Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 583 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

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 583 reviews
gameplay29 positive mentions
stability26 negative mentions
  • Engaging gameplay with a variety of recipes and customization options for both dishes and restaurant decor.
  • The game allows for a relaxed or challenging experience by adjusting customer patience and other settings.
  • The cooking mechanics are intuitive and rewarding, making it satisfying to prepare and serve dishes.
  • Numerous bugs and glitches can disrupt gameplay, including issues with sous-chefs not performing tasks and corrupted save files.
  • The user interface and controls can be confusing, with inconsistent key bindings and a lack of intuitive navigation.
  • Limited depth in restaurant management and economics, making it feel less immersive and more like a cooking simulator.
  • gameplay88 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and frustrating design choices, with players appreciating the depth and realism of cooking and restaurant management while also noting issues like unclear instructions and repetitive tasks. Some mechanics, such as the responsibility and hygiene systems, are seen as either underdeveloped or overly complicated, leading to a steep learning curve. Overall, while the gameplay loop can be enjoyable and addictive, it is marred by bugs and inconsistencies that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The graphics are amazing and there is a lot of depth in the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay loop is fun, and learning little nuances to achieve the highest quality dish is always keeping me from merely 'slogging' through the content.”
    • “The mechanics of the game are fun and engaging, allowing players to experience the challenges and rewards of running a successful restaurant.”
    • “You have a mechanic called responsibility; it's based on if you waste food or buy from international suppliers. While good on paper, it seems that this mechanic is just kind of pointless.”
    • “It's hard to tell if the numerous issues were glitches or just really bad gameplay design, but I was constantly getting stuck.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely dull.”
  • story67 mentions

    The game's story is generally considered simplistic and not a primary focus, with many players expressing a desire to bypass it in favor of pure cooking gameplay. While some appreciate the challenges and missions that accompany the storyline, others find them buggy and frustrating, often leading to progression blocks. Overall, the narrative serves its purpose but lacks depth, with players often feeling constrained by the need to complete quests to advance their culinary ambitions.

    • “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.”
    • “I consider the part relating to the interactions between characters and storyboards to be very poor; the animations are non-existent, and the 'cartoon' style in 2023 I consider really obsolete.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics57 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising the vibrant and charming art style that effectively represents the cooking theme. While some noted that the graphics may not be cutting-edge or highly detailed, they still found them appealing and well-suited to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience. A few critiques mentioned minor issues with resolution and animation details, but these did not significantly detract from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “The graphics are amazing and there is a lot of depth in the gameplay.”
    • “This game has wonderful potential and stunning graphics.”
    • “The graphics and sound effects truly create an immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall gaming experience.”
    • “I don't believe a PC with less than 1080 NVIDIA graphics would play this.”
    • “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.”
  • stability32 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, such as freezing screens and stuck quests. While some users have experienced a smooth experience without issues, the overall consensus indicates that the game is plagued by numerous stability problems that detract from its potential enjoyment. Players recommend waiting for patches to address these issues before diving in for a bug-free experience.

    • “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!”
    • “A decent game, but way too 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.”
  • grinding19 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with players feeling stuck in long, grindy loops that hinder progression. Many reviews highlight the frustrating controls and the lack of engaging endgame content, making the experience feel more like a chore than enjoyable gameplay. However, some players who appreciate simulation games may still find value in the grind if they enjoy the challenge of leveling up and unlocking new features.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Sous chefs can't even make French fries until you level them up, and level milestones are locked behind quests that are quite grindy, or have requirements that are locked behind your own progression, so you're stuck with a useless sous-chef that'll complain about cleaning if you don't want them begging for tasks that you can easily do yourself.”
    • “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.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable and chill, while others feel it doesn't effectively set the desired mood for cooking or restaurant ambiance. Many users expressed a preference for smoother genres like jazz or lo-fi, suggesting that the current background tracks are either annoying or insufficient. Overall, while the music is present, it often fades into the background, leading players to prefer their own playlists instead.

    • “The music is enjoyable though.”
    • “The OST is really chill and catchy.”
    • “Nice chilled music.”
    • “The UI and controls are not consistent, and if you try to stream this game with music, you get demonetized.”
    • “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 opinion, music plays a major part in setting the mood, and it would be awesome if this game had some smooth contemporary jazz or lo-fi tracks to relax to while doing cooking chores or to set the vibe of an expensive, aesthetic restaurant.”
    • “Takes a while to boot up, there is no music, so it's kind of creepy.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    Overall, while the game offers a variety of optimization options and well-designed graphics, players report significant performance issues and bugs that detract from the experience. Many feel that the optimization could be improved to enhance gameplay and reduce frustration.

    • “I really like the idea; there are a lot of options and optimization possibilities.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers significant 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.

    • “It has a lot of replayability.”
    • “There are a couple of things they could do better, but overall, it's a great game and one with good replay value after a little break.”
    • “Such a mode would enable players to explore the game's depth and complexity, thereby increasing its replay value.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is positively noted for its appealing design options, particularly highlighting the cuteness of the characters. However, some users feel that the character design could benefit from more depth and complexity.

    • “My chef is super cute because of the character design options.”
    • “The character design could be a bit more involved, but serves its purpose for now.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's graphics and sound effects effectively create an immersive atmosphere, significantly enhancing the overall gaming experience.

    • “The graphics and sound effects truly create an immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall gaming experience.”
    • “The haunting soundtrack and detailed environments pull you into a world that feels alive and captivating.”
    • “Every element, from the lighting to the ambient sounds, contributes to a rich atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game arises from the absurdity and inconsistency of the cooking mechanics, particularly the baffling transformation of ingredients, such as giant meatballs inexplicably turning into a multitude of smaller ones. This comedic element can break immersion and lead to confusion, as players struggle to understand the actual yield of their cooking efforts.

    • “The humor in this game is top-notch! The absurdity of the cooking mechanics, like suddenly turning three giant meatballs into a pan full of tiny ones, had me laughing out loud.”
    • “I love how the game plays with expectations! One moment you're preparing a few servings, and the next, you're overwhelmed by a mountain of tiny meatballs. It's both hilarious and confusing in the best way.”
    • “The comedic elements really shine through in the cooking stages. The bizarre inconsistencies, like the sudden transformation of ingredients, add a layer of humor that keeps the gameplay entertaining.”
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 6 analyzed playthroughs

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