Overcooked is a cooperative cooking video game developed by Ghost Town Games that turned couch multiplayer into controlled chaos. In this Overcooked review, we explore how the game challenges players to coordinate under extreme pressure while preparing meals in increasingly absurd kitchens. From chopping and frying to serving customers against the clock, teamwork is the only way to save the Onion Kingdom from disaster.

If one thinks to work well under pressure, this couch co-op game series will definitely change their mind. In Overcooked!, players must save the Onion Kingdom by… cooking! Chop, saute, fry, boil, serve customers, all while trying not to burn the whole kitchen down in the process.

What Is Overcooked? Gameplay and Core Mechanics

A terrible menace is threatening the reign of the Onion King. No other chef is apparently better than the player and their team. Hence, the destiny of the kingdom rests on their shoulders. They will have to train before the final fight by cooking delicious meals to satisfy the enemies’ hunger.

The plot is pretty cliché, but the game itself is not as simple. In addition to cooking, the players will also have to pick up and prepare the ingredients, assemble them, put them on a plate and serve the customers. And, unfortunately, that’s not all. To make the game more difficult, the tables and floors move, dirty dishes won’t wash themselves, and there’s a strict time crunch. At the same time, one has to cooperate with the rest of the team and avoid burning the kitchen down (yes, that can really happen). It will get really chaotic really fast, so communication is essential.

After having completed the different levels and having tackled the most bizarre and challenging kitchen gauntlets, the players will (hopefully) have achieved enough skills, and they’ll finally be ready to face the ultimate enemy.

Why Cooperation Is the Real Challenge

The credit for these frustrating, yet engaging, games goes to Ghost Town Games. The small UK-based studio now has a main team of three people – Gemma, Oli, and Phil – and they work with multiple contractors and partner studios. But, when the first Overcooked! came out in 2016, it was only Oli DeVine and Phil Duncan. The game was published in 2016 by Team17, and shortly after, Gemma Langford joined the team.

The studio’s mission is pretty simple, but effective. As declared on their website:

“We pride ourselves on making co-operative games, the kind of games you can play with your friends and some pizza on a Friday night, or with some ice cream in your pyjamas on Sunday.”

It kind of recalls the spirit of Nintendo games, like Wii Sports or Super Mario Party. But without the competition part. Just cooperation.

That’s basically what Overcooked! is all about. Phil Duncan himself explained, during a Gamereactor interview, that they wanted to create a game where every player had an integral role. The key to completing the level is figuring out how the different roles have to be distributed. And when the team, working together as one, finds a division of tasks that actually works, completing the level is a piece of cake.

The Rise of Ghost Town Games

Before finding a division of tasks that works, however, the players will have to undergo actual communication. And that can be quite difficult. Players will have to focus on their own task while keeping an eye on what is happening around them. Floors will move, food will burn, orders will expire, and everyone will probably have a meltdown.

A kitchen is commonly known to be a quite stressful environment, as shown in TV shows such as The Bear, and in movies such as Ratatouille. Despite their differences, these two works share a frenetic kitchen environment where success ultimately hinges on the staff’s communication and cooperation.

“We wanted a game where everybody is gathered around the TV and they’re all screaming at each other and pointing”, said Phil Duncan during the interview.

One doesn’t necessarily need to be an expert gamer, as the commands are pretty simple. The real challenge is to actually listen to other team members and not be influenced by all the external factors.

In a nutshell, the better the players communicate and the less they fight with each other, the easier it is to complete the game.

From Overcooked to Overcooked 2: What Changed

The game was such a hit that Ghost Town Games started to work on a sequel right after. With its engaging, chaotic gameplay, the game won the hearts of many players worldwide. Overcooked 2! debuted in 2018 and is, under many aspects, very similar to its predecessor. But the levels got more challenging, and some new features, such as food throwing, made the game more chaotic.

“We studied the different ways a team would approach a level, it helped us see what worked and what didn’t” explained Oli DeVine during a Redbull interview.

New recipes, new characters, new enemies, and new worlds. And, an absolute change: Overcooked! 2 can be played online. Many players requested the chance to play with their friends overseas, and they were listened.

But the people wanted more. That’s how the multiple DLCs of both Overcooked! and Overcooked! 2 came to life. But it still wasn’t enough. So, in 2020, another Overcooked! game was released. Overcooked: All You Can Eat is a bundle of the first two games remastered in 4K with 60fps gameplay. Moreover, it features new exclusive chefs, levels, and accessibility options.

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Awards, Legacy and Cultural Impact

Almost 10 years after its debut, Overcooked is still played and loved across different platforms.

Not by coincidence, Overcooked! was nominated and won two BAFTAs in 2017. And Overcooked! 2, just one year later, won Best Family Game at The Game Awards, and was later nominated in 2019 for three other BAFTAs.

Ultimately, the enduring magic of Overcooked! lies in that thin line between a total disaster and a perfectly executed service. It has proven that the best ingredients for a hit game are simplicity, chaos, and a healthy dose of communication.