4 Beer-Themed Games to Liven Up Your Downtime

If you're not drinking beer or making beer, then what are you up to?! We know that many of you take beer seriously, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to lighten things up a little. Below we've compiled a list of some of the best beer-themed video games. If you're looking to explore your love of beer in a light-hearted way, then there couldn't be a better way to do it.

Whether you're interested in arcade classics for laid-back gaming, or in-depth strategy games, for brewing connoisseurs, we've upturned the beer barrel and found some absolute gems. 

1. Tapper

First up is Tapper, a classic arcade-style game that was first launched more than 40 years ago! It's still possible to play this legendary game online, and many specialist retro gaming sites even offer it for free. The aim of the game is simple, serve the line at the bar before their patience runs out. 

You need to guide the bartender to the keg at the correct bar, get him to pour a drink, and slide it to the customer. You lose a life if a customer reaches the end of a bar without a beer, you slide a beer to the end of the bar and there's nobody there to catch it, or you fail to catch the empty mug after the customer has drunk it. 

As you progress in the game, you'll switch bars. Everyone starts in a classic Western saloon, but you'll also get to explore a punk rock bar, a sports bar, and even an outer space saloon. It was originally distributed by Sega and sponsored by Budweiser, though just a year after its release the bottles were switched to root beer. While the gameplay certainly isn't 'involved', it remains a fun way to wind down. 

2. Larry's Lucky Tavern 

Larry's Lucky Tavern is another quick-play game, but this one was created by Woohoo Games. It's a slot game that can be played at Ignition Casino, where you can benefit from a high RTP rate of 97.3%. For context, most slots hover around the 96% mark, so this one should give you better returns on your investment.

In terms of gameplay, Larry's Lucky Tavern is easy to get started with. Larry the leprechaun will guide you through the game, accompanying your bigger wins with a tune on his violin and a cheeky wink. As you spin the reels, you'll see the Irish tavern theme come to life, with overflowing tankards of beer, smoking pipes, and Irish fiddles. Though simple by nature, this game captures the jovial atmosphere of times gone by in an Irish pub.

3. Brewmaster: Beer Brewing Simulator

Our next pick is a lot more in-depth than the last two, so it's less of a wind-down and more of a deep dive into beer brewing. Released back in 2022 by Fireshine Games, Brewmaster has been receiving regular updates, giving it the well-deserved title of the most comprehensive beer brewing game around. 

You'll be able to learn the beer brewing process from start to finish. You can choose from an enormous range of ingredients and even customize the style of beer that you brew. It's exceptionally true to life and surprisingly varied. Not only can you brew beer, but you can also enter your brews into competitions, complete jobs for thirsty customers, and use the money you earn to unlock more sophisticated equipment. 

This game is chemistry-driven, with exceptional attention to detail in all areas. The sandbox mode presents a fascinating way to really explore your brewing potential, without the constraints of finances. This game is one of those passion projects that's turned into something fabulous, and we couldn't recommend it more highly.

4. Brewpub Simulator

Our final recommendation is still ironing out some creases, having only been released in the summer of last year. However, we think it's looking positive enough for any beer brewing fanatics to give it a try. It's about twice the price of Brewmaster, which is something to bear in mind, as that's a much more well-rounded game. With that said, if you're already a Brewmaster fan and would like to add something new to your beer brewing game selection, this isn't a bad choice.

In this game you're invited to brew your own beer, using recipes from the game, or other users, or experimenting on your own. There's a bigger emphasis on the 'pub' element of this game. You'll start off with something that probably couldn't even be described as a dive bar and using the funds you make from brewing, you'll be able to decorate it until it's a craft beer heaven. 

You'll need to receive positive reviews from your patrons and make social media posts too. The holistic approach of this game is definitely an interesting one. There are a whole lot of different directions that you can take your beer brewing empire in, but until te bugs are ironed out, we're spending our money on Brewmaster instead.

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