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Cooking Simulator

Cooking Simulator is a bit of a mess on the Nintendo Switch, with the sketchy visuals and awkward controls making the simplest of tasks feel unnecessarily complicated. It’s something that’s made all the more frustrating given how unforgiving the difficulty of the experience can actually be, with cooking demanding precision and quick reactions if you’re going to be successful. It’s a shame too because I actually liked the gameplay. Sure, it could be a bit tricky in places and there are a few glitches that kick in here and there, but the process of cooking and running the kitchen was actually pretty rewarding. It’s disappointing then that everything else in the game felt so short of the mark, with Cooking Simulator feeling more like a Hell’s Kitchen calamity that a Masterchef delight.
Cooking Simulator Game Cover
79%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics
Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, story
86% User Score Based on 15,756 reviews
Critic Score 64%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCXbox Game PassCloudPlaystation 4Xbox OneXbox Cloud GamingXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
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Cooking Simulator Game Cover

About

Cooking Simulator is a single player casual management game with comedy and economy themes. It was developed by Big Cheese Studio and was released on June 6, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Experience the world of restaurant cooking in a highly polished, realistic kitchen. Use ovens, gas stands, pots, pans, bowls and plates, everything you need. Prepare dozens of lifelike ingredients - from vegetables through fish to steaks and poultry - to cook over thirty real dishes, or anything you like.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Cooking Simulator screenshot
Cooking Simulator screenshot
Cooking Simulator screenshot
Cooking Simulator screenshot
Cooking Simulator screenshot
Cooking Simulator screenshot
Cooking Simulator screenshot
Cooking Simulator screenshot
Cooking Simulator screenshot
Cooking Simulator screenshot
Cooking Simulator screenshot
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86%Audience ScoreBased on 15,756 reviews
gameplay188 positive mentions
stability528 negative mentions

  • gameplay

    836 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the cooking simulator is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and frustrating bugs, with many players noting the clunky controls and collision issues that detract from the overall experience. While some find the physics-based mechanics entertaining and realistic, others criticize them for being overly complicated and inconsistent, leading to a steep learning curve. Despite its potential for fun and creativity, the game suffers from performance issues and a lack of polish, leaving many players hoping for improvements in future updates.

    • “The gameplay is detailed and engaging, although I do wish that the presentation of the food could be improved.”
    • “The mechanics of the game are extremely realistic to the cooking experience, so it can be just as frustrating when you spill something or break a plate, but that means it is just that much more satisfying when you complete a day without mistakes!”
    • “I really enjoy the cooking mechanics, and slowly I've been able to pretty much master the flipping of stuff and making soups, and I feel rewarded.”
    • “The controls are clunky and unintuitive, with awkward button combinations and finicky mechanics that make even the simplest tasks feel like a chore.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are near impossible to work, and you can't hold on to anything long enough to cut, prepare, or cook it.”
    • “This game, while a good simulator, is simply not finished; there are many bugs with the main gameplay, like salmon sometimes not cooking even though it's on a pan and the fire is on, or not being able to cut the cheese slices into smaller slices in the hamburger recipe.”

  • graphics

    560 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning realism and detail, particularly in food textures and kitchen environments, making it visually appealing. However, many users report significant performance and optimization issues, requiring high-end hardware to run smoothly, which can lead to lag and frustration. Overall, while the graphics are considered a highlight, they are marred by technical challenges that detract from the gaming experience.

    • “Graphics are phenomenal and still look very modern, with food textures being very realistic.”
    • “The visuals are stunning; the cooking mechanics are a bit frustrating, but once you get used to it, you feel like a kitchen god on steroids.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous, and the controls are intuitive and easy to use.”
    • “A would be fun game with cool and funny mechanics, but the performance and optimization issues ruin the game. For reference, I struggle to run the game with low-medium graphics while using an RTX 3060.”
    • “The graphics are so horrendous and laggy that it takes at least 5 tries to pick up an object.”
    • “This game is not good; it was extremely laggy and the graphics are so bad I can see the pixels.”

  • stability

    528 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players find the experience frustrating due to frequent freezing and unresponsive controls, leading to a consensus that the game is currently too buggy to recommend. While some enjoy the chaotic nature of the glitches, the overall sentiment is that the game requires substantial fixes to reach its potential.

    • “Honestly, this game would be so fun if it wasn't a buggy underdeveloped mess.”
    • “The game is so buggy that playing it is nearly impossible.”
    • “Bottom line is the game is too buggy for me.”

  • humor

    362 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding the chaotic kitchen scenarios, quirky physics, and clumsy controls to be sources of laughter and entertainment. Many reviews highlight the hilarity of accidental mishaps, such as exploding kitchens and serving bizarre dishes, which contribute to a fun, albeit frustrating, gameplay experience. While some players note that the humor can become repetitive or annoying over time, the overall consensus is that the game excels in creating amusing moments, especially when played with friends or while watching others struggle.

    • “There are even hilarious moments, like when I accidentally blew up my stove (twice) and put way too much salt in the customer's food (they did not enjoy that meal, let me tell ya) or even when changing the kitchen layout to look like a kitchen from hell (or the westside of Chicago) which added more layers to an already fantastic game.”
    • “You'll start slow but eventually the chaos of running a successful kitchen will lead to a lot of hilarious situations.”
    • “It's hilarious to try things out even when you fail miserably but great when you do something successful.”
    • “It's not funny what can happen to you... so just be careful, okay?”

  • story

    324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews overwhelmingly indicate that the game lacks a compelling story, with many players noting it feels more like a cooking simulator than a narrative-driven experience. While some appreciate the structured career mode, they express a desire for deeper character development and a more engaging storyline. Overall, the consensus is that the game offers minimal narrative content, often leaving players wanting more.

    • “I felt like I was playing an entirely different game (in a good way) and I was actually invested in the story that came with it.”
    • “The addition of a story to go along with the cooking really helps with wanting to finish it, and the added bonus of hunting your own meat + trading with caravans is a fun twist on the marketplace system.”
    • “The story is impressive.”
    • “Story - 0/10 - no story”
    • “But the fact you have to vigorously stick to the recipes to get anything close to a good score is so overwhelmingly limiting it makes the story mode a boring slog of making the same soups and baked fish dishes for a good few hours.”
    • “Lack of story outside of a really basic campaign (I did not beat it, I refunded it before so it might get better after the first star)”

  • optimization

    280 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering, frame drops, and long loading times, even on high-end hardware. Despite the fun gameplay and appealing graphics, the lack of proper optimization significantly detracts from the overall experience, making it nearly unplayable for those with lower-spec PCs. Players express hope for future updates to address these issues, but as it stands, the game's performance is a major drawback.

    • “If you like games where you feel pressured and overwhelmed by a time crunch—but by practice and gradual optimization you become quicker and more efficient—and eventually you hit that sweet, rewarding feeling of being a multitasking master—then this is the game for you.”
    • “Once I got it to run smoothly, I had a blast playing it!”
    • “A lot of the optimization issues I mentioned have been fixed and another good note to add is that this game gets updated quite a lot.”
    • “A would be fun game with cool and funny mechanics, but the performance and optimization issues ruin the game. For reference, I struggle to run the game with low-medium graphics whilst using an RTX 3060.”
    • “It's unbelievable that optimization issues exist since release day (it's been 4 years) and nothing was done about it.”
    • “This game is way too buggy and unoptimized to legitimately enjoy.”

  • music

    186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the ability to customize their in-game radio with personal music, while others find the default tracks repetitive and overly loud. Many users appreciate the inclusion of a radio feature that allows for a more personalized experience, but there are complaints about the volume levels and the limited variety of music available. Overall, while the soundtrack has its fans, it also has significant room for improvement in terms of diversity and volume control.

    • “The sounds and music are just immaculate and it doesn't matter that I don't know how to cook in real life because I have this wonderful game.”
    • “The default soundtrack to the game is actually one of the nicest I’ve heard in a while for a game, and the fact you can add your own music via mp4’s or internet radio stations is another great addition for this game.”
    • “I love being able to add my own music to the radio in-game; cooking while listening to jazz always gets me relaxed and focused!”
    • “The music is too loud and the settings don't lower the menu music.”
    • “It is repetitive and plays a short loop of the same music that can really be grating.”
    • “These definitely need to be addressed by the devs. Music mixing is also really bad; the main menu music practically burst my eardrums yet I can barely hear the in-game radio, much more minor but annoying nonetheless.”

  • grinding

    152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and frustrating, with many players feeling that it requires an unrealistic amount of time and effort to complete simple tasks. While some find enjoyment in the initial gameplay, the repetitive nature of actions, such as shopping for ingredients and performing precision tasks, quickly leads to boredom and annoyance. Overall, the game's mechanics are seen as unpolished, contributing to a grindy experience that detracts from the fun.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A lot of grinding.”
    • “Your life-time of grinding.”
    • “The game looks interesting, but it’s completely unclear why there are so many tedious little actions in it.”
    • “When purchasing the fruit salad, several fruits in the recipe do not appear in the pantry, and in order to purchase said fruits, you have to purchase them one by one. It's so tedious it's downright just not enjoyable because of how unpolished this game is.”
    • “It is a waste of time and energy and makes the game incredibly tedious.”

  • replayability

    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Cooking Simulator is widely praised for its high replayability, offering endless opportunities for experimentation through a variety of recipes, challenges, and a sandbox mode. Regular updates and new content enhance the gameplay experience, making it more enjoyable and playable over time. While some users noted minor bugs and a lack of customization options, the overall consensus is that the game remains fun and engaging with significant replay value.

    • “With a wide array of recipes, challenges, and a sandbox mode that encourages experimentation, Cooking Simulator offers endless replayability.”
    • “Update: it is great that this game received tons of updates, with new stuff constantly added (recipes, utensils, kitchen area, DLC), making this game even more replayable.”
    • “Endless replayability (★★★★★):”
    • “I have tried several of their titles and they all have the same issues: lack of replayability because of extremely linear scripting, bad performance, trying to overprice casual games by making them look deeper than they are, paid DLCs that are necessary for the game to function, and abandoning projects once they made profit.”
    • “There aren't really any customizable options to make it replayable.”
    • “And finally, there are so many new updates coming out that replayability concerns still seem far off in the distance.”

  • monetization

    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as exploitative, with many users labeling the DLCs as overpriced cash grabs that detract from the overall experience. Players express frustration over intrusive advertisements, including unskippable ads for unrelated games, which clutter the interface and complicate navigation. Overall, there is a strong sentiment that the developers should prioritize improving the base game rather than focusing on generating additional revenue through DLCs and ads.

    • “Nice game, no ads.”
    • “This is a poorly designed and poorly executed mess with intrusive in-game purchases that lets you wait for too long and too often to not be able to do what you are trying to do.”
    • “It's pretty off-putting to see advertisements on a game that I already purchased.”
    • “This game is a cash grab that will be abandoned soon with new DLCs coming out just to make more money.”

  • emotional

    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players describe the game as an emotional experience that evokes a wide range of feelings, from joy and fulfillment in cooking to frustration and devastation. Many express that it feels like an emotional rollercoaster, with some even shedding tears during gameplay. The game's ability to make players feel like accomplished chefs, alongside its intense moments, contributes to its impactful emotional resonance.

    • “Playing this game is an amazing emotional rollercoaster that all people should have a ride on.”
    • “This is the most intense and emotionally devastating game I have ever played in my life.”
    • “I cried”

  • atmosphere

    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its pleasant and enjoyable feel, enhanced by nice controls and various game mode variants. It effectively eliminates many of the stressful and unpleasant elements typically associated with kitchen environments, such as messiness and aggressive interactions, creating a more relaxed gaming experience.

    • “This game has a nice feel to the atmosphere and many very enjoyable game mode variants.”
    • “Nice controls and nice atmosphere.”
    • “But this game removes most of the annoying things from the kitchen like: oily atmosphere (no need to clean yourself with a steel rubber after shift), yelling superiors, yelling customers, and a very hazardous working environment in general.”
    • “The game lacks any immersive atmosphere, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging experience.”
    • “The environment feels sterile and lifeless, failing to draw players into the world.”
    • “There is a distinct absence of tension or mood, which detracts from the overall experience.”

  • character development

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is criticized for its lack of depth, with players expressing a desire for a more compelling storyline to enhance the structured experience of the career mode.

    • “While the career mode offers a structured experience, the lack of a compelling storyline or character development may leave some players yearning for a deeper narrative.”
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64%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews
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8h Median play time
19h Average play time
3-21h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 58 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Cooking Simulator is a casual management game with comedy and economy themes.

Cooking Simulator is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and others.

On average players spend around 19 hours playing Cooking Simulator.

Cooking Simulator was released on June 6, 2019.

Cooking Simulator was developed by Big Cheese Studio.

Cooking Simulator has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked Cooking Simulator for its gameplay but disliked it for its stability.

Cooking Simulator is a single player game with local co-op support.

Similar games include Cooking Simulator VR, Kebab Chefs!: Restaurant Simulator, Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together, House Builder, Food Truck Simulator and others.