I'd like to thank Spiral Up Games for the review key to this title.

Some simulation games are so complicated you need a spreadsheet program to play them. Others are very simple. Both can be fun, but the latter is usually the more relaxing of the two. Dungeon Inn certainly falls on the latter end of that scale, and it's enjoyable as a result.

The premise of Dungeon Inn is that an enterprising inn owner and her assistants know there are two rival adventurer guilds that like exploring a nearby dungeon. She wants to do business with both guilds because more profits will result, but she also knows if they know she's allowing both sides to patronize her establishment, then there will be clashes. Therefore, she resolves to make sure both sides stay ignorant of this to be successful and avoid conflicts.

The core gameplay loop is that the player inn has two roads leading to the dungeon, with the inn just before it between the two paths. Using a turn-based system, the adventurers advance on both sides, with some looking for suitable lodgings prior. Using a variety of means to stagger out the two sides to avoid conflicts from both sides visiting the inn at the same time, you must pass the in-game weeks both by doing successful levels of business while still keeping the two sides from clashing.

Most of the tools to make sure the steady stream of business does not cross when it shouldn't are basically various means you can set along the routes on each side of the inn to speed up or slow down business. These include signs, various stands for selling other goods, prize raffles, and other distractions to better control the flow of traffic on each road. As of the time of this writing, this is a pretty easy game, as it's not very hard to keep business flowing without clashes. The game is still being worked on, so further updates may add some more challenges to alter this though.

Graphically, the art style is really cute. It's half hand-drawn anime style and half children's storybook, and the resulting mix is a very relaxing and light-hearted look. Given the various animal people and young kid appeal characters, this was a brilliant choice, and it was definitely a winner in making me feel relaxed while playing. The sounds and music are a little less notable, with mostly lighthearted tunes to complement the graphics. Nothing overly stands out, but none of it is unpleasant either.

This is primarily a mouse and keyboard game, mostly the former. There is no support for any form of controller. I did, however, get it running pretty well on my Steam Deck, but you will want to rebind a few control options before you can really enjoy the game on that.

Stability is solid. It runs natively on Windows and macOS. If you want to run it on Linux and Steam Deck, it will run out of the box via Steam Proton. Requirements are super modest. If you can read this review on the internet, then you can run this game just fine.

Morally, there isn't much to complain about.

There is no violence (implied at best for this, though it could be taken for strong argument) or profane language. The art style is cute and kiddy, and the fantasy depicted is generic, so there is no occult or supernatural content of notable concern.

There is an implied mention of alcohol when the player characters discuss if they should make a pub area for guests, but that's about the only outstanding moral concern.

Overall, Dungeon Inn is a pretty simple, cozy, and cute simulation game. Morally, it's appropriate for nigh any age. It's in Early Access but even now is pretty accessible and playable, and is definitely worth getting on sale.