With the rise of independent game studios creating a plethora of “indie” games in recent years, one could only expect that many new, innovative, and fun creations would reach the consumer market — and by extension our homes. What many of us could not expect, however, is the joy (and frustration) that came with Overcooked, a title developed by Ghost Town Games.

The premise of the game is relatively simple: prepare the ingredients and carry out orders. While it may appear to be akin to any regular food-based mobile game, Overcooked gains much of its charm and enjoyment from two main sources: its multiplayer and level design. First and foremost, while the game can technically be played by a single person, it is heavily encouraged to play with 2-4 players, as it adds to the chaos and fun of the game. Now, you and whoever else you play with are tasked to upkeep the constant flow of orders – with the additional caveat of not getting in the way of the other players. This matches perfectly with the — let’s call it “interesting” — level design for a cooking game. After all, what other cooking title has you avoiding lava pits, sliding through ice, or making orders aboard a pirate ship? The hazardous level design and the need to cooperate with your teammates is sure to prepare for a night of laughs, frustration, and enjoyment for the whole group.

Cooperation is not the only option, however. Overcooked also offers the alternative of competitive play, in which participants are split into two teams and try to get more orders in than the opposition. Friends now become foes as you compete to be the best cooks out there!

Finally, the game is also marked by a relative simplicity making it easy for nearly anyone to pick it up and play. There are literally only four controls: Move, Chop, Hold, and Dash. This way, even someone completely new to the controller or who isn’t frequently playing video games can learn quickly and participate with only a little bit of practice.

Altogether, the Overcooked series of games is a simple yet fun and competitive set of party games made for almost everyone. The multiplayer, creative level design and basic controls make the game enjoyable for most who play it, as well as their teammates. While Overcooked and Overcooked 2 do not have online multiplayer, they make for great party games when interacting with friends, or even just playing with family. Each game has over 35 levels each, in addition to free DLC levels and stages. Plus, for those who are increasingly curious about both games, Overcooked: All You Can Eat contains the original two games, as well as online play and extra content! — Suffice to say that there’ll always be another challenge for players to go up against.

The games are available on Steam, the Playstation series of consoles, the Xbox series of consoles, and the Nintendo Switch.