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Top 10 cooking games for aspiring chefs

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Ignacio Weil

Gaming - October 12th 2024, 09:00 GMT+2

Cropped About — About this gallery:

To create this gallery, we focused on games where you're in charge of a restaurant and have to cook and serve meals on time. And to make it easier, we decided to choose only one game per franchise.

Also, remember this list is subjective! If you think we missed an essential kitchen game, why not add it in the comments? | © Cozy Bee Games

Cropped Dinner Dash — 10. Diner Dash (2004)

*Diner Dash* is the original game that got us all hooked on time management and frantically serving virtual customers. You play as Flo, a waitress who runs around like a superhero, serving food, cleaning tables, and making sure no customer leaves unhappy.

The simplicity of the gameplay combined with the escalating difficulty makes *Diner Dash* an addictive classic. It’s not about cooking per se, but the fast-paced restaurant environment means you’ll be feeling like a short-order cook in no time. This game set the stage for many similar titles and remains the OG of restaurant management games!

| © PlayFirst

9. Lemon Cake (2021)

Baking has never been this adorable. *Lemon Cake* is like a cozy afternoon spent in a cottage kitchen, where you’re baking pies, cakes, and pastries to serve in your own quaint little bakery. With its pastel art style and relaxing gameplay, this game is the equivalent of comfort food for your soul.

There’s no rush, no stress, just the satisfaction of whipping up delicious desserts and watching your bakery thrive. It’s a slower-paced experience compared to the chaos of *Overcooked!*, but that’s exactly what makes it so delightful—sometimes, it’s nice to just bake a cake without worrying about burning down the kitchen.

| © Cozy Bee Games

Chef A Restaurant Tycoon Game — 8. Chef: A Restaurant Tycoon Game (2020)

*Chef* puts you in the role of a restaurateur with a blank slate to create the dining empire of your dreams. From designing the menu to arranging the furniture, this is the game where your inner Gordon Ramsay can truly shine. Unlike other cooking games, the focus here is on the bigger picture: managing a successful restaurant.

It’s a tycoon game at its heart, and the deep customization options mean no two playthroughs are alike. The sheer level of control is what makes this game stand out—because let’s face it, sometimes cooking is more fun when you’re the one calling the shots.

| © Inner Void

Good Pizza Great Pizza — 7. Good Pizza, Great Pizza (2018)

If you’ve ever wanted to live the life of a pizza shop owner, *Good Pizza, Great Pizza* is the charming slice of life you need. With its hand-drawn art style and laid-back gameplay, you’ll be flipping dough, adding toppings, and dealing with the quirkiest customers imaginable.

There’s something oddly therapeutic about crafting the perfect pie, even when the pressure is on to meet the wildest of pizza requests. The balance of creativity and management is what makes this game so delightful—it’s simple, yet filled with enough challenges to keep you coming back for one more slice.

| © TapBlaze

Cropped Cooking Mama 5 — 6. Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appétit! (2013)

No list of cooking games is complete without *Cooking Mama*, and *Bon Appétit!* is the franchise’s pièce de résistance. The game stays true to the wholesome, family-friendly fun that made the series iconic, but with a few extra ingredients thrown in to keep things fresh.

With tons of mini-games and recipes to choose from, *Cooking Mama 5* is like a comforting bowl of soup on a cold day—it’s not the flashiest, but it’s undeniably satisfying. This title remains a fan favorite for its simplicity and charm, making it the best in the franchise by perfecting what *Cooking Mama* does best: pure, stress-free joy.

| © Cooking Mama Limited

Cook Serve Delicious 3 — 5. Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?! (2020)

Cooking on the road in a post-apocalyptic food truck sounds like a nightmare, but in *Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!* it’s a weirdly satisfying dream. You’ll be slinging food faster than a drive-thru on Black Friday, with the added bonus of automated helpers and a constantly shifting menu.

Unlike its predecessors, this installment packs a more narrative-driven punch, with charming characters and an oddly heartwarming story in the backdrop of an America on the mend. It’s the best in the series because it balances hectic cooking with a quirky story and innovative gameplay that makes you feel like a culinary Mad Max.

| © Vertigo Gaming Inc

Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe — 4. Battle Chef Brigade (2017)

Ever wondered what *Iron Chef* would look like in a world full of magical creatures? Enter *Battle Chef Brigade*, a delightful mash-up of puzzle-cooking and side-scrolling monster hunting. The twist is, you don’t just cook—first, you fight mythical beasts to gather ingredients, then you craft dishes to wow a panel of judges.

This game is like the love child of a cooking show and an RPG, and its charming hand-drawn art style seals the deal. It’s not part of a franchise, but it deserves a Michelin star for originality and its perfectly blended flavors of combat and cuisine.

| © Trinket Studios

3. Cooking Simulator (2019)

If you’ve ever thought, “I could totally run a kitchen better than Gordon Ramsay,” *Cooking Simulator* will set you straight. This game gives you an ultra-realistic kitchen experience, complete with the joy of chopping vegetables and the terror of shattering plates. Want to toss a steak into a blender just for fun? Sure, go ahead.

The beauty of *Cooking Simulator* is its freedom—just don't expect to be the next Michelin-starred chef. The game’s physics-based cooking mechanics make it the king of culinary chaos, and while it doesn’t have the cooperative madness of *Overcooked!*, it’s a chef’s playground that’s both hilarious and surprisingly zen

| © Big Cheese Studio

Plate Up — 2. PlateUp! (2022)

PlateUp! is like *Overcooked!*, but with a dash of roguelike flavor and a sprinkle of restaurant management. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to build and run a restaurant while cooking under constant pressure, *PlateUp!* is your answer.

The game gives you control of both the kitchen and the dining area, letting you customize your layout as you unlock new equipment with each successful round. It’s all about strategy: where to put that sink, how to best use that conveyor belt, and—most importantly—how to not let your kitchen burn down. It's the dish you didn’t know you needed but won’t be able to stop serving.

| © It’s happening

Overcooked 2 — 1. Overcooked! 2 (2018)

If you’ve ever dreamed of mastering the culinary arts while literally putting out fires in your kitchen, then *Overcooked! 2* is your chaotic fantasy come true. This sequel dials up the insanity with teleporting portals, moving platforms, and more kitchens designed by someone who clearly doesn’t value health and safety regulations.

It’s the best in the series because the addition of online multiplayer means you can now scream at your friends from across the globe, not just across the couch. The real challenge isn’t the cooking—it’s keeping your team from dissolving into a mess of finger-pointing and chaos. For sheer fun and frustration, it’s a must-play!

| © Ghost Town Games

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Whether you're a seasoned chef or someone who struggles to boil water, there's something undeniably fun about cooking video games. From high-stakes kitchens where every second counts to cozy bakeries where you can take your time crafting the perfect pastry, these games offer a delightful mix of culinary creativity and chaos.

In this list, we’re diving into the top 10 cooking games that will challenge your skills, spark your imagination, and, most importantly, keep you entertained. So grab your virtual spatula and let’s get cooking!

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Whether you're a seasoned chef or someone who struggles to boil water, there's something undeniably fun about cooking video games. From high-stakes kitchens where every second counts to cozy bakeries where you can take your time crafting the perfect pastry, these games offer a delightful mix of culinary creativity and chaos.

In this list, we’re diving into the top 10 cooking games that will challenge your skills, spark your imagination, and, most importantly, keep you entertained. So grab your virtual spatula and let’s get cooking!