Overcooked 2

Overcooked 2 (stylized as Overcooked! 2) is a cooperative cooking simulation video game developed by Team17 alongside Ghost Town Games, and published by Team17. The sequel to Overcooked!, it was released for Linux, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on August 7, 2018. The game was released for Amazon Luna on October 20, 2020.^[1] Overcooked: All You Can Eat, a compilation game that includes both Overcooked and Overcooked 2, was released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 12, 2020.^[2] The compilation came to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on March 23, 2021, and on Google Stadia on May 5, 2022.^[3]

Overcooked 2
Developer(s)	Team17 Ghost Town Games
Publisher(s)	Team17
Engine	Unity
Platform(s)	Linux macOS Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 Windows Xbox One PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X/S Google Stadia
Release	Linux, macOS, NS, PS4, Windows, Xbox One WW: August 7, 2018 Amazon Luna US: October 20, 2020 Xbox Series X/S WW: November 10, 2020 PlayStation 5 NA/OC: November 12, 2020 WW: November 19, 2020 Stadia WW: May 5, 2022
Genre(s)	Simulation
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

Screenshot of Overcooked 2

In the cooking simulator game Overcooked 2, teams of up to four players cooperatively prepare and cook orders in absurd restaurants.^[4] Players gather, chop, cook ingredients, combine them on plates, serve dishes, and wash dishes. Between coordinating short orders and bumping into each other's characters, the game tends to overwhelm.^[5] The sequel builds atop the original game, which was released in 2016,^[6] with new interactive levels, restaurant themes, chef costumes, and recipes. Some levels have moving floors and other obstacles that complicate the cooking process, including portals, moving walkways,^[4] and impassable fires.^[5] Other levels transition between settings and recipes, such as one that begins with preparing salads in a hot air balloon and ends crash-landed in a sushi kitchen.^[7] The sequel introduces ingredient tossing, such that players can throw uncooked items to another chef or pot from far away, and online multiplayer,^[4] in which teams can connect either across a local wireless network or through online matchmaking.^[6]

Development

Overcooked 2 was released on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One platforms on August 7, 2018. It was developed by Team17 alongside Ghost Town Games, and published by Team17.^[6] It was announced a month prior, at E3 2018. Atop the base game, the developers created cosmetic add-on content, such as a platypus character costume exclusive to the Nintendo Switch release and a pack of other character costumes as pre-order bonus.^[8]

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
Metacritic	PC: 81/100[9] NS: 81/100[10] PS4: 81/100[11] XONE: 83/100[12]

Review scores

Publication	Score
Destructoid	9/10[13]
Eurogamer	Recommended[14]
Game Informer	8/10[15]
GameRevolution	[16]
GameSpot	8/10[17]
GamesRadar+	[18]
Hardcore Gamer	3/5[19]
Nintendo Life	[20]
PC Gamer (US)	78/100[21]
Push Square	[22]
USgamer	3.5/5[23]
VentureBeat	85/100[24]
VideoGamer.com	8/10[25]

Reception

Overcooked 2 received "generally positive" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Several reviewers noted that while it did not feel like a significant evolution of the formula established by Overcooked!, it was a strong sequel.

Jordan Devore of Destructoid called Overcooked 2 "one of the best co-op titles around" while praising the dynamic level design and frantic gameplay while taking minor issue with the basic recipes and a lack of snappy feel in the Nintendo Switch port.^[13] Johnny Chiodini of Eurogamer recommended the title, writing, "Overcooked 2 may be more of an improved recipe than a completely new menu, but it remains an excellent sequel and a delightful co-op experience", and praised the increased difficulty.^[14] In comparing the title with its predecessor, Andrew Reiner of Game Informer praised the title for its online play and for being less frustrating due to more forgiving scoring and level gating. Mitch Vogel of Nintendo Life and Stephen Tailby of Push Square praised the improvements in presentation and performance the game made over its predecessor.^[20][22]

Michael Leri of GameRevolution gave the game a 9 out of 10 and praised the game's ability to consistently remain fresh with teamwork-rewarding cooperative gameplay, dynamic level mechanics, and soundtrack.^[16] Kallie Plagge of GameSpot praised the throwing mechanic, writing, "The new throwing mechanic, too, adds a new dimension to both strategy and the inevitable chaos without overcomplicating things."^[17]

Sam Loveridge of GamesRadar+ criticized the lack of visual clarity during chaotic bouts of gameplay and the sluggish controls while stating, "...when you're in the midst of a level, all of the frustrations melt away, because after all this is really an experience that you aim to have with friends."^[18] Chris Schilling of PC Gamer also criticized the chaotic interface and inconsistent level gimmicks while saying that the game felt more like an expansion than a sequel.^[21]

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Result	Ref.
2018	Game Critics Awards	Best Family/Social Game	Won	[26]
		Best Independent Game	Nominated
	Golden Joystick Awards	Best Co-operative Game	Nominated	[27][28]
	The Game Awards 2018	Best Family Game	Won	[29][30]
	Gamers' Choice Awards	Fan Favorite Family-Friendly Multiplayer Game	Nominated	[31]
	Australian Games Awards	Family/Kids Title of the Year	Nominated	[32]
2019	National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards	Control Design, 2D or Limited 3D	Nominated	[33]
		Game, Franchise Family	Nominated
	SXSW Gaming Awards	Excellence in Multiplayer	Nominated	[34]
	15th British Academy Games Awards	British Game	Nominated	[35]
		Family	Nominated
		Multiplayer	Nominated
	Italian Video Game Awards	Best Family Game	Nominated	[36]
	Develop:Star Awards	Game of the Year	Won	[37][38]
	The Independent Game Developers' Association Awards	Best Social Game	Nominated	[39]
	British Academy Children's Awards	Game	Nominated	[40]

References

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3. Peters, Jay (February 15, 2021). "Overcooked All You Can Eat is coming to more platforms, with expanded crossplay on the way". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
4. Crecente, Brian (June 12, 2018). "Overcooked 2 Coming to Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, Xbox One". Variety. Archived from the original on July 9, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
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6. McWhertor, Michael (June 12, 2018). "Overcooked 2 announced, coming this August". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
7. Gilbert, Brian (June 18, 2018). "Overcooked 2 is just as hectic as ever". Polygon. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
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18. Loveridge, Sam (August 7, 2018). "Overcooked 2 review: "Mad, manic, and utterly hilarious"". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
19. Helm, Jordan (August 7, 2018). "Review: Overcooked 2". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
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21. Schilling, Chris (August 7, 2018). "Overcooked 2 review". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
22. Tailby, Stephen (August 7, 2018). "Overcooked 2 Review (PS4)". Push Square. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
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24. Chan, Stephanie (August 7, 2018). "Overcooked 2 review — No party is complete without a food fight". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
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29. McWhertor, Michael (November 13, 2018). "The Game Awards 2018 nominees led by God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2". Polygon. Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
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31. Glyer, Mike (November 19, 2018). "2018 Gamers' Choice Awards Nominees". File 770. Archived from the original on January 12, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
32. "Your 2018 Winners". Australian Games Awards. December 19, 2018. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
33. "Nominee List for 2018". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. February 11, 2019. Archived from the original on February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
34. Trent, Logan (February 11, 2019). "Here Are Your 2019 SXSW Gaming Awards Finalists!". South by Southwest. Archived from the original on February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
35. Fogel, Stefanie (March 14, 2019). "'God of War,' 'Red Dead 2' Lead BAFTA Game Awards Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
36. "Italian Video Game Awards Nominees and Winners". Italian Video Game Awards. April 11, 2019. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
37. Blake, Vikki (May 16, 2019). "Shortlist for Develop:Star Awards 2019 revealed". MCV. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
38. Blake, Vikki (July 11, 2019). "Here are this year's Develop:Star winners". MCV. Archived from the original on July 13, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
39. Stephenson, Suzi (September 19, 2019). "TIGA Announces Games Industry Awards 2019 Finalists". The Independent Game Developers' Association. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
40. Wiseman, Andrea (December 1, 2019). "BAFTA Children's Winners Include Emily Burnett, Bella Ramsay, CBeebies, 'Horrible Histories' & 'Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse'". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 2, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.

External links

• Official website