Cooking games are hardly in short supply, and neither are deckbuilders. But every now and then a game arrives that looks at two familiar ideas and decides to throw them together in a way that feels fresh. That’s exactly what Beastro is attempting as it launches today on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere, PlayStation 5 and, perhaps most importantly, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass from day one.
Developed and published by Timberline Studios, the team behind The Red Lantern, Beastro combines cozy farming, restaurant management and deckbuilding combat into one colourful fantasy adventure. And yes, you can be sure that saving the world really does begin in the kitchen.
At A Glance
- Game: Beastro
- Developer: Timberline Studios
- Publisher: Timberline Studios
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere, PlayStation 5
- Game Pass: Day One on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
- Price: £16.74
- Genre: Cozy Adventure, Farming Sim, Deckbuilder
Welcome To Palo Pori
The world of Beastro revolves around the peaceful artisan village of Palo Pori, a place where good food and community spirit are everything.
Players step into the apron of Panko, a talented young chef whose life takes an unexpected turn when his mentor mysteriously disappears. Suddenly responsible for keeping the local restaurant running, Panko must gather ingredients, tend crops, care for animals and serve up meals to a hungry population.
It sounds cozy enough. But beyond the safety of the village walls, dangerous monsters are beginning to stir, creating a problem that can’t simply be solved with a perfectly cooked meal. Or can it?
Every Ingredient Matters
The twist at the heart of Beastro comes from the way cooking feeds directly into combat.
Rather than heading into battle yourself, you’ll prepare meals for the Caretakers – brave adventurers tasked with protecting the world beyond Palo Pori. Every ingredient contributes to a deck of cards that influences how those heroes perform in combat, creating a unique link between what happens in the kitchen and what unfolds on the battlefield.
Different ingredients unlock different cards and abilities, allowing players to experiment with recipes and flavour combinations to create stronger, more effective decks. The resulting encounters play out through charming puppet theatre-style battle sequences, giving the whole experience a distinctive personality.
But of course, some heroes prefer sweet flavours. Others favour bitter dishes. Understanding those preferences and preparing the right meals could make all the difference when they head out to face the monsters threatening Palo Pori.
Meanwhile, successful expeditions can reward players with rare resources and even unusual ingredients harvested from defeated creatures, feeding back into the game’s cooking systems.
Time To Get Cooking With This Game Pass Gem?
Beastro arrives with a simple promise: combine cozy life simulation mechanics with enough strategic depth to keep players engaged long after the first harvest.
Whether you’re interested in building the perfect restaurant, experimenting with recipes, supporting your community or creating powerful decks for the Caretakers defending the realm, there’s plenty on the menu.
And with a day one Game Pass launch, there’s never been a cheaper way to find out whether Panko’s culinary adventures are worth a taste. Find Beastro on the Xbox Store, playable on Xbox Series X|S and PC, with Play Anywhere support. It’s also on PlayStation should you prefer.
