In the not so distant future, a massive peckish spaghetti monster is demanding to be fed during the apocalypse, and it’s up to you—and your three friends—to make sure he gets what he wants or you face the end of the world, by means of being covered in bolognese sauce. What a way to go!
Overcooked takes co-op play games and moulds it into one of the most fun—and arguably addictive—experiences yet on a console. The story, which is pretty easy to get into for young and old, is centered around you having to hone your skills after being transported to the past by the Onion King, where you have to complete cooking challenges, so you can learn how to effectively manage the kitchen, and get the orders out in time.
Overcooked is fun, yet challenging. Even though the game can be played by yourself, it’s still recommended that you get as many people into that kitchen—up to four people—as possible, because multitasking can be quite a challenge. Once you get into the kitchens, orders start flowing in, and they can become quite specific, throwing you off balance. The game has some unique challenges, like cooking meals in two food trucks that are barrelling down a freeway, and having to perfectly time your moves can be quite fun. Other challenges include having to make sure you get the right ingredients while they all roll down a conveyor, and having to dictate to your partners what to do and where to go. It can get very difficult especially if you want to attain a perfect ranking.
The game is meant as one of those party games, where you and the family, for instance, sit around the living room and work together, with the goal of saving the world. You can challenge each other, with each one micromanaging two characters, which can lead to several blunders. I found myself burning down the kitchen more often than not. The game offers three challenger modes, besides the campaign, each one more difficult than the last. As for the main campaign, it gives you a solid experience, broken up into chunks that you can get into while waiting for that Uber ride.
The controls and graphics are smooth. I never had to wrestle with any of them and my characters moved where I expected them to. Considering that most of the game takes place in closed kitchens where you bump into other people all the time, the developers definitely made sure that it never became frustrating managing to succeed in such a small space. Usually we gamers are used to haphazard controls because the environments are massive and it doesn’t really matter where we’re going. It’s great to see such precision being implemented into such a title which needs it.
Speaking of graphics, they’re obviously very cartoon-like but they suit the game because they add a hilarious element. The onions and other vegetables are massive and, while obviously designed to be distinct and visually clear, add to the title’s charm. I never encountered any frame rate issues or stutters even when many people played the game with me. This is of vital importance because the levels rely on a timer and it would be frustrating if you were constantly distracted by visual issues like screen tearing or frame rate drops.
Summary
Overcooked is possibly one of the best smaller titles out on console right now. It offers a solid experience that anyone at any age can get into and enjoy. I never expected to like a cooking game so much to be honest. It’s definitely a unique concept that isn’t available on Xbox One before. It’s a game that the entire family can enjoy together, and I recommend you get additional controllers so you can max out on hands in the kitchen because you’re going to need it. The game isn’t overly difficult, and challenges are easy enough for most people. It’s just a lot of fun.
Dreyer was a regular ICXM contributor between 2016–2017, publishing 139 articles across opinion pieces, game reviews, Windows and PC, and Xbox news. Their work focused on hands-on reviews, platform commentary, and breaking-news reporting during the Xbox One X launch year and Microsoft’s wider Play Anywhere / UWP gaming initiative. They post on X as @dreyer_smit.