Shakes on a Plane – Review

We love Overcooked and when we saw Shakes on a Plane we thought it might be similar. It’s not but it’s still a great game it reminds us more of a smart phone game called Hello Kitty Café (which is one of my favs), but in my review for the game you’ll find out more.

Why Shakes on a Plane?

Shakes on a Plane is a colorful cooperative cooking game that combines the frantic teamwork of kitchen simulators with a humorous airline theme. Instead of preparing food in a restaurant, players work together as flight attendants trying to serve hungry passengers while flying through the sky. The result is a chaotic but entertaining experience that rewards communication, coordination, and quick thinking.

The premise is simple but creative. Players must prepare and serve milkshakes to passengers aboard a busy airplane. As the flight continues, more passengers request drinks, ingredients move around the cabin, and unexpected obstacles appear. The goal is to keep up with demand while working as efficiently as possible.

Gameplay revolves around cooperative multitasking. Players must gather ingredients like fruit, ice cream, and syrup, combine them in blenders, and deliver the finished milkshakes to waiting passengers. Because the airplane cabin is a limited space, teamwork becomes essential. One player might focus on preparing ingredients, another on blending, and another on delivering drinks.

What makes the game especially lively is how the environment changes during each level. Airplane cabins can shift or rearrange themselves mid-flight, forcing players to adapt quickly. Tables may move, pathways may change, and new obstacles can appear unexpectedly. These changes keep the gameplay unpredictable and encourage players to stay alert.

The controls are simple and easy to learn, making it accessible for new players. However, the challenge comes from the speed of the game and the coordination required between teammates. Communication is often the key to success, especially in later levels where orders arrive faster and the layout becomes more complicated.

Visually, the game uses a bright and cartoon-like art style that fits its humorous theme. Characters are exaggerated and expressive, and the airplane environments are colorful and playful rather than realistic. The cheerful presentation helps keep the game lighthearted even when the gameplay becomes hectic.

The soundtrack and sound effects also support the energetic atmosphere. Upbeat music plays during levels, adding to the sense of urgency while still keeping the tone fun. Sound effects help signal when orders are ready, ingredients are picked up, or passengers are waiting.

One of the game’s biggest strengths is its multiplayer focus. Playing with friends is where Shakes on a Plane truly shines. The cooperative nature of the gameplay often leads to funny moments when players accidentally bump into each other, drop ingredients, or scramble to finish an order just in time. These chaotic situations can create memorable experiences, especially during group play.

The game also encourages replayability through level progression and score-based goals. Players can return to earlier levels to improve their teamwork and earn higher scores.

However, the game does have some limitations.

One potential drawback is that the experience is much more enjoyable with multiple players. While the game can technically be played solo, managing all the tasks alone can feel overwhelming or repetitive. The design clearly favors cooperative play.

Another limitation is the amount of content. While the levels are creative, some players may feel that the game doesn’t offer enough variety in the long term. The core gameplay loop — preparing milkshakes and serving passengers — remains mostly the same throughout the game.

Additionally, the chaotic nature of the gameplay can sometimes feel stressful, especially during later levels. Players who prefer slower-paced or more relaxed games might find the constant multitasking tiring.

Despite these issues, the game succeeds at delivering a fun cooperative challenge.

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

Fun cooperative gameplay focused on teamwork.

Creative airplane setting for a cooking game.

Bright, colorful cartoon-style visuals.

Easy-to-learn controls.

Chaotic gameplay leads to funny multiplayer moments.

Replayable levels with score-based goals.

Cons

The game is less enjoyable when played alone.

The gameplay loop can become repetitive over time.

Content variety may feel limited for long-term play.

Later levels can become hectic and stressful for players who prefer a calmer experience.

Summary

Overall, Shakes on a Plane is an entertaining cooperative cooking game that shines brightest when played with friends. Its humorous theme, colorful presentation, and fast-paced teamwork create a lively experience that can lead to plenty of laughs. While it may not offer endless variety, it succeeds at delivering chaotic multiplayer fun in a unique setting high above the clouds.