If there’s one thing that’s better than discovering a great co-op game, it’s finding one that’s also free. Trying to convince your friends to stump up the cash and join you on your latest obsession can be tough, but Bronzebeard’s Tavern is a delightfully raucous management sim that you and your fellow dwarf enthusiasts can play without spending a thing. Now, developer The Mermaid MenZ reveals its next major update as it plans to expand (and contract) your establishment in all-new ways.
You can think of Bronzebeard’s Tavern as a blend of the chaotic kitchen management of Overcooked, the roughshod party atmosphere of Deep Rock Galactic, and the more traditional fantasy dwarves of Warcraft. The free Steam game passed a major milestone at the end of 2024 as it celebrated half a million players, and has only continued to grow since with new events and updates. While things have been quiet for a little, The Mermaid MenZ is finally ready to show off what’s next.
The Staff Up update is set to arrive this month, bringing new challenges and additional management opportunities to the co-op game. First through the door are new staff members that you can hire to help you keep the run of the place. The old Host has been fired for being “notoriously lazy, often found dozing on the job,” and in his place comes a legendary former tavern keeper who can man the books and ensure all your customers are greeted and seated in style.
Joining him is a Bard, who provides some pleasing music that will help keep your patrons occupied, buying you more time to sort out their orders and ensuring things don’t get too rowdy. He’ll even bring his own lute with him. The Mermaid MenZ adds that two more staff members are in the works, so keep a close eye out for those as well in the near future.
Those newcomers will need somewhere to hang out – and you deserve it too. Fortunately, you can now add a staff room to your tavern as a place to take a break and get up to some relaxing antics with your fellow players. The current third expansion has also been slightly redesigned to bring the tables closer to the rest of the seating and kitchen, as the old layout made it “less appealing to bring customers there.”
Additionally, customers have been redesigned to all have unique color palettes, making them easier to tell apart. You can also expect further UI improvements, quality-of-life upgrades, and bug fixes when the update lands – there’s no exact date, but The Mermaid MenZ says it “will be coming very soon this month.”
In the meantime, we’ve gathered together the best management games along with the best sandbox games to give you plenty more options to try.
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