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Among the vast landscape of indie game jam titles, How to Make a Cup of Tea emerges as a brilliantly subversive short experience that transforms the mundane ritual of tea preparation into a surreal psychological comedy with undertones of unease, perfectly capturing the GMTK Game Jam 2020 theme of “Out of Control” through escalating chaos in a seemingly simple kitchen setting. Developed in just 48 hours by the talented trio of WORLDENDDISK, Jian_Zen, and cellez27, this free itch.io horror-comedy simulation invites players to follow polite voice-guided instructions for crafting the ideal cup—boiling water, adding a teabag, stirring, incorporating milk and sugar—only to watch reality unravel as objects misbehave, ingredients morph into bizarre substitutes like live animals, and the environment warps into increasingly unhinged dimensions. Whether you’re searching for a How to Make a Cup of Tea game review, insights into its surreal horror elements, walkthroughs for surviving multiple brewing cycles, or comparisons to other weird indie simulations on platforms like itch.io, this title delivers punchy replay value in under 10 minutes per run, blending laugh-out-loud moments with creeping dread as you persist in serving tea to an unseen, eternally thirsty entity behind a mysterious door. Its low-poly 3D kitchen mixed with 2D sprites creates a charmingly off-kilter aesthetic, while the escalating absurdity— from misplaced items to full-on alternate realities—raises semantic questions like “What happens if you keep making tea?” or “Is this a horror game disguised as a cozy simulator?”, making it a standout for fans of short-form indie experiences that subvert expectations without overstaying their welcome.
Game Overview
How to Make a Cup of Tea is a first-person interactive simulation crafted for the GMTK Game Jam 2020, available for free on itch.io with browser play or Windows download options. Clocking in at around 5-15 minutes depending on replays, it features basic WASD movement, mouse-looking, and left-click interactions in a confined kitchen space. The core loop involves following narrated steps to prepare tea, but each successful serving triggers progressively weirder changes, aligning with the jam’s “Out of Control” prompt. Positive community feedback highlights its humor and surprise factor, with players replaying dozens of times for the evolving madness.
Story And Narrative
The narrative unfolds through a calm, British-accented voice requesting “a good cup of tea,” promising guidance while you navigate the kitchen. What starts as a straightforward favor escalates into a loop of compulsion: complete the tea, slide it through a slot in the wall, and face altered reality for the next round. Subtle lore emerges via environmental shifts and voice reactions, hinting at an ancient, immortal entity savoring your efforts over millennia—culminating in praise for the “best tea in 5000 years.” This minimalist storytelling excels in implication, blending cozy domesticity with existential absurdity and light horror vibes.
Gameplay Mechanics
Gameplay revolves around object interaction in a 3D environment:
- Locate and use the kettle (fill and boil water).
- Find teabags, cups, spoons, milk, and sugar.
- Stir precisely as instructed.
- Serve via the door slot.
Early cycles feel normal, but progression introduces chaos: items relocate, substitutes appear (e.g., a dog as “sugar”), rooms distort into surreal spaces with tiny inhabitants or impossible physics. No failure states exist—any “tea” suffices—but persistence unlocks wilder variations, encouraging experimentation with wrong items for comedic results.
| Cycle Stage | Key Changes | Highlight Moments | Difficulty Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Brew | Standard kitchen setup | Basic steps, polite guidance | Relaxing tutorial |
| Second-Third | Minor displacements, odd substitutes | Animal ingredients, voice surprises | Growing amusement |
| Later Cycles | Full environmental warps, dimensional shifts | Miniature worlds, reality breaks | Surreal unease |
| Final Loops | Extreme absurdity, emotional payoff | Ancient entity reveal hints | Cathartic hilarity |
Graphics And Sound Design
Visually, the game employs simple low-poly models for the kitchen, contrasted with flat 2D sprites for dynamic elements, creating a deliberately uncanny valley effect that amplifies the weirdness. Lighting remains cozy at first, shifting to disorienting hues in later stages. Audio shines with crisp voice acting delivering deadpan instructions and reactions, paired with subtle ambient sounds that build tension without overt scares—perfect for its hybrid comedy-horror tone.
Strengths And Weaknesses
Strengths:
- Masterful escalation of humor and surprise.
- High replayability in a bite-sized package.
- Clever jam theme interpretation.
- Free and accessible.
Weaknesses:
- Extreme brevity may leave players wanting more depth.
- Some substitutions lack visual feedback (tea always appears normal).
- No explicit endings beyond the loop.
Similar Games And Recommendations
Fans of How to Make a Cup of Tea might enjoy other surreal shorts like The Corridor, Anatomy, or jam entries with reality-bending mechanics. For tea-themed indies, explore cozy alternatives like coffee shop simulators, though few match this one’s chaotic twist.
