Cooking Companions
- October 6, 2020
- Deer Dream Studios
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Cooking Companions" is a cozy cooking simulation game where players manage a restaurant with adorable animal companions. Each animal has unique abilities to help with food preparation, service, and decoration. Improve your cooking skills, customize your restaurant, and create delicious dishes to satisfy customers and grow your business.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Engaging and well-crafted story with deep lore and multiple endings.
- Unique blend of cute aesthetics and psychological horror elements that create a chilling atmosphere.
- High replay value with various choices that lead to different outcomes and character interactions.
- Some players found the pacing slow and the horror elements predictable.
- Limited character development and backstory, making it hard to form attachments to characters.
- The game can feel repetitive during multiple playthroughs, with some choices not significantly impacting the story.
- story349 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its intriguing twists and dark themes, while others criticize it for being predictable and lacking depth. Many appreciate the unique blend of cute aesthetics with horror elements, but feel that character development is insufficient, leaving emotional impacts diminished. Overall, while the narrative offers engaging moments and hidden lore, it often requires multiple playthroughs to fully grasp, leading to a sense of confusion for some players.
“I fell in love with the story and characters and the gorgeous artwork!”
“The hidden lore is also incredibly fun to piece together; the characters are so fun to watch and the plot twists are heartbreaking yet necessary.”
“The story is so deep with a lot of twists and turns.”
“I feel like the game didn't give enough time for me to be connected to the characters, and I needed more of a backstory for them.”
“The story is so deep with a lot of twists and turns, but it doesn't take too long before the game cuts right to the dastardly deeds and the story fleshes out.”
“The characters and setting suck and are so poorly explained (because they aren't explained at all), and while I understand part of the point of the story is keeping a lot secret until the end, it's one of those games that you have to replay over and over again to get all of the story, but it isn't a fun game to play at all.”
- graphics78 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals and effective use of a cute aesthetic that contrasts with darker themes, creating a chilling atmosphere. While some players appreciate the detailed artwork and haunting designs, others criticize inconsistencies in art styles and character designs that detract from immersion. Overall, the visuals are noted for their ability to evoke strong emotions, ranging from delight to discomfort, enhancing the game's horror elements.
“I fell in love with the story and characters and the gorgeous artwork!”
“The visuals are gorgeous and detailed with a strong style and even stronger shock value when that style is subverted.”
“The artwork, music, and atmosphere all complement each other so perfectly to create fear in the player.”
“The mishmash of visual styles doesn't really work together well enough to be called an aesthetic.”
“Another problem I had was the art style being very inconsistent; the characters look way different in their sprites compared to the scenes, and that really took me out of it.”
“There are no unsettling moments, no original artwork nor music that makes you feel something that keeps you awake at night or sticks with you as Doki Doki did.”
- music59 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, transitioning from upbeat and cheerful to eerie and haunting, effectively complementing the story's psychological horror elements. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's variety and emotional impact, noting how it contributes to the game's tension and immersive experience. Overall, the sound design and music are considered standout features that significantly elevate the gameplay.
“The music and ambience hit the right spot, setting the mood perfectly.”
“The art and music are superb and do a great job of bringing the story and all its grisly detail to life, and the wonderful characterisation really connects the player to the different personalities.”
“The soundtrack is amazing as well, and really helped to create the mood.”
“Aside from the absolutely killer soundtrack in the title screen and cute chibi characters bouncing around, and the cheery, upbeat music as more characters get introduced, this was nothing more than a ruse.”
“There are no unsettling moments no matter how faint of heart you are, no unsettling moments, no original artwork nor music that makes you feel something that keeps you awake at night or sticks with you as Doki Doki did.”
“The cutesy mascots, cheerful title screen and soundtrack, and general early atmosphere make it clear it's trying to riff on the 'innocuous game that turns surprisingly creepy' concept (even borrowing the intro warning from Doki Doki Literature Club, one of the most famous examples of this approach, verbatim).”
- atmosphere32 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a notable highlight, transitioning from a cute and upbeat aesthetic to a chilling and haunting experience, effectively utilizing sound design and visuals to create tension. While some players appreciate the balance of humor and creepiness, others feel that the pacing and tonal shifts detract from the overall immersion. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its depth and ability to evoke fear, though opinions vary on its execution and consistency throughout the game.
“In this case, the cute art style and upbeat soundtrack at the beginning devolves into a subtle foreshadowed nightmare bringing about a chilling atmosphere, haunting sounds, and even the art style changes into something ghastly and twisted.”
“The artwork, music, and atmosphere all complement each other so perfectly to create fear in the player.”
“Absolutly outstanding had me on the edge of my seat with the wonderful story and amazingly set atmosphere, sounds were wonderful and the art was outstanding.”
“There's maybe five minutes of decent atmosphere in here, but after that, you're just in for dull characters and incredibly odd tone shifts with little reason to be there.”
“It feels like the game is rushing you to the next scary moment, without allowing any time to absorb the atmosphere.”
“The fact that all the suspense and mystery builds up to a generic RPG boss battle completely ruins the atmosphere and kills the tone of the story.”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its unique mechanics that are enjoyable and easy to learn, with a smooth and bug-free experience. While it primarily involves clicking through dialogue, there are interactive elements like flashlight usage and fight sequences that add some depth. However, some players feel that the game lacks substantial decision-making and gameplay variety, drawing comparisons to other visual novels like Doki Doki Literature Club, and noting that it may not fully deliver on its promise of multiple outcomes.
“Slightly different mechanics but very enjoyable and easy to learn!”
“Gameplay was overall smooth and fast, bugs free and easy to navigate.”
“Gameplay: like most visual novels you choose options that change your destiny.”
“The game tries to seem bigger and more involved than it actually is with extras that don't really add much different to what is already in the main game, and very little actual gameplay or decision making.”
“And not to spoil the main story, but there’s a tonal shift in gameplay in the final act that is just...not well done.”
“Imagine my shock to find out that, mechanically speaking, it falls into almost exactly the same problems that the original Doki Doki Literature Club had.”
- humor20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of dark comedy and absurdity, featuring anthropomorphic foods and a mix of funny and horrific elements. While some players find the humor engaging and enjoy the quirky character interactions, others feel the juxtaposition of humor with serious themes like starvation and violence is confusing or unsettling. Overall, the game strikes a balance between humor and creepiness, creating a unique atmosphere that resonates with many players.
“It's both funny and creepy, and I just love it all over.”
“The game really has an interesting cast of characters with some funny moments, as haunting escalates in the corners of scenes.”
“There's a nice balance between humor and creepiness, and the sound design and music do a great job relaying the atmosphere of the story.”
- emotional19 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of wholesome moments and profound narrative depth, evoking a wide range of feelings from joy to heartbreak. Players appreciate the engaging characters and plot twists, which can lead to intense emotional experiences, including laughter, tears, and even panic. The incorporation of historical themes adds a layer of gravity, making the overall journey both heartwarming and impactful.
“The hidden lore is also incredibly fun to piece together (even if it did drive me mildly insane). The characters are so fun to watch and the plot twists given everything are heartbreaking yet necessary.”
“This game made me cry, made my heart stop in fear, and also made me smile through some tears.”
“The game may start off tame or wholesome initially, but it really does go all downhill once you really start to delve into the story, which is surprisingly deeper than you may think!”
- replayability15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The reviews present a mixed perspective on replayability, with some players noting a lack of significant replay value due to limited branching storylines and predictable outcomes, while others highlight high replayability thanks to numerous choices and multiple endings. Overall, the game seems to offer varying experiences depending on player engagement with its choices, but many feel it falls short compared to similar titles in the genre.
“Replayability is pretty high, a lot of choices to make and reload the game for.”
“So much replayability and so many endings.”
“Every choice you make changes how things end up, so replay value is very high!”
“You can finish the main story in about an hour and a half, and while achievement hunting extends that to four or five hours, there's not much replayability.”
“I think it's a really good game the first time you play through, but I don't think it has much replay value.”
“In this case, the only replayability you get after finishing the game once is just picking the right choices to get one or two extra lines of dialogue from the characters, who are still going to die in the same order, because the creator didn't bother making a branching storyline.”
- character development14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its engaging storytelling and well-paced progression, allowing players to form connections with the characters. While some reviews highlight a lack of depth in character development, many praise the unique and polished character designs, which enhance the overall experience. The integration of folklore and a gripping narrative further enriches the characters, making them memorable and impactful.
“The game is able to tell its story and build character development at a nice pace.”
“I do not get scared easily, but this game has stuck in my mind ever since I played it. I love the connections to folklore and I adore the character design.”
“Still have to play through NG+ to dig deeper into the game's lore and character development, but even after a single playthrough, I definitely recommend it, especially if you're new to VNs and/or you like a good horror story.”
“Another non-Japanese visual novel with poor character development.”
“Still have to play through NG+ to dig deeper into the game's lore and character development, but even after a single playthrough, I definitely recommend it, especially if you're new to visual novels and/or you like a good horror story.”
“This game got me messed up but totally worth the mental damage; the OST, character development, and overall dive into insanity are amazing.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, players report a stable experience with minimal issues, noting a lack of bugs, glitches, or lag during gameplay. The game's transitions, such as fading to black, contribute to a smoother experience compared to similar titles.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I encountered several bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
“There are constant screen freezes that ruin the immersion.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users noting that other Japanese-origin games effectively explore the cute-to-horror theme without resorting to such tactics.
“There are a bunch of other Japanese-origin games that play this cute-to-horror theme a lot better than this cash grab.”
