Upcoming VA-11 Hall-A inspired title lets you become a late night ramen shop owner 

Studio Cointinue Games have announced their debut title, Midnight Ramen, which is set to release on October 23 for the PC (Steam). 

Midnight Ramen is a narrative-driven game where you become the owner of a ramen shop that only opens late at night. As the shop owner, you, alongside your apprentice, operate a ramen stall during the late hours of the night. You serve ramen, side dishes, and drinks to incoming customers, and through your interactions with them, you listen to their worries. 

The main focus of the game is preparing ramen by combining broth, noodles, toppings, and the like together. The taste of the ramen will change depending on your choice of ingredients and seasoning. Unlike typical ramen shops, it seems that the taste of the ramen will need to be adjusted to match the preferences of each individual customer. Additionally, the game seems to have a system that makes it easier for beginners to make ramen too. 

The customers who visit your shop seem to be representative of today’s society, including tired office workers and middle-aged men struggling to find work. While providing ramen, you will learn about their feelings in regard to their lives, and at times, you may be able to offer them advice. 

According to the developers, Midnight Ramen was inspired by games like VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action and Coffee Talk, and it seems it also takes influence from the Japanese drama Midnight Diner. While VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action and Coffee Talk feature somewhat unrealistic worlds and characters, like cyberpunk and fantasy, Midnight Ramen’s theme seems to be that of a modern-day Japan. The game appears to tackle themes related to the fast-paced and draining nature of modern society, seen through the eyes of a ramen shop owner. 

Cointinue Games is a newly established game development studio, founded in the latter half of 2023, and Midnight Ramen will be their debut title. Midnight Ramen is scheduled to release for the PC via Steam. 

Written by. Remi Morisawa based on the original Japanese article (original article’s publication date: 2023-10-23 11:17 JST)