- Puffle fancies himself a bit of an alchemist. Slay a dragon in the dungeons, bring him the blood, and he’ll whip up a batch of Dragon’s Blood Tabasco in no time. From broths and sauces to oils, vinegars, teas, and even a few “special” potions and poisons, Puffle’s your go-to for all things concocted.
- Waffle is all about baking. Need to restock flour, yeast, or other essential baking ingredients? Waffle’s got you covered, lending his expertise in all things baked and delicious.
- Draftle is... well, enthusiastically into his own products. A bit wobbly, perhaps, but that doesn’t stop him from restocking your beer and wine supplies. If there’s a chill in the air and your guests are craving warm spiced wine with a touch of orange and cinnamon, Draftle’s the gnome for the job - if he’s awake, that is.
You’ll start with basic recipes, but as you level up your cooking skills, you can add more extravagant dishes to the room service menu. And if you’re comfortable in the kitchen, you won’t need to follow each recipe to the letter. There’s plenty of room for creativity: try adding a special ingredient, like a spice or sauce, and see what happens. Some guests might even commend your culinary adventurousness (others… well, they might just raise an eyebrow).
You also don’t have to fulfill orders in the usual way. For example, if a guest orders tea, you’re free to serve whatever blend feels right in the moment. If a guest is tipsy and you’d like to “cleanse” their blood before a little midnight snack, you can prepare a special tea just for that. And if you’re dealing with an “Insomniac” guest who orders coffee, you can secretly serve decaf (which is one of the upgrades for your coffee machine). This will help lull them into a peaceful slumber.
So, what culinary creations await in your gnome-infested vampire kitchen? You’ll be able to create everything from sandwiches, burgers, salads, and soups to heartier meals like meats with sides (we’ll call them “entrees” to be fancy), as well as breads, pastries, cakes, and a variety of drinks.
And of course, the fun doesn’t stop there. You can enhance dishes with special ingredients like potions and poisons - each with its own effect. From easing guests’ anxieties to revealing their secrets, and even weakening a Vampire Hunter in disguise, your culinary skills wield real power. This cooking system is rich, complex, and packed with surprises, with plenty of dark delights waiting to be uncovered. Cooking is a good source of extra revenue and a clever way to influence guest behavior, adding an intriguing twist to how they act during their stay.
A huge thank you to all of you for your patience and excitement. Someone said, "let them cook," and, trust us, we've been hard at work stirring up all sorts of wild stuff in the shadows! More to come soon!
Wishing you all a fang-tastic Halloween!
