Bake ‘n Switch – Review

Bake ‘n Switch is a new addition to our collection of games, it’s a cooperative action game by Streamline Games that combines elements of cooking and combat. It aims to capture the chaotic fun of games like Overcooked while introducing its unique twist with doughy creatures and environmental challenges.

Why Bake ‘n Switch?

Bake ‘n Switch is a fun, visually appealing game best enjoyed in short bursts with friends. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel for party games, it’s worth trying for fans of cooperative cooking chaos and lighthearted fun.

In Bake ‘n Switch, players must team up to grab dough creatures, merge them into larger forms, and bake them in an oven before time runs out. The process is made harder by obstacles like rivers, quicksand, and enemies trying to contaminate the dough. This mix of strategy and speed makes the gameplay both engaging and chaotic.

Bake ‘n Switch has some similarities to Overcooked, Shakes on a Plane and Lumberhill. In all those you work together to make orders to serve, whether it’s food or lumber it still has similarities to how it works.

How We Test Games

For testing games we use a Nintendo Switch firmware version 2H. Hardware includes Joy-con and Pro controller on a large screen TV. Tests are done with up to 5 players. We take turns playing and evaluating games.

Whenever possible we play multiple players. We also use a Nintendo 2DS, DS XL, and for PC games we use a Ryzen 7 1700x CPU, AMD RX580, running on Win 10. This game is up to 4-players on one Nintendo Switch.

Pros

The Gameplay is engaging, players merge dough creatures and bake them while fending off enemies and environmental hazards, which adds variety and challenge.

The game features adorable dough characters and a charming, light-hearted aesthetic that appeals to casual gamers, and the foxes are just adorable!

The “Bun Solo” mode offers a cleaner, less chaotic gameplay experience compared to co-op, making it a good option for solo players.

Each playable character has unique abilities, such as anchoring or flaming, that add a strategic layer to the game.

Local Co-Op and PVP, perfect for couch gaming sessions with friends, supporting up to 4 players locally.

Cons

With only two main themes (tropical and desert) across 100 levels, the game can feel repetitive over time.

The Lack of Online Matchmaking might be a problem for some people, Online multiplayer requires friends who already own the game; no random matchmaking limits accessibility.

When you need to have two different kinds of orders it can be almost imposable to tell which dough creature is which, making wrong orders.

The Environmental obstacles and character movement can sometimes feel clunky or overly challenging.

Summary

Overall, Bake ‘n Switch is a charming game that blends fast-paced action with strategic elements. While it doesn’t reach the same heights as Overcooked, it’s worth playing for its cute visuals and unique gameplay mechanics. It shines most in local co-op but falls short in Versus content.