Best Horror Cooking Simulator Games

Key Takeaways

Horror cooking simulators blend humor with scares, turning simple tasks into chilling experiences.
Games like Night Doner and At Tony’s add horror elements to cooking, making players fear mundane activities.
From preparing late-night kebabs to running a murderous operation, horror cooking simulators offer unique and unsettling experiences.

As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for horror games that also manage to weave intriguing narratives around mundane activities, I find myself quite smitten with this list of culinary-themed horrors. It’s as if these developers have tapped into some universal fear we all share – the dread of working a late shift at a job we can’t stand, only to discover it’s haunted by something far more terrifying than our bosses.

Experimenting with cooking simulators can be quite enjoyable due to their calming, rhythmic play or the thrilling chaos of a bustling kitchen. However, it’s not typical for such games to spring to mind when considering horror. But imagine if your aspiration to be a chef turns into a terrifying nightmare, and your kitchen transforms into a hellish landscape?

Because a horror cooking simulator idea seems ridiculous, many of these games incorporate comedic elements of mockery. However, this doesn’t mean that players won’t find themselves trembling at the thought of preparing their next meal. These are some top-notch horror cooking simulator games, ranging from terrifying fast food restaurants to cursed cafés and haunted street food trucks.

9 Night Doner

Serve Late Night Snacks At Your Own Risk

Release: September 3, 2024
Developer: eys
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux

In “Night Doner“, you step into the shoes of a fresh recruit on the night shift at a doner kebab shop, filling in for an employee who mysteriously vanished. Your task is to attend to and prepare orders for customers, but working solo during the night could turn out to be riskier than it initially appears.

As a fervent admirer, I must say that, despite its brevity, Night Doner manages to instill a palpable sense of dread through its haunting soundtrack and the eerie warnings from the customers. The idea of crafting kebabs in the pitch-black stillness of the night is undeniably spine-chilling.

8 At Tony’s

Something Else Roams The Pizzeria

Release: April 23, 2024
Developers: GoodSleepGames, JB, TinyBuilderGames
Platform: Windows

At Tony’s, you find yourself immersed in a pizza-making simulator. The fate of this family business now rests with Joe, following the mysterious disappearance of the last night-shift worker. As you delve into Joe’s role, you soon uncover that there’s something else lurking within the pizzeria. It becomes your task to figure out a way to put an end to whatever sinister plans it harbors.

In the pizza-making scenes from “At Tony’s“, there’s an enjoyable tension that keeps players on the edge of their seats. Though the storytelling isn’t particularly groundbreaking, it offers a less intense, horror gaming experience for those seeking a more relaxed horror game.

7 Boil Noodles At Night

How Far Would You Go For A Craving?

Release: 2023
Developer: arydk
Platform: Windows

Could boiling noodles at night really be terrifying? In the story titled “Boil Noodles at Night“, our character decides to cook some noodles as a bedtime snack, hoping it will aid sleep. However, their late-night trip to the store turns out to be risky when they come home to find an unexpected packet of noodles mysteriously appearing.

Although centered around an apparently straightforward activity – cooking noodles – this game serves dual purposes, acting as a subtle warning about the perils of interacting with strangers. Remarkably, it achieves a great deal even with just two settings and minimal user engagement. In the game Boil Noodles at Night , there are three distinct conclusions.

6 Kiosk

Strange Things Happen On The Night Shift

Release: 2024
Developer: Vivi
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux

On damp nights, a snack shack could be a lifesaver for late-night wanderers with chills and hunger pangs. Snack shack finds you in your role as an employee at this warm and inviting food stand, cooking up hot dogs and burgers for the throngs of customers stopping by. However, the game becomes more intense as the backstory of the last worker is gradually unfolded.

The kiosk offers plenty of genuinely amusing scenes, making it an excellent choice for enthusiasts of independent comedy-horror games. It boasts a diverse cast of unusual characters – some expressing gratitude, others delivering ominous warnings – creating a mix of humor, enigma, and terror throughout the gameplay experience.

5 Happy’s Humble Burger Farm

Explores The Horrors Of Fast Food Work

Release: December 3, 2021
Developer: Scythe Dev Team
Platform: Windows

At Happy’s Modest Burger Farm, you step into the shoes of a fast-food worker, handling various tasks such as preparing meals, managing waste, and even trapping vermin. However, things aren’t always what they seem, and delving deeper into the farm and the city will uncover some unsettling truths.

Regarding the atmosphere, it’s tough to distinguish Happy’s Humble Burger Farm from games like Five Nights At Freddy’s, but any borrowed concepts are developed and reimagined into a wholly original and terrifying adventure. This game includes boss fights, detailed backstories, and tough mini-games, making it a unique gaming experience.

4 Cooking Companions

The Way To The Heart Really Is Through The Stomach

Release: October 7, 2021
Developer: Deer Dream Studios
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux

In simpler terms, “Cooking Companions” is a game that combines elements of visual novels, dating simulators, and a mysterious, dark theme. The story begins when the protagonist offers shelter to four strangers who got lost in the Tatra Mountains. At first, everything appears peaceful. But as torrential rain causes the surrounding area to flood, the characters’ desperation grows and food supplies start running low.

In this game, players gain access to recipes for creating novel dishes, with the help of their strangely cheerful vegetable sidekicks, known as ‘chompettes.’ Fans of psychological thrillers and crime mysteries are encouraged to explore this unique blend of Doki Doki Literature Club and Cooking Mama gameplay.

3 Ravenous Devils

Manage A Murderous Operation To Rival Sweeny Todd

Release: April 29, 2022
Developer: Bad Vices Games
Platform: Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

The game titled “Ravenous Devils” revolves around Hildred and Percival, a ruthless pair who have established their businesses in Victorian London. As the player, you assume control of both characters, managing Hildred’s tavern and Percival’s tailor shop. However, there’s a grim twist: the food served at the tavern is derived from human sources, and the clothes at the tailor shop are unwittingly provided by the victims themselves.

In Ravenous Devils, earnings are employed for enhancing equipment and discovering novel dishes, but the action is frequently halted by scenes and occurrences involving the enigmatic character “J,” who poses a threat to the entire operation. Add to that the tight deadlines of catering to customers, and this game offers a tense, authentic gothic horror atmosphere.

2 The Closing Shift

A Cute Cafe Job Takes A Sinister Turn

Located in suburban Japan, “The Closing Shift” is a horror game from Chilla’s Art studio. In this game, you assume the character of a girl who works as a barista at “Chilla’s Coffee” shop. Your task is to prepare and serve drinks for customers, but as whispers spread about ghostly apparitions and killers, your work during the night shifts becomes increasingly unsettling.

The game, titled “The Closing Shift,” effectively builds up a chilling atmosphere for the player. Behind the normal interactions with customers and routine coffee brewing hides a deeply unsettling storyline. Ominous messages that mysteriously appear contribute to an eerie feeling of being under surveillance. The player’s experience culminates in three different conclusions.

1 Arctic Eggs

Master The Frying Pan

Release: May 16, 2024
Developers: The Water Museum, cockydoody, abmarnie, Cameron Ginex
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux

In “Arctic Eggs“, you take control of a character armed with a frying pan, embarking on a journey to cater to the denizens of a city reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop. Each resident has their unique narrative, and though your protagonist may appear inconsequential, the game centers around the profound social implications of cooking. The intrigue lies not only in the frying process but also in the impact of the food’s weight and shape on how you handle the pan.

Although it seems charming at first glance, Arctic Eggs isn’t just about sunshine and lollipops. Its cyberpunk style and chilling dystopian backdrop foster an eerie ambiance. Players will be preparing unsettling meals for peculiar characters throughout the game. In summary, Arctic Eggs is a captivating game that sci-fi horror enthusiasts won’t want to miss out on.

2024-11-25 08:14