Hanging out in my favorite virtual coffee shop in Tokyo | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hanging out in my favorite virtual coffee shop in TokyoNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...EntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingGames ReviewCloseGames ReviewPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Games ReviewHanging out in my favorite virtual coffee shop in TokyoCoffee Talk Tokyo is a return to the cozy cafe series, with new faces but the same chill vibes.Coffee Talk Tokyo is a return to the cozy cafe series, with new faces but the same chill vibes.by Andrew WebsterCloseAndrew WebsterSenior entertainment editorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew WebsterMay 23, 2026, 1:00 PM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: Chorus Worldwide GamesPart OfThe best indie games we’re playing right nowsee all updates Andrew WebsterCloseAndrew WebsterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew Webster is an entertainment editor covering streaming, virtual worlds, and every single Pokémon video game. Andrew joined The Verge in 2012, writing over 4,000 stories.Finding a cafe that fits you can be a revelatory experience. For me at least, there are few places outside of my house that I can truly feel comfortable in. I’m lucky enough to have two options in walking distance: a coffee shop that’s bright, airy, and full of art, and another that doubles as a plant shop so that I’m surrounded by greenery while I write. They’re third places that have become central to my life. But in the virtual realm I have an option as well — and while it’s not a place for getting work done, it’s just as relaxing.The Coffee Talk series kicked off in 2020, with a direct sequel three years later, and the title really says it all: These games are about coffee and talking. They’re visual novels, which means much of the experience is reading dialogue, like an interactive book. In each game, you play as a barista who runs a late-night cafe and also serves something of a therapeutic role, listening to your patrons’ problems and helping them out. You also have to make them drinks, using a simple gameplay system to brew everything from espressos to exotic cold teas. Oh, and you exist in a fantasy world, so you’re serving vampires, elves, and other mythological creatures.The latest entry, Coffee Talk Tokyo, doesn’t change all that much in terms of structure or gameplay. But it’s a standalone story set in a new locale — the first two games took place in Seattle — which means new characters to help and new drinks to make. Once again you play as the perpetually helpful proprietor of a coffee shop that’s only open late, and your job is to serve the right drink and lend a caring ear. The shift to Tokyo means that many of your patrons are ripped out of Japanese folklore, like a newly retired salaryman who is also a kappa, or a struggling pop star who was once a powerful dragon. It also means you’ll be making plenty of matcha, and lots of cold drinks to combat the oppressive Tokyo summer.There are a few things that make these games so comforting. One is the drinks themselves; while the process is pretty straightforward, there’s a soothing ritual that comes from picking the right ingredients or discovering something new through experimentation. Similarly, it’s very satisfying to make exactly what your patron is after based on only the vaguest of descriptions. In Coffee Talk there’s also really no penalty for messing up. Someone might be disappointed by a drink, but you simply move on afterward as if nothing happened. I should also note that the vibe in the coffee shop is extremely chill: lo-fi music, the sounds of rain, and lots of vinyl records and cute knickknacks decorating the joint. It’s a place I want to hang out in.But what really makes these games so wholesome is the stories and people you encounter. It’s kind of like a cross between Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories and Ted Lasso. Coffee Talk Tokyo may be about a world where humans coexist with fantastical creatures, but the problems you’ll encounter are incredibly real. Your assistant, Vin, looks like a cool cyberpunk hacker with augmented limbs, but they’re actually struggling through chronic pain and attempting to hide it so as to not burden anyone around them. There’s a young girl who feels isolated at school because she’s a foreigner. A stay-at-home dad doubts the decision to give up his career.These are important, relatable topics, and the game handles them with a deft level of care and heart. It doesn’t gloss over the difficult issues, but almost everyone in the game is just trying to do their best, and so things resolve in a way that feels plausibly optimistic. If only everyone I knew was as understanding as the ghosts and yokai I encountered in this game.It’s all of these elements combined that make the series so welcoming. Coffee Talk Tokyo doesn’t change much, but it also doesn’t need to. All I want are some more friends to help out, and another excuse to hang out in a chill, pixelated cafe.Coffee Talk Tokyo is available now on the PS5, Xbox, Switch, and PC.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew WebsterCloseAndrew WebsterSenior entertainment editorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew WebsterEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentGames ReviewCloseGames ReviewPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Games ReviewGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingMore in: The best indie games we’re playing right nowYou can now print your Cairn ascent on a T-shirt.Jay PetersMay 20Mixtape is a musical portrait of teenage lifeJay PetersMay 16Let it snowAndrew WebsterMay 9Most PopularMost PopularIf I could only have one laptop for work and gaming, I’d get this oneGitHub faces a fight for its survival at MicrosoftMicrosoft starts canceling Claude Code licensesThe Trump phone is not hereGoogle’s AI search is so broken it can ‘disregard’ what you’re looking forThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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The Coffee Talk series represents a return to a cozy cafe aesthetic within the virtual realm, characterized by a relaxed atmosphere despite incorporating elements from fantasy worlds. These games are structured as visual novels, meaning much of the experience involves reading dialogue, creating an interactive book format. In each game, the player assumes the role of a barista managing a late-night cafe where they serve patrons and provide a therapeutic function by listening to their concerns and offering assistance. Gameplay involves using a simple system to brew various drinks, ranging from espressos to exotic cold teas, which adds a soothing ritual to the experience. The setting is a fantasy world populated by mythological creatures such as vampires and elves.

The latest installment, Coffee Talk Tokyo, shifts the setting to the vibrant locale of Tokyo, integrating elements from Japanese folklore, such as patrons who might be a kappa or a dragon, and introducing drinks suited for the climate, like matcha and various cold beverages. While the structural gameplay remains consistent, the narrative focuses on interactions within this new cultural context. The games achieve a sense of comfort through the process of drink creation, where success lies in discovering ingredients and responding to vague descriptions. Crucially, the system allows players to proceed without penalty for errors in making drinks, emphasizing a forgiving and relaxed pace.

Beyond the mechanics, the profound appeal of the series lies in the stories and the characters encountered, which blend fantastical elements with deeply relatable human issues. The narratives explore themes that are highly pertinent, such as chronic pain experienced by a character, feelings of isolation faced by a foreigner, and doubts about career choices. The handling of these difficult topics is noted for its care and emotional depth; characters strive to do their best, and the resolution of conflicts tends toward a plausibly optimistic outcome. This thematic resonance draws comparisons to works like Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories and Ted Lasso, suggesting a narrative style that is empathetic and humanistic.

The ambiance further enhances the inviting nature of the virtual space, featuring a deliberately chill atmosphere with lo-fi music, the sounds of rain, vinyl records, and charming knickknacks adorning the cafe. This environment establishes a desirable place for relaxation. Ultimately, the series is welcoming because it successfully weaves together fantastical settings with authentic, human concerns, offering an escapist space that feels both whimsical and emotionally grounded. The series is currently available across multiple platforms including the PlayStation 5, Xbox, Switch, and PC.