The Dented Kettle

The Dented Kettle follows Sable, a quiet and determined woman who inherits her grandmother's worn-down diner with little more than a set of keys, a rusty grill, and a wish to keep the family legacy alive. As she repairs the place and serves its regulars, she starts noticing odd things, such as flickering lights and whispers when no one else is around, hinting that the diner has a past that refuses to stay buried.

The game mixes visual novel storytelling with life sim and diner management. Between morning rushes and late-night repairs, players decide how to spend their time, which parts of the diner to fix or upgrade, and how to manage Sable's stress and cooking abilities while meeting customer expectations. The map is built for exploration at the player's own pace, with random events to discover along the way.

Relationships are a central thread, with several love interests who have distinct personalities and separate storylines. Player choices affect relationships, upgrades, and the direction of the story, and the game is planned to offer multiple endings based on how it is played.

The project is still in development, so its systems, visuals, and writing may change. The current build focuses on core mechanics and the first diner upgrade level, while planned additions include more locations, skills, combat, and additional mechanics. The developer has also noted that generative AI tools are used for some art and music, which are reviewed and edited before use.