Timberline Studio Reveals Beastro: A Cozy/Crunchy Hybrid Coming Spring to Xbox & PC

The "Cozy/Crunchy" Hybrid: More Than Just Vibes

Timberline Studio, the team behind the narrative dogsledding hit The Red Lantern, is shifting gears with Beastro—a title that aims to bridge the gap between low-stakes "cozy" sims and high-engagement "crunchy" mechanics. Studio Director Lindsey Rostal describes this approach as providing a "vibrant world that offers a cozy space, but something with a little bit more meat." In an industry where many cozy games lean too heavily on pleasant aesthetics alone, we believe Beastro's focus on mechanical depth could be the "secret sauce" it needs to stand out.

You play as Panko, an anthropomorphic caracal cat and apprentice chef in the village of Palo Pori. The core loop involves growing and gathering ingredients, managing a kitchen, and supporting "Caretakers"—the heroes who actually go out and fight the monsters. It’s a refreshing take on the "hero’s journey" that valorizes the support class. As Rostal puts it: “You don’t have to be swinging the sword and lopping off the heads of your enemies to be a hero.”

Farm-to-Table-to-Combat Loop

Beastro pulls from a massive pantry of influences to build its gameplay systems. The experience is essentially split into three distinct phases:

1. Gathering and Growth

Drawing from staples like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, you’ll spend your time gardening, fishing, and foraging. You’ll also interact with the local blacksmith and merchants to upgrade your kitchen, ensuring a steady progression of your restaurant's capabilities.

2. WarioWare-Style Cooking

The cooking process isn't just a progress bar. You’ll chop, boil, and sauté through WarioWare-inspired minigames. These are designed to start simple but scale in complexity as you unlock more advanced recipes, keeping the kitchen management from becoming a rote chore.

3. Tactical Trick-Taking

The "crunch" comes to a head in the card battles. Every meal you prepare for a Caretaker builds their deck for the night’s adventure. These battles aren’t your standard CCG fare; they are based on traditional trick-taking games like Hearts or Spades. It’s a clever move that leverages familiar mechanics—similar to how Balatro used Poker—to make deep strategy accessible to players who might find Magic: The Gathering or Slay the Spire intimidating.

The Flavor Metaphysics

In a move clearly inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender, Beastro builds its world around five core flavors rather than elements: Salty, Bitter, Sweet, Sour, and Umami. These flavors aren't just lore; they function as the suits in your card deck.

The attention to detail here is impressive. During our hands-on time, we saw the Paper Mario-esque papercraft aesthetic interact directly with the card mechanics. For example, if a monster breathes fire on your hand, it might singe your cards. However, cards in the "Sweet" suit will actually caramelize, gaining additional effects. This kind of systemic synergy suggests a high level of polish and creative thinking.

Our Take: A Day One Must-Play?

By blending the "Palico cooking" vibes of Monster Hunter with the strategic depth of a deckbuilder, Beastro is carving out a very specific niche. The inclusion of real-world food culture—specifically the vibrant fusion scene of Los Angeles—adds a layer of authenticity often missing from fantasy sims. Whether you're a card game "sicko" or just someone looking for a better way to spend their Game Pass subscription, Beastro looks like it's cooking up something special for its spring launch.