Running a café is hard enough. Running one in a world where nobody sleeps, memories are missing, and your nights are spent battling monsters inside dreams is something else entirely.
That is the strange and colorful world of HIPS N NOSES, the upcoming café management and action roguelike from South Korean developer PepperStones. The game is heading to Tokyo Game Show 2026 with an updated playable demo, a new animated trailer, and a major overhaul to its dream-world combat.
Visitors will be able to try the new demo at the KOCCA Korea Pavilion in Makuhari Messe, Hall 3, Booth 03-C03.
A Café That Restores Lost Memories
In the world of HIPS N NOSES, Mela is the only person capable of sleeping and dreaming. While everyone else goes through life without rest, she opens a café built around helping customers recover the memories they have lost.
During the day, players will meet a colorful cast of regulars, learn about their stories, and pay attention to what they need. Every customer has their own tastes, which means the right drink can take more than simply following a recipe. Conversations, ingredients, and small details all play a part in creating the perfect order.
The café is not just a place to make money or decorate between missions. It is directly tied to the people Mela meets and the mysteries she slowly uncovers.
Then night falls, and the real danger begins.
When Mela Sleeps, the Monsters Wake Up
Once the café closes, Mela enters a constantly shifting dream world filled with monsters. These nighttime runs are where the game’s roguelike action takes over, sending players into dangerous encounters in search of Memory Flowers.
Those flowers are more than just loot. They become ingredients that can be used back at the café, connecting Mela’s nighttime adventures to the customers she helps during the day.
The people Mela meets in the real world can also appear in her dreams, creating a loop where relationships, café management, and combat all feed into each other. What players learn from a customer may change what they need to find in the dream world, while the things they bring back from a run can unlock new possibilities at the café.
More Control in Combat
The updated Tokyo Game Show demo introduces a new tag system designed to give players more control over their party builds. Tags can be applied to each party member’s weapons and skills, allowing players to shape how their team develops during a run.
That should make each trip through the dream world feel more flexible, especially for players who enjoy experimenting with different combinations and progression paths. Rather than relying on one fixed approach, players will have more room to build around the skills and weapons that suit their playstyle.
The café is also getting extra support through a new part-time staff system. As the business grows and regular customers begin placing more orders, staff members can help prepare and serve drinks, giving players more time to focus on the café’s special customers and the stories behind them.
With more than 33,000 Steam wishlists already behind it, HIPS N NOSES is shaping up to be one of the more unusual management games on the horizon. It blends a cozy café, character-driven storytelling, and dream-filled combat into one loop where every shift can lead somewhere unexpected.
HIPS N NOSES is currently in development for PC and is coming soon to Steam Early Access. A playable demo is available now on Steam.