Korean indie game studio PepperStones has officially revealed the Steam page and trailer for their second original title, HIPS N’ NOSES.
HIPS N’ NOSES is a unique genre-blending game that combines narrative café simulation by day and roguelike combat by night—all revolving around the theme of memory.
- By Day: Players manage a café that helps customers recover lost memories. Each customer has distinct preferences, and players must uncover subtle clues hidden in conversations to fine-tune drink recipes using optimal ingredients. Doing so earns greater rewards and revenue.
- By Night: The game transitions into dream sequences where players enter roguelike battles, fighting monsters and collecting rare ingredients. Characters met in reality reappear in dreams, assisting in combat and offering access to special items unavailable in the waking world.
The game features a cartoon-style visual design and emotionally resonant music, creating a distinctive atmosphere. Progression systems offer a sense of long-term goals, blending storytelling, battle, and management into a cohesive and immersive experience.
A PepperStones developer commented:
“With HIPS N’ NOSES, we aimed to build deeper gameplay than our debut title Wetory, combining narrative, direction, combat, and management into a seamless, emotional structure.”
PepperStones was founded in 2021 by two university students who were middle school friends. Their first game, Wetory, was selected for Tokyo Game Show 2022 and nominated as a Top 10 Best Indie at Gamescom Germany, earning them global recognition.
HIPS N’ NOSES is currently in development for PC (Steam) and console platforms, with a planned release in Q2 2026.
