Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 933 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator Game Cover
Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator is a very good simulator of what it’s like to be a professional chef, while also making it fun to play.
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In Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator, players step into the role of a restaurant chef, where they must manage and cook in their own restaurant. From creating menus and purchasing ingredients, to serving customers and upgrading the kitchen, players will experience the fast-paced and challenging world of running a restaurant. The game features realistic cooking mechanics and a dynamic day and night cycle, adding an extra layer of immersion to the restaurant management experience.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 933 reviews
gameplay46 positive mentions
stability43 negative mentions
  • Engaging cooking mechanics that reward player knowledge and skill.
  • Wide variety of recipes and customization options for dishes and restaurant decor.
  • Ability to adjust difficulty settings, allowing for a more relaxed or challenging gameplay experience.
  • Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and cause frustration.
  • Awkward and inconsistent controls that can hinder the cooking experience.
  • Limited narrative and repetitive gameplay that may lead to boredom over time.
  • gameplay131 mentions

    The gameplay in "Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator" features a mix of engaging cooking mechanics and unique systems like responsibility and hygiene, though some players find these mechanics underwhelming or poorly explained. While the game offers a satisfying cooking loop and customization options, it suffers from a steep learning curve, occasional bugs, and repetitive tasks that can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, many players appreciate the depth and realism of the gameplay, hoping for future updates to enhance the experience further.

    • “The mechanics of the game are fun and engaging, allowing players to experience the challenges and rewards of running a successful restaurant.”
    • “The cooking mechanics are awesome, and the amount of recipes it includes is phenomenal!”
    • “The gameplay loop is very addicting in this game.”
    • “It's hard to tell if the numerous issues were glitches or just really bad gameplay design, but I was constantly getting stuck.”
    • “You are quite literally thrown into the deep end, and during the actual gameplay after the tutorial, there are hardly any instructions or they're timed very badly. For example, an instruction popped up telling me to talk to 'someone,' and nobody was there for in-game hours. I was stuck without any instruction all day, and then finally an NPC popped up with a pointless 'can't wait to eat here, okay bye!'”
    • “The gameplay is extremely dull.”
  • story115 mentions

    The game's story is generally considered straightforward and somewhat simplistic, focusing on the journey of becoming a Michelin chef while managing a restaurant. Players appreciate the variety of challenges and quests, but many express frustration with game-breaking bugs that hinder progression and the feeling of being forced to engage with the story rather than focusing on cooking. Overall, while the narrative provides a framework for gameplay, it is often overshadowed by technical issues and a desire for more freedom in gameplay choices.

    • “The game's mission and level design have immersed me in the joy and challenges of being a chef.”
    • “I enjoy playing this game and learning new recipes, and the storyline is not too bad.”
    • “There are characters you'll meet in the game that add plot to the story while also helping you progress.”
    • “I was enjoying the game up until I couldn't progress on this, but I cannot recommend a game that locks you out of quests and offers no way to even reload a previous save as a workaround.”
    • “The story is barebones and straightforward; you and your associate Kassim have opened up a bistro like so many others in the city, and throughout the three days, you are guided into the culinary world.”
    • “Oh and don't upgrade your dishes too early, you won't be able to progress in the story (guess the devs didn't playtest enough). This honestly doesn't feel like a fully released game, and I wish I could get a refund on my money and time wasted.”
  • graphics89 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally praised for their stunning visuals, realistic food representations, and charming art style, creating an immersive atmosphere. While many players appreciate the polished animations and overall aesthetic, some suggest that certain details and textures could be improved for added realism. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point of the game, contributing positively to the gameplay experience.

    • “This game has wonderful potential and stunning graphics.”
    • “The graphics and sound effects truly create an immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall gaming experience.”
    • “The graphics are great (sorta realistic but also bright and cartoony - it doesn't give me that creepy, uncanny-valley feeling that other simulators do) the interior of the restaurant and all the objects, food, etc.”
    • “Even with low graphic settings, my game still tends to be laggy.”
    • “Crappy graphics and interface with subpar sounds.”
    • “Graphics are like going back in time a couple of decades; awkward controls and gameplay bored me to tears.”
  • stability53 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with many players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay, such as getting stuck on screens or issues with quests. While some users have experienced smooth performance without major issues, the overall consensus indicates that the game is plagued by stability problems that detract from the experience. Improvements are needed to address these flaws for the game to reach its full potential.

    • “Runs great, haven't encountered any bugs yet, and I love the progression and level ups on equipment/recipes/etc.”
    • “I've been playing this game on Steam Deck and it runs great.”
    • “Game runs great on Steam Deck with no changes!”
    • “The game is fun, but extremely buggy.”
    • “I'm not talking about minor visual glitches, but cases where it's impossible to move on to the next service day because you are stuck on a screen without the ability to input anything.”
    • “Unfortunately for all the good this game is capable of producing, it is a deeply flawed and buggy game.”
  • grinding26 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with players feeling stuck due to level milestones locked behind grindy quests. While some enjoy the simulation elements and find it entertaining, many agree that the controls and overall gameplay become frustratingly unimmersive, especially as the game progresses. Overall, it appeals to those who appreciate grinding in simulation games, but it can quickly become a chore for others.

    • “It is excruciatingly grindy and repetitive.”
    • “The whole game is best at first couple hours' play and quickly falls under tedious, restrictive and unimmersive grinding loops.”
    • “Every task is so tedious, plating customization is wonky and customer expectations unreasonable.”
  • music26 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable and chill, while others feel it does not effectively set the desired mood for cooking. Many users expressed a preference for smoother genres like contemporary jazz or lo-fi tracks to enhance their gaming experience. Additionally, there are concerns about the game's music causing issues with streaming and monetization.

    • “The music is enjoyable though.”
    • “The OST is really chill and catchy.”
    • “Nice chilled music.”
    • “Music-wise, it has quite a few background tracks, but I don't really dig the kind of music they put in this game. In my personal opinion, music plays a major part in setting the mood of the game. It would be awesome if this game had some smooth contemporary jazz or lo-fi tracks, where I can relax while doing all the cooking chores, or to set the vibes of an expensive, aesthetic restaurant that I create.”
    • “Takes a while to boot up, and there is no music, so it's kind of creepy.”
    • “Really bad UI, poor settings (can't change the FOV, for example), mouse sensitivity is way too sensitive even at the lowest point, and the music is irritating.”
  • optimization10 mentions

    Overall, while the graphics are noted to be optimized, players report significant performance issues and bugs that detract from the experience. The game's mechanics, such as the overly detailed interactions with underlings, are also criticized as unrealistic, contributing to a sense of frustration regarding optimization. Improvements in performance are clearly needed to enhance gameplay.

    • “Graphics are optimized, although it's like a ghost town.”
    • “Starting to really love it, but the bugs are just frustrating and it seems like it hasn't been well-optimized.”
    • “I am seeing some performance hits.”
    • “So performance clearly needs to be improved.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game is noted for its strong replayability, allowing players to explore its depth and complexity, which enhances the overall experience. While there are areas for improvement, many users feel that taking breaks between playthroughs can refresh the experience and maintain interest.

    • “There are a couple of things they could do better, but overall, it's a great game and one with good replay value, I think, after a little break.”
    • “Such a mode would enable players to explore the game's depth and complexity, thereby increasing its replay value.”
    • “It has a lot of replayability.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, driven by impressive graphics and sound effects that significantly enhance the overall gaming experience.

    • “The graphics and sound effects truly create an immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall gaming experience.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game often stems from the absurdity and inconsistency of the cooking mechanics, such as the transformation of large meatballs into a seemingly endless supply of smaller ones, which players find both hilarious and immersion-breaking. This comedic element can lead to confusion, as the lack of clear yield information adds to the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the cooking experience.

    • “The absurdity of the ingredient proportions is just hilariously immersion-breaking. One moment you're making three giant meatballs, and the next, you have 10-15 tiny ones in the pan. It's confusing but also quite funny!”
    • “The inconsistency in the cooking stages is so bizarre that it adds a layer of humor to the gameplay. I can't help but laugh at how the meatballs transform from giant to tiny!”
    • “It's hilarious how the game presents the cooking process. One minute you're preparing a few large meatballs, and the next, you're overwhelmed by a swarm of tiny ones in the pan. It keeps you guessing and chuckling!”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is generally seen as functional but lacking depth, with reviewers noting that while the design meets basic needs, it could benefit from more complexity and engagement.

    • “The character design could be a bit more involved, but serves its purpose for now.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

Buy Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator

Play time

16hMedian play time
21hAverage play time
6-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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