Cuisineer

Cuisineer is a must-play for anyone in the mood for a top-tier dungeon-crawler. The core combat has a lot of variety thanks to its weapon selection and upgrade paths while the dungeons themselves make every repeat playthrough feel different. The only caveat to the combat is the lack of baked-in turbo, but that's far from a deal-breaker when the game has so much variety with the restaurant management portion of things taking you on an adventure that doesn't require a ton of button mashing. Cuisineer is a rewarding game to play that looks and sounds great and should be a gem for anyone who loves dungeon-crawlers or who wants to get into them because as a gateway game, I can see it being a hit to those who love simulation games as well thanks to the restaurant management.

Cuisineer is ultimately a very pleasant surprise that captivates with its concept and charming visuals, even if it isn’t entirely without flaws. Its accessible gameplay, pleasant style, and combination of cooking and combat come together to form an original experience that’s sure to entertain you for a few evenings. If you’re not expecting a perfect plot and are looking more for a relaxing atmosphere, you’ll feel right at home in your favorite restaurant—just like at Grandma’s. The technical glitches can be overlooked, and thanks to the game’s overall charm, you can even forgive the occasional cliché. This is a game best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a good mood. Pom will win you over, and you’ll keep coming back for more spices and more smiles.

Time to work hard to pay your parents' debt and save the Potato Palace!

Good news! You've just inherited a restaurant from your parents! Bad news. They've also saddled you with a massive debt that needs paying of...

If you saw Cuisineer release on PC and thought it would do great on the consoles, then you’d be right. Not only does every aspect of the game feel incredible to play, it looks and sounds it to boot. Taking Pom on an adventure in dungeoning, cooking and paying your taxes is one that I will continue to go back to time and time again. With ease, Cuisineer receives the Thumb Culture Platinum Award. Again.

Cuisineer is a game with a strong core idea, but doesn't invest enough in its systems to keep it interesting. The excellent combat and good restaurant running soon become repetitive as a result. If the basics are enough to keep you coming back then Cuisineer might work for you, but for me this dish has turned stale.

Cuisineer is a charming game in concept but struggles with execution. The art style and relaxing difficulty make it an enjoyable experience at first, but the repetitive combat and lack of engaging management systems ultimately hold it back. If you’re into low-stakes dungeon crawling with a side of cute restaurant management, you might find some enjoyment here, but be prepared for some frustration with its unpolished mechanics.

Dungeon exploring in Cuisineer is a frantic challenge and the enemies are so adorable that you'll keep wanting to go back. I wish running the restaurant was just as fun, though, as it can get repetitive; I'd rather stare at the delicious recipe book than managing the business. 🍳

Cuisineer combines restaurant management and dungeon crawling to create a simple but absorbing game. It is cute and relaxing in a way that makes it easy to unwind while still working towards goals that are satisfying to achieve.

Cuisineer has a very addicting gameplay loop of delving into dungeons and finding resources and ingredients. It does suffer from some of the choices made for enemies and the restaurant aspect.