Originally released in November of 2023, Cuisineer is one of those adorable cozy games I’ve always enjoyed jumping back into. The console release of this game frees players from their PC and offers the best version of Cuisineer currently available.
Cuisineer is an adorable game where players take on the role of Pom, a young adventurer who finds herself in possession of her parents’ failing restaurant and a mountain of debt after returning home from her adventures.
Rather than liquidate the building, Pom decides to restore the business and reconnect with the locals, but the ingredients for her dishes have to come from somewhere. This game combines delightful dungeon crawls with shop management for a light and enjoyable routine that I’ve loved since the original PC release.
Key Details
- Developer: BattleBrew Productions
- Publisher: XSEED/Marvelous
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox, PlayStation
- Price: $24.99 (PC) / $29.99 (Nintendo Switch)
- Copy Provided For Review: Yes
Cuisineer Was Made For The Switch
When I play Cuisineer on PC, especially using a mouse and keyboard, my first thought is that this game feels like it was meant for console. With battle systems reminiscent of Hades and mechanics that make keyboard controls feel clunky, a console release is something I’ve wanted for a long while.
Cuisineer has not been a disappointment on the Nintendo Switch. Combat on the Joy-Cons is a breeze. Players can easily smack foes with a fish sword, use their special plate-flinging abilities, and dodge enemy attacks with inputs that are intuitive and fun to learn.
This game is designed for console controllers, and being on them makes everything easier. Additionally, the portability of the Switch turns this into an on-the-go cozy game, perfect for any situation where you might want to run a restaurant for a distraction.
In addition to the excellent battle controls, the console port also elevates running the restaurant. The act of taking orders, prepping dishes, and handling customers feels smooth and easy on the Switch, in a way that felt like a chore on PC. I believe firmly that the intuitive console controls boost the overall experience of the game.
Loading Screens Return
Unfortunately, Cuisineer does drag some of its less-than-optimal issues to the console edition, including the loading screens that trigger whenever Pom enters a space.
The loading screens make moving from Pom’s bedroom to the restaurant a chore and make going from the restaurant to the town frustrating. Unfortunately, just like the PC version of the game, these loads can last up to fifteen seconds, and can greatly impact playability.
One of the worst instances of this is when you realize you have to cook something or grab a quest item from the fridge in your house when you’ve already left. Going back inside is a loading screen, and then coming back out is another. It feels jarring, especially because the town itself isn’t that big.
I was sincerely hoping this issue would be fixed in the port version of the game, but instead, I was left trying to make sure I had everything I needed for the day before going out of my house. If I needed to go back in before the end of the day, it was likely I would just end up heading to the dungeons rather than waiting for all the loads just to give a local a stack of eggs.
Grind Away For Your Dinner
Now, any dungeon crawler with a roguelike element is going to be a bit grindy. However, Cuisineer is not for the faint of heart. Money is hard to get, food items are difficult to grind, and space is in short supply for what you manage to drag back from each dungeon map.
I personally love this grind. In Cuisineer, the act of restocking the pantry after several days of running the shop is satisfying, and I like breaking up the management with adventures.
However, those who get frustrated with a slow and tedious level of grinding may struggle with this game, as no major optimization was added for the console port. At times, the grind can feel artificial, as if intended to draw out a relatively short and uncomplicated storyline.
Despite this, if you like stockpiling large quantities of food items, or just the simple motion of dungeon crawling and shop-keeping, it is very soothing and relaxing. I never found myself in a hurry and never minded the time it took to get things done.
Final Score – 7.5/10
Cuisineer is a wonderful game with adorable graphics and engrossing processes. It’s the perfect cozy escape for shop-keeping enthusiasts, and everything you cook up looks good enough to actually eat.
However, the dragging load screens really take some of the enjoyment out of the game. It also struggles with a level of item and currency grind that isn’t completely enjoyable.
If you love games like Moonlighter, don’t mind the effort of stockpiling, and can forgive the load screens, it really is a wonderful game I would recommend to cozy fans. However, it is likely not the best fit for anyone looking for a big game with premium console optimization and load times.
**Bonus Action was provided with a Nintendo Switch code of Cuisineer for the purpose of this review**
Leave a Reply