Overcooked! 2

Genre: Arcade / Party Game

Players: 1-4 Co-Op / Competitive (Local, Online)

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Review:

(Note: This game’s content is included in Overcooked: All You Can Eat, along with the original Overcooked.)

Overcooked 2, like its predecessor, is an Arcade/Party game where up to four players are preparing meals in a kitchen based on simple recipes, selected based on specific orders from customers, with the kitchens you’re working in becoming increasingly hectic in absurdly silly ways, such as shifting the walls and stations around, conveyor belts, new hazards to avoid, events that cause different parts of the kitchen to become separated, that sort of thing. These situations will call for coordination by all players to deal with, in a frantic dash to fill as many orders as they can within the time limit.

In many ways, Overcooked 2 is a continuation of the first game, and fans of that one should find this one hasn’t changed much – the game’s art style, controls, and basic premise are the same, and the main difference here is the addition of online play to the mix. It’s a much-appreciated addition to the game, although the Switch version, as per the norm for Switch games brought online, is lacking voice support, and players must depend on an emote system to communicate – less than ideal for a game where communication is absolutely vital. Still, it’s better than no online play at all, I suppose.

That’s not to say there aren’t other, more subtle new additions to Overcooked 2. The player has been given greater ability to toss food around for speedy delivery to another player or a pot, the level design has become even more elaborate in some places, shifting as you play, and there are more recipes and more kitchen tools to use too, such as a mixer and a steamer. It all still works much the same way – either you plop the proper ingredients in and wait until it’s ready, or you’re mashing away at the action button to complete the task, depending on the station in question.

Overcooked 2 has the main flaw of its predecessor as well – it’s darn difficult for a game with such a cartoony, colorful exterior. Even seasoned gamers will find this game to be a challenge not to be taken lightly.

Still, for those looking for more great co-op games on the Switch, Overcooked 2 is clearly one of the best options out there. It only builds incrementally on the original, but even these minor improvements are plenty when the game they’re improving is one of the best co-op games on the Switch. Those looking for a good challenge to play with friends, and especially fans of the first game, should consider this a must-have.

tl;dr – Overcooked 2, like the first game, is an Arcade/Party game where up to four players cooperate to try to prep and cook dishes to order in increasingly crazy kitchens. And like the first game, it’s a fast, frenzied experience that makes for one of the finest co-op experiences available on the Switch, with subtle improvements throughout that give it a slight edge over the original.

Grade: A

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