Developer Background
Left - Ludovic Mahieu; Right - Virginie Maréchal
Clever Trickster Studio is a Belgian indie game developer known for crafting engaging worlds that blend nuanced humor with deep, skill-driven gameplay. Specializing in Tycoon and City Builder games, the studio is also expanding into Tactical Strategy, all within a signature vibrant, top-down 3D cartoon style.
Founded in early 2023 by entrepreneurs Virginie and Ludovic, Clever Trickster Studio has quickly established itself with a focus on intricate, thought-provoking narratives that avoid gratuitous gore while maintaining rich thematic depth. The studio operates with core values of efficiency, continuous improvement, organization, autonomy, solidarity, equality, and fun—fostering both a collaborative work environment and high-quality game development.
Gameplay & Design
In Blood Bar Tycoon, you take on the role of a vampire bar manager, transforming a run-down dive into a thriving, blood-soaked business. While managing stock for human customers is important, keeping your blood fridge full is crucial—your pale patrons won’t tolerate an empty supply.
The game offers three distinct playstyles: cozy or bloody. In cozy mode, you’re free to design your bar without pressure, focusing on creativity and ambiance. In bloody mode, however, things get darker—your human customers aren’t the only ones being drained. If you’re not careful, you’ll run out of cash fast. Then there’s your traditional sandbox mode where you can build to your heart’s content.
Unlike other bar tycoon games that rely on overly complex mechanics to stand out, Blood Bar Tycoon keeps things fresh with its unique blood economy. You can either purchase blood bags from the store or harvest your own supply. Minions can hypnotize human patrons and lock them in holding cells, or you can set up traps that exploit their natural instincts.
Customization plays a big role, with multiple bar themes to choose from. However, unlocking new themes requires completing challenges, adding a layer of progression. While each theme mainly offers aesthetic variations of the same items, the satisfaction of earning them keeps players engaged.
Feedback
While Blood Bar Tycoon does a great job offering two distinct playstyles, I found myself wishing for something in between cozy and bloody mode. Sometimes, I don’t want the full pressure of managing every financial detail, but I also don’t want a purely creative, stress-free experience.
An in-between mode could balance the challenge by easing financial strain while still requiring some level of strategy. This would offer a more relaxed yet engaging way to play, perfect for those who enjoy the tycoon aspects without feeling overwhelmed by constant financial risk.
Verdict
Blood Bar Tycoon delivers a fresh take on the tycoon genre with its unique blood economy and darkly humorous management mechanics. The choice between cozy and bloody modes caters to different playstyles, though an in-between option would add even more flexibility. With engaging progression, clever mechanics, and plenty of customization, it’s a must-try for fans of quirky simulation games.
Blood Bar Tycoon is available now for PC via Steam, for $19.99 with a 20% discount until February 11th!
