Cuisineer

Cuisineer is an excellent culinary adventure full of cute characters, tasty dishes, and challenging goals to strive towards as you become unstoppable both out in the world and in the kitchen.

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Cuisineer is a single-player Fantasy RPG where you play as Pom, a restaurateur reopening her parents' closed eatery in the town of Paell. Battle foes, gather ingredients, and cook over 100 international recipes to transform the derelict restaurant into a culinary sensation, while managing debt, humor, and emotion in this beautifully designed, though poorly optimized, experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,381 reviews

gameplay148 positive mentions

grinding237 negative mentions

Adorable art style and character designs that enhance the overall experience.
Engaging gameplay loop that combines dungeon crawling for ingredients with restaurant management.
Charming soundtrack and sound effects that complement the cozy atmosphere.

Combat can feel tedious due to enemies being damage sponges and upgrades providing minimal benefits.
Lack of meaningful progression and depth in both combat and restaurant management aspects.
Inventory management is cumbersome, with limited space and no option to sell excess items.

gameplay
459 mentions
32 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Cuisineer" features a simple yet engaging loop that combines dungeon crawling for ingredients with restaurant management, appealing to players who enjoy cozy, casual experiences. However, many reviewers noted that the gameplay can become repetitive and grindy, lacking depth in both combat and cooking mechanics, which diminishes long-term enjoyment. While the art style and sound design are praised, the game suffers from a lack of tutorials and quality-of-life improvements, leaving players to navigate its systems with minimal guidance.
- “Cuisineer has a fun gameplay loop, good art direction, and really adorable characters.”
- “The gameplay loop of serving customers in your restaurant and going out into the dungeon to gather ingredients is quite addictive.”
- “The art style is gorgeous and the gameplay loop makes it hard to put this game down.”
- “The gameplay loop itself is so repetitive and grindy it sucks the fun out of what should be a great game.”
- “Cuisineer's restaurant management aspect falls short, as the cooking process lacks depth, reduced to a simple click-to-cook mechanic that strips away the potential for an engaging culinary experience.”
- “I really can't recommend when I find myself spending 40 of the 43 hours played bored and just wanting to finish the game on principle, the game's quality of life, story, and gameplay experience is bland to the point I can only stomach playing 1 game day before closing the game and coming back later to do another day just to toil through and finish it.”
story
442 mentions
16 % positive mentions
80 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally perceived as weak and lacking depth, primarily revolving around paying off a tax debt, which many players find unengaging and repetitive. While the characters are described as cute and the side quests provide some enjoyment, the main narrative feels thin and fails to create a compelling incentive for players to progress. Overall, the game is seen as more focused on gameplay mechanics than on delivering a rich story experience.
- “Good mechanics, fun story, and really cute style.”
- “The storyline and main character's motivations are straightforward, the NPCs and merchant characters are all diverse and attractive in their own way, and each and every one of them will speak varying bits of dialogue at different points of the game that help immerse the player fully into the world; you will find it so easy to fall in love with Paell and its residents.”
- “While the village may feel overwhelming at times, the warmth of the townsfolk and the variety of quests create a cozy, immersive experience.”
- “The main story thus far is really lacking as paying a tax collector coins is really boring and not interesting at all, if not just creating a feeling of annoyance.”
- “This game didn't feel like it ended, it kinda just stopped giving me quests to do and I assumed it was over based on the story, but there never was a 'the end' moment.”
- “Lastly, the story is so paper thin, you wonder why they bothered.”
graphics
295 mentions
56 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their adorable and charming art style, which enhances the overall cozy experience. Players appreciate the vibrant character designs and detailed food illustrations, often highlighting the visuals as a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's appeal. However, some users note performance issues and a lack of graphical settings, which can detract from the experience despite the overall aesthetic being delightful.
- “The art style is gorgeous, the food looks delicious, and I love the creative freedom with the restaurant!”
- “Absolutely gorgeous artwork and character design, fun gameplay, all the food looks so good I get hungry just looking at it.”
- “The graphics are really cute and well done, all the way from the characters, world down to every interface button; the style fits very well together.”
- “With all the effort they put into the visuals and characters/dialogue, there's so much wasted potential here.”
- “Unfortunately, except from the cute graphics, the game has not much to offer.”
- “Stutters a bit during dungeons and significantly during arena fights and load times take a long time with no option to reduce graphics settings in an attempt to fix either issue.”
grinding
239 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and repetitive. While some appreciate the cozy aesthetic and simple gameplay loop, they often feel that the resource farming and dungeon runs become a chore, lacking meaningful rewards and progression. Overall, the game is best suited for those who enjoy grinding mechanics, but it may frustrate players seeking a more dynamic or engaging experience.
- “While I said earlier that Cuisineer isn't grindy, there is one exception to this: weapons and gear upgrades.”
- “It meant a lot of grinding just to get those basic materials.”
- “But after 16 hours of grinding through the surprisingly unforgiving dungeons and lackluster restaurant management sim portion of the game, I just can't recommend this game.”
- “This game feels like a grinding simulator, and it's hardly what I expected.”
music
115 mentions
57 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its cozy, charming, and upbeat qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere and engagement during gameplay. While many players appreciate the soundtrack's fit with the cute art style, some note a lack of variety and repetitiveness over extended play sessions. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a delightful experience for players seeking a relaxing vibe.
- “The cozy soundtrack fits the game perfectly and even during major fights, it made me feel engaged.”
- “The music and art are both beautiful, and I enjoyed the cooking, straightforward and simple as it was.”
- “The music is upbeat, fun, and hasn't gotten old for me during my 8-9 hours of game time.”
- “I'm in summer and the music doesn't really change to make it feel like a new season; the dialogue is the same as it usually is even if it's a different time during the day.”
- “But I instantly forgot the music after playing it for 3+ hours straight, which is a pretty bad sign.”
- “The sounds in the restaurant are disgusting and the music is about 10 seconds repeating.”
optimization
70 mentions
7 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
36 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with players reporting frequent stuttering, frame drops, and input lag, particularly during combat and in dungeons. Many users have noted that the performance issues persist even on high-end systems, often requiring mods to alleviate the problems. Overall, the game feels under-polished and in need of substantial optimization before it can be recommended for enjoyable play.
- “It needs better optimization before it's worth playing.”
- “To begin with, the game is now super optimized and runs smooth at a steady framerate.”
- “This feels like an early access game that needed more polish and optimization.”
- “I was really excited to play the game but it's been terribly optimized so far.”
- “The performance tanks as the screen fills up; this could be fixed if graphics settings were implemented into the game.”
character development
38 mentions
58 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
While the character designs and artwork in the game are widely praised for their cuteness and appeal, many reviewers express disappointment in the lack of meaningful character development and repetitive dialogue. Players desire more depth in the story and character interactions, suggesting that the game could benefit from systems that enhance relationships or companionships. Overall, the charming visuals are overshadowed by a need for richer narrative elements.
- “Character design is absolutely adorable and I enjoy the interaction with all of the personalities.”
- “Let's get the parts I like out of the way: the art is gorgeous and the character designs are wonderful.”
- “Absolutely gorgeous artwork and character design, fun gameplay, all the food looks so good I get hungry just looking at it.”
- “But most of their dialogues repeat and there's not much, if any, character development at all.”
- “I wish there was a neutral option as the game itself is fun (although lacking some story/character development) but things regarding combat weigh down my review.”
- “Wish it had more depth in terms of the story and character development.”
emotional
22 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Cuisineer" is characterized by its wholesome and charming atmosphere, enhanced by a cozy soundtrack that keeps players engaged even during intense moments. Reviewers appreciate the game's cute art style and the overall fun experience it offers, despite some critiques regarding user experience and game design. Overall, it is described as a heartwarming journey filled with culinary chaos that appeals to those seeking a delightful and engaging gaming experience.
- “In theme and dialogue, this game is quite wholesome, charming, and cute.”
- “Cuisineer is an adorable, wholesome game about fighting monsters and then bringing their remains back to town to cook and sell to customers.”
- “So, don your spatula, savor the joy of culinary chaos, and let Cuisineer whisk you away on a journey that’s enjoyable and heartwarming.”
humor
20 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong sense of humor, featuring a silly storyline and amusing character interactions, including a cute cat girl. Players find the quirky bugs, like falling through the ground, to be funny rather than frustrating, adding to the overall charm. The humor is described as fresh and engaging, making the game enjoyable and recommendable.
- “The writers have a good sense of humor.”
- “Funny little dungeon crawler with a cook it shop.”
- “It's a fun concept that's not necessarily new, but they added a cute cat girl, fun NPC relationships, amazing-looking food, and funny and addictive dungeons.”
stability
12 mentions
17 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed, with users reporting a well-designed restaurant aspect and no major game-breaking glitches, but also experiencing slow loading times and frequent bugs, particularly during critical challenges. Players have noted issues such as freezing, getting stuck in corners, and minor graphical glitches, which can detract from the overall experience. While it runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck, the stability concerns, especially during gameplay, remain a significant drawback.
- “Works on Steam Deck; the first load-up is long and some text is small, but it runs great.”
- “It's loading time is quite slow and it can be quite buggy.”
- “Spoilers ahead: I have been trying to beat the final 3 cooking challenges for a few days now but I have to keep force quitting the game because it freezes in the arenas and won't load enemies or chests, and I'm just stuck there while the timer and your competitor win.”
- “A few other things I would like to include are the small glitches. I don't know about anyone else, but the game tends to freeze or sometimes (rarely) you can get stuck in corners or small spaces. The amount of rocks and trees, while super easy to collect, can almost make being in dungeons completely unbearable.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a charming and cozy vibe, enhanced by its cute art style and soothing soundtrack. Players find the combination of music and visuals to create a chill environment that makes managing the restaurant enjoyable and immersive. Overall, the atmosphere is described as beautifully comforting and full of potential.
- “The art style is very cute and has a wonderful soundtrack which adds to the atmosphere of the game.”
- “This game is beautifully charming and has an absolutely comfy atmosphere ❤”
- “This definitely has some serious potential, and atmospherically is very enjoyable.”
replayability
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Users indicate that the game's replayability is limited, primarily revolving around aesthetic improvements to the restaurant rather than offering substantial new content or challenges in the end-game. This results in a "one-time charm cycle" where players may not feel compelled to revisit the game after completing it.
- “The end-game doesn't have much replayability other than just making your restaurant look more efficient and nicer.”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is characterized by a simplistic gameplay experience reminiscent of free mobile games, but notably lacks intrusive ads, enhancing the overall user experience.
- “Additionally, operating the restaurant is extremely simplistic, to the point where it feels a lot like a free mobile game minus the ads.”