Thousands of gamers have signalled their interest in a new “Cozy RPG” from Italian studio Acheron Games, with the publisher confirming over 4,000 followers have now joined the pre-launch page for Pumpkin Spice.
The milestone comes ahead of the crowdfunding campaign on BackerKit, suggesting a robust appetite for the “solarpunk” and low-stress gaming experiences that have recently found purchase in the tabletop industry. Acheron Games, best known for the Ennie Award-winning “Spaghetti Fantasy” setting Brancalonia, is pivoting from knaves and brawls to lattes and spellcasting with this latest project.
Brewing a Community
Pumpkin Spice – A Magical Cozy RPG places players in the shoes of a Coven of Witches running a magical café. According to the Quickstart guide, the game is set in a world similar to our own, but one where “Magic is real” yet “suffocated by technological and industrial progress”. The players’ goal is to preserve and grow the “Fount of Magic” dwelling within their establishment.
Unlike traditional fantasy games focused on combat and loot, Pumpkin Spice appears to gamify the atmosphere of its setting. The Quickstart introduces a “Vibe” score mechanic – a number from 0 to 6 that indicates how welcoming the café is. This score directly influences game elements, such as how long a customer (or NPC) stays in the venue.
The game utilises a scene-based structure divided into “Moments,” such as the “Grand Opening” or “Unexpected Magical Events”. One player takes on the role of the “Guide” (the Game Master), though the rules emphasise a distributed narrative authority where the Guide often acts as a “normal” Witch within the Coven.
Creative Team and Release
The project is created by Samuel Marolla, with game design credited to Errico Borro and Ian Hathaway. The aesthetic, heavily influenced by 90s cartoons and modern “lo-fi” art, is provided by cover artist and illustrator Simz.
In a statement to the press, the publisher acknowledged the pre-campaign momentum: “We knew the Fount of Magic was strong, but to see it has called so many of you is really amazing.” The studio plans to sustain this interest with livestreams and previews of accessories, including a “Café Sheet” to complement the traditional character sheet.
While the “Cozy” genre has exploded in video games with titles like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley, its translation to tabletop roleplaying is a developing trend. Pumpkin Spice seems positioned to test exactly how large that market is.
Gamers interested in checking out the title can find the pre-launch page on BackerKit. For those looking to explore Acheron’s previous, grittier titles, their catalogue is available on DriveThruRPG.
