The original Cooking Simulator was a masterclass in “clumsy-on-purpose” physics, turning the simple act of pouring soup into a high-stakes gamble with gravity. Its sequel, Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together, arrives with a mission to refine that chaos into a professional culinary career—and this time, you don’t have to burn down the kitchen alone.
Developer: Big Cheese Studio
Publisher: Big Cheese Studio
Release Date: 31 March 2026
CPU: Intel Core i5 / AMD Equivalent
GPU: Geforce GTX 1060 / AMD Equivalent
RAM: 8 GB
HDD: 20 GB
Available to buy at: Steam Store
Checkout the X pages here for more information:
Review code provided for review.
The Main Course: Multiplayer and Blueprints
The subtitle isn’t just marketing fluff; co-op is the soul of this sequel. Whether you’re playing with one friend or a full brigade, the dynamic shifts from frantic solo multitasking to a game of communication. In my sessions, having one person dedicated to prep (chopping and seasoning) while another managed the grill and plating felt genuinely rewarding. When the rhythm clicks, it’s a satisfying dance; when it fails, it’s a hilarious disaster of dropped steaks and fire extinguisher mishaps.
The standout feature, however, is the new Blueprint System. Unlike the first game’s rigid recipe adherence, Better Together encourages “culinary improvisation.” You can start with a base recipe—say, a burger or a pasta dish—and tweak the ingredients, techniques, and presentation to create a signature version. This adds a layer of ownership to your restaurant that was missing before, making your progression through the 11 customer archetypes (like the demanding VIPs or the impatient fast-eaters) feel more personal.
Kitchen Upgrades and Quality of Life
Big Cheese has clearly listened to feedback regarding the first game’s friction. The addition of a personal inventory for essentials like your knife, salt, and spatula is a godsend. No more frantically scanning the counters for the pepper mill while a fish fillet turns to ash. The new skill tree also adds meaningful progression, with perks like thermal vision to check doneness without a thermometer and the ability to calm impatient diners.
Visually, the game is a significant step up. The lighting on the stainless steel surfaces and the realistic textures of the 200+ ingredients make the kitchen a place you actually want to spend time in. Optimization is generally solid, supported by DLSS and XeSS, though physics-heavy moments in co-op can still cause the occasional frame stutter.
Final Thoughts
Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together is a more ambitious, polished, and social successor to the 2019 cult hit. It trades some of the slapstick absurdity for deeper management and creative freedom. While it currently suffers from some launch-week bugs and physics desyncs, the core loop of “design, cook, and serve” is more addictive than ever.
If you have a dedicated sous-chef to play with, this is an easy recommendation. Even for solo chefs, the blueprint system alone makes it worth the upgrade. It’s a dish that’s 90% cooked—delicious now, but it will be world-class after a few more patches.
