While easy to reduce to just "a silly fun co-op game with friends," I found myself unexpectedly impressed with Overcooked 2's design. Countless games have tried to invoke the frantic chaos of busy restaurant-style food prep, but Overcooked 2 stands out as an ideal blend of simplicity and co-op commotion.

Level design is the main standout for me, with (mostly) fun gimmicks throughout, designed to shake up the formula each time the party seems to be getting the hang of things. These range from the team being split up in pairs on two separate rafts drifting down river, forced to use the new throw mechanic to toss food back and forth, to crazy late-game gimmicks like one chef tasked with operating a control panel to move platforms carrying other chefs where they need to go. With no shortage of creativity, each level feels fairly distinct with its own flavor, and the difficulty curve is pretty consistent too.

Something as seemingly simple as assembling a cheeseburger with your closest friends can quickly become hectic when the terrain itself morphs to render some areas of the level completely inaccessible, the game is generally difficult enough that groups playing for the first time will have to play later levels more than once if they want a three star rating. This process of dividing up tasks and making efforts to optimize as much as possible was one of the more enjoyable aspects for me, I typically played with a group of three or sometimes four players. Much more challenging four star ratings become available in the post-game, striking a nice balance between groups that want to tryhard, compared to a more casual team that's just satisfied with finishing the campaign.

Not all these levels are winners, and the typical co-op frustration is there, but conquering a tough level as a group of four is rewarding and most importantly, a ton of fun. My alligator chef was often on rice duty or pasta duty, and some of my more selfless allies volunteered themselves for the much less exciting dishwasher job. I didn't forget your sacrifice, guys.

4.0/5.0