Lunch Lady

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,646 reviews
  • gameplay
  • humor
  • graphics
Lunch Lady Game Cover
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In "Lunch Lady," players navigate a retro-style hospital as the title character, serving food and battling against food-themed enemies. The game features fast-paced action and puzzle-solving elements, with colorful pixel art graphics and a chiptune soundtrack. Players must manage their resources and make strategic decisions to progress through the game's levels.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,646 reviews
gameplay50 positive mentions
stability64 negative mentions
  • gameplay182 mentions

    The gameplay of "Lunch Lady" is characterized by simple mechanics focused on collecting items while avoiding a slow-moving antagonist, which some players find repetitive and lacking in depth. While the game can be enjoyable in multiplayer settings, offering a fun and intense atmosphere, many reviews highlight the need for improved mechanics, such as hiding options and more varied objectives, to enhance replayability and challenge. Overall, the game is seen as a decent, albeit flawed, horror experience that could benefit from further development and polish.

    • “The gameplay is simple yet very challenging, especially if you're like me and will play it mostly in single-player mode (with occasional exceptions) and on harder difficulties.”
    • “With a stunning atmosphere, brilliant cinematography, and thrilling gameplay, it is a clear 10/10.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are simple yet effective, with a focus on collecting pages while avoiding the clutches of the menacing lunch lady.”
    • “However, some players may find the game's mechanics a bit repetitive over extended play sessions.”
    • “The gameplay itself is equally underwhelming.”
    • “However, the repetitive nature of the objectives and the lack of variety in the gameplay quickly lead to boredom and frustration.”
  • humor172 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it hilariously entertaining, especially when played with friends. The absurdity of the lunch lady character, combined with the chaotic and often silly situations that arise during gameplay, leads to a blend of laughter and lighthearted scares. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to create memorable and funny moments, particularly through voice chat interactions and unexpected antics, making it a fun choice for group play.

    • “The lunch lady's sounds and animations are hilarious and she looks hideous, so she's more entertaining to run from than the enemies in many other 'Slenderman' type games.”
    • “Absolutely funny, y'all should try it, there's no way you can't laugh with your friends.”
    • “The amount of joy this game has caused me is so funny; everything in this game is hilarious, getting chased by the lunch lady is exciting and intense.”
  • graphics86 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising them as "fantastic" and "stunning," while others find them to be "dated" or "generic." Notably, the game is often described as visually appealing for its price point, with a balance between realism and animation that enhances the overall experience. However, there are also criticisms regarding bugs and a lack of polish, suggesting that while the graphics can be enjoyable, they may not meet the standards of larger studio productions.

    • “With its combination of fantastic graphics and gripping cutscenes, 'Lunch Lady' delivers a spine-tingling horror experience that's bound to leave you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “Stunning graphics and so incredibly colorful.”
    • “The graphics are great and very scary.”
    • “Poor graphics, audio is not done well (this includes voice chat) bad game.”
    • “Graphics and animations are so bad and there are so many bugs; the game is not fun to play, it's really boring.”
    • “While the art style and visuals attempt to create a spooky atmosphere, they feel generic and uninspired.”
  • stability64 mentions

    The game is frequently described as "buggy," with numerous glitches affecting gameplay, such as AI issues, hit detection problems, and occasional crashes. While these stability issues can detract from the experience, many players still find the game enjoyable, especially when playing with friends. Overall, the game's fun factor is often seen as outweighing its technical shortcomings, though players hope for future fixes.

    • “The game is plagued by frequent bugs, glitches, and performance issues, ranging from minor annoyances to game-breaking problems.”
    • “The lunch lady camps players or completely freezes in a room and stops moving for 10+ minutes, we combed through the entire map room by room to find the last notebook or key and couldn’t find it multiple times; the game crashes often, and it makes for an underwhelming to disappointing game experience.”
    • “It's buggy, broken, and so many things could be changed to make it better.”
  • story64 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising the outstanding cutscenes and gradual unfolding of the lunch lady's dark origins, while others criticize the lack of a substantial narrative and desire for more lore or backstory. Despite some players finding the antagonist compelling, many feel the game lacks depth and is more akin to a mini-game experience than a fully fleshed-out story. Overall, while there are moments of intrigue, the consensus leans towards a need for a more developed narrative.

    • “The cutscenes are outstanding; they really add to the story and grip the player like no other heart-pounding thriller indie horror game ever has.”
    • “The story unfolds gradually, keeping players invested and curious about the lunch lady's dark origins.”
    • “An amazing antagonist is explored in the masterfully written story.”
    • “Once you've uncovered the story and mastered the gameplay mechanics, the suspense can wane.”
    • “I would like though, for the game to have some semblance of story rather than just have a mini-game-like mode of trying to find the pages.”
    • “So I can give this a pass, just be aware that what you read on the Steam page is literally all you'll get in terms of story.”
  • replayability56 mentions

    The replayability of "Lunch Lady" is a mixed bag; while many players find it highly enjoyable and infinitely replayable when played with friends, others note that solo play can feel repetitive and limited. The game offers some replay value through different difficulty levels and potential future updates, but overall, its appeal largely hinges on the multiplayer experience. Players seeking depth and variety may find it lacking, especially after a few playthroughs.

    • “However, the game's replay value can be extended by playing with friends, as multiplayer co-op mode offers an exciting twist on the core gameplay.”
    • “It's quite simple, yet for me and my friends, has amazing replayability.”
    • “The atmosphere is great, it's infinitely replayable, and if the devs add more maps in the future?”
    • “While 'Lunch Lady' offers a thrilling experience for the first few playthroughs, its replayability may be somewhat limited for some players.”
    • “Not really replayable, so if you are looking for that, I would recommend maybe not getting this game.”
    • “The game has no replayability, and the in-game voice chat is extremely quiet even when maxed out.”
  • atmosphere40 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Lunch Lady" is widely praised for its unsettling and immersive qualities, enhanced by eerie soundscapes, effective voice acting, and well-crafted cinematics. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke tension and fear, with many noting the terrifying presence of the lunch lady and the overall creepy environment. However, some critiques mention a lack of detail in certain areas, suggesting that while the atmosphere is generally strong, there are moments where it feels generic or underdeveloped.

    • “The unsettling atmosphere is further amplified by the disarray of the school and the eerie soundscape, which keeps players immersed in the horror from start to finish.”
    • “The atmosphere is brilliantly crafted, immersing players in an eerie environment that makes you edge throughout the entire gameplay.”
    • “The atmosphere is perfectly eerie, with just the right amount of creepy sound effects to make you jump at every corner.”
    • “The atmosphere is terrifying and the lunch lady is pretty scary looking.”
    • “While the art style and visuals attempt to create a spooky atmosphere, they feel generic and uninspired.”
    • “You clip through half the objects on the map, the atmosphere is nonexistent, you get flashbanged from your flashlight every time you walk into a wall, the gameplay and objective is boring, and the most action you'll get is from running down a hall while the lunch lady slowly lumbers towards you.”
  • grinding27 mentions

    Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and overly time-consuming, often requiring excessive effort to achieve goals or complete tasks. Many reviews highlight that the fun diminishes quickly, turning into a monotonous experience, especially with the recent updates that have made the gameplay feel more frustrating. Overall, the consensus is that the game demands an unrealistic amount of grinding, detracting from its enjoyment.

    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “My main complaint is that although finding the answer pages is not necessarily the hardest thing in the world, finding keys can be one of the most tedious and boring tasks ever.”
    • “It isn't scary, and it is more tedious than it is fun.”
  • optimization17 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, visual bugs, and AI problems that detract from the experience. While some users note improvements and a generally smooth experience when playing with friends, others emphasize that the game still requires further optimization to enhance single-player performance and address ongoing technical shortcomings.

    • “The developer responds well to bugs and gets them patched in good time, and the game itself has good optimization.”
    • “Edit: the game is more optimized now but could do with some updates to keep people playing.”
    • “Game runs smoothly and is very enjoyable with friends.”
    • “The only thing that I would say that needs to get better is the optimization. I have a Ryzen 5 5500U and 8GB of RAM; not a super gamer PC, I know, but I think it should work better.”
    • “This game is poorly optimized on top of just looking ugly, to the point where I would recommend taking a break after 5 minutes, like that old Virtual Boy shtick.”
    • “The game is plagued by frequent bugs, glitches, and performance issues, ranging from minor annoyances to game-breaking problems.”
  • music17 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to enhance the gaming experience, with many players finding the soundtrack both soothing and suspenseful, effectively contributing to the game's chilling atmosphere. However, some users feel that the game could benefit from additional music cues to better reflect the proximity of threats, suggesting a need for more dynamic audio elements during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a standout feature that elevates the emotional and immersive aspects of the game.

    • “The music that fills my ear while my love is chasing me elevates my gaming experience.”
    • “The suspenseful soundtrack and dim lighting contribute to the game's overall chilling ambiance, making each hallway exploration an exercise in nervous anticipation.”
    • “The main thing it's lacking is probably music for me and maybe some extra mechanics.”
    • “I also love how ugly the lunch lady looks, but scary images aren't enough most of the time. If you really want to scare your players, add some creepy music.”
    • “No music for when she's far away, music for when she's near, when she can sense you and is looking around for you, and when she's chasing you.”
  • emotional13 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has elicited strong reactions from players, ranging from feelings of inferiority and sadness to profound connection and catharsis. Many users report experiencing intense emotions, including crying and a sense of personal transformation, while also highlighting the game's ability to evoke deep feelings through its characters. Overall, the game is praised for its emotional depth, despite some mixed sentiments regarding its impact on players' lives.

    • “This game has made me feel things that no one else could.”
    • “Fucking made me cry, promise, I swear.”
    • “In such emotional awe, I can't write a cohesive review to go along with such a masterpiece on code.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users expressing frustration over its reliance on misleading ads and minimal effort in gameplay.

    • “It's important that someone speaks the words about such a cash grab type of game.”
    • “The game seems like a quick cash grab with minimal effort.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game received mixed reviews, with some praising the character design as exceptional, while others criticized it as poor and unappealing. Overall, the feedback suggests a significant divide in player satisfaction regarding character aesthetics and their impact on the gaming experience.

    • “I give it 10/10 for its amazing character design.”
    • “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form a genuine connection with each character.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
    • “The character development is non-existent; I felt no connection to any of the characters throughout the game.”
    • “The characters are one-dimensional and lack any meaningful growth or backstory, making it hard to care about their fates.”
    • “I was disappointed by the shallow character arcs; they felt more like stereotypes than real people.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
55hAverage play time
3-17hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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