Menial - A Utopian Bagel Simulator (Full Version)

[MIGGO]

Menial: a Utopian Bagel Simulator

For those who are intrigued about how Maria's story unfolds, I salute you!

For those who find this game presently, I salute you too, and I'd quickly describe Menial as a restaurant simulator and a visual novel, with some light point 'n' click puzzling in a comic pixel art style very much inspired by the NES.

More broadly Menial is a game about making bagels and living in the City State of Ineria, a fully automated utopia. You step into the shoes of Maria who's lifelong passion has been the (perhaps modest) art of making bagels. What does the following of your passion entail in a world of myriad possibilities? What pressures and attitudes must Maria endure from her surroundings? What is the utopian state of Ineria like and who lives there?

Core gameplay in Menial consists of daily setting up the stand, then making bagels and selling them to customers (or failing to do so). In the course of eight days Maria will meet some goofy characters of Ineria and hear their stories, problems and beliefs, and must face her own existential demons. In between days you'll visit Maria's home and have a chance to shop, gamble, dream and decorate the appartment.

Here's a link to download: https://wavey-games.itch.io/menial
Database: https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2661-menial-a-utopian-bagel-simulator/
Also available on Fire Flower Games' store: https://fireflowergames.com/products/menial-a-utopian-bagel-simulator


Maria has to go through a morning routine each day, which involves light puzzling.

A shot from the Bagel Simulator 1.0 where you construct bagels for customers.

A guy talking about the world after having bagels.

A picture of Maria's recepy book.

Just sitting in the rain before the shift begins.

[heltenjon]

Nice! Congratulations on the release! 

[MIGGO]

Thank you!

[MIGGO]

Menial's demo is nominated for the Best Demo category in the AGS Awards of 2022!



A big Thank You to everybody who voted!

If you didn't, then here's a link to the database so you can check it out: https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2638-menial-a-utopian-bagel-simulator-demo-/ 

[MIGGO]

I'm a bit late posting this but I had issues with CleanTalk.    Anyway...

I'm happy to inform that Menial is available in FireFlower Games' store!

Here's the link: https://fireflowergames.com/products/menial-a-utopian-bagel-simulator

[Nahuel]

I will play it then (already downloaded ) ! Congratulations on this release @MIGGO !

Also there's an article (in german) thanks to arj0n's post published by 'The Last To Know'

Original post:

A nice writing about Grandad and The Quest for The Holey Vest (in German) bij our own 'The Last To Know':

Original German version:
https://www.gamersglobal.de/user-artikel/ags-highlights-2023-1
English version via google translate:
https://www-gamersglobal-de.translate.goog/user-artikel/ags-highlights-2023-1?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp

[MIGGO]

Thank you @Nahuel! Hope you enjoy the stuff added since the demo!

Oh my! I'll have to check this article asap.