Potion Permit: A Witchy Cozy Game With Potential

There are days when I want a game I can zone out and chill with. This typically leads to me starting a new farm in Stardew Valley; however, even comfort games can feel overwhelming. Sometimes, you do not feel like starting a new Excel sheet and figuring out ways to maximize your virtual produce profits. Therefore, when I saw Potion Permit on Steam, I thought it had the potential to be just the game I was in the mood for. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.

Potion Permit’s Story

In Potion Permit, players find themselves in the town of Moonbury. Here, the residents are known for following more traditional methods of healing. They do not trust modern alchemy and tend to avoid the medical advances of the outside world. This was fine and dandy until the mayor’s daughter fell ill. When the local witch doctor could do nothing to heal the girl, the community looked for outside help. The Medical Association decided to send their best chemist to Moonbury. Not only to heal the girl but also to convince the townspeople to trust modern alchemy. This is where you come in; you are that accomplished chemist. After you heal the mayor’s daughter, you will continue working with the villagers and gain their trust. Overall, it will not be easy, but if anyone can do it, it is you!

Feature Unique to Potion Permit

• Heal the sick.
  • There are about 30 residents who will occasionally require your services.
  • You will diagnose their ailments and find ways to cure them.
• Find ingredients for your cures.
  • You will need ingredients depending on what you have decided to cure the resident with.
    • Use your everyday farming tools to find them.
      • These include a hammer, an axe, and a sickle.
• Engage in combat.
  • Not every ingredient is easy to gather; sometimes, you must turn your tools into weapons.
  • Fight monsters and use your alchemy skills to buff yourself.
    • Or even debuff your enemies.
• Use your trusty cauldron to brew remedies.
  • Now that you have your ingredients, you go into full witch mode.
  • Here, you can brew potions, vitamins, salves, and more.
• Make friends.
  • As your reputation with the villagers increases, you will learn more about your fellow townsfolk.
  • You may even find a bachelor or bachelorette to get close to.
• Foster a sense of community.
  • As the villagers begin to trust you, you can improve public buildings.
  • Craft furniture and make your home your own.
• Enjoy life in a small town.
  • Explore the town and take it easy; game objectives have no time limits.
  • Plus, you have a dog friend that requires love.
• And more!

Thoughts on Potion Permit

When I first saw Potion Permit on my Steam page, I knew I had to give the demo a shot. I was in the mood for something cozy, which felt right up my alley. First things first, the graphics are great. They are vibrant and cartoony without making the world feel less realistic. This is the kind of world I could get lost in for hours. Second, the soothing music feels perfect for the game’s genre. It is not distracting and perfectly flows with the ambiance of the game. In the end, the game passes the vibe check.

Unfortunately, the one thing I had a hard time with was using a keyboard while playing. Movement is bound to the usual WASD, and I am indifferent to using the J and K keys to interact with objects. However, the fast travel in this game killed me. Perfectly having to line up, the cursor with the fast travel flag was challenging, and I eventually opted to walk everywhere. Ultimately, this is not a huge deal breaker for me, but I can see why it would be for other players.

Overall, after playing the demo for a while, I believe I will purchase this title in the future. The story is unique, combat feels simple, and I enjoy gathering resources. This would fit that bill if you want a game to veg out with. In the end, I would recommend Potion Permit for a relaxing night in.

Odd & Ends

Potion Permit is currently available on iOS, Andriod, Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. I played a free demo on Steam. If you want a game with a similar vibe, I recommend this article on Little Witch in the Woods.