The Usual
A short narrative game set behind a coffee counter. Five people come in, you make each drink, and you have enough attention for only three conversations.
About The Usual
The Usual is a short narrative game about one shift behind a coffee counter. Five people come in during the shift. Three are regulars whose tickets come up blank, so you must remember their orders from a note you see once before you open up. Two are new and say what they want. You make each drink in three steps, serve it, and then decide whether to lean in and listen or let the customer go. Leaning in costs attention, and the shift holds enough for three conversations out of five. There is no score and no fail state. When the counter is clear, a ledger lists who you served, what you made, and who you heard. A full shift takes about three minutes, and a second shift lets you listen to the people you missed.
How to play
Read the note that lists the regulars and their usual drinks, then tuck it away to start the shift. When a customer reaches the counter, take a cup, pick the drink, and finish it. Regulars show a blank ticket, so choose their usual from memory. After you serve, lean in to hear what the customer has to say, or let them go. Each lean-in spends 35 of the 105 attention on the shift clock, so you can listen to three of the five customers. The shift ends when the counter is clear, or when you lean in with nothing left. The ledger then shows who you heard and who you served in silence.
Controls
Mouse or touch only. Click or tap the on-screen buttons to take a cup, pick a drink, finish it, lean in, or let a customer go.
Features
- One complete shift in about three minutes
- Five customers, three of them regulars with orders you must remember
- A limited attention budget: three conversations out of five
- No score and no fail state
- End-of-shift ledger that lists who you heard
- Plays on desktop, tablet and phone
Screenshots
FAQ
How long does The Usual take to play?
One shift takes about three minutes. The last customer arrives a little over two minutes after you open up.
Can you lose in The Usual?
No. The game has no score and no fail state. A wrong drink changes what the customer says, and the shift continues.
What does leaning in do?
Leaning in lets you hear what a customer has on their mind. Each lean-in spends 35 of the 105 attention on the shift clock, so you can listen to three of the five customers.
How do I know what the regulars order?
A note before the shift lists the usual drink for Mara, Den and Ines. Their tickets come up blank at the counter, so you must remember the note.
Does The Usual work on phones?
Yes. The game runs in a mobile browser and uses tap controls only.
