In our library of Switch games are several similar games to Overcooked. We have over 40 games to choose from. But not all co-op games are the same. Kirby Star Allies is great co-op fun but it’s nothing like Overcooked.

Co-op games are any game that requires cooperation between the players. Which requires two or more players. In our case, we have four players, sometimes five. But it’s exciting to watch people playing too. If only 2 players can play, such as Totally Reliable Delivery (Switch only), we all enjoy watching.

Instead of player vs player action, co-op games have players on the same team to achieve a goal. The idea is to work together but working against each other happens from time to time too.

Winning isn’t everything. Having fun while learning is part of most co-op couch games. Overcooked is a great example. Win, lose, or butting heads the game is fun.

Getting everyone on the same page takes some time. It takes a lot of practice to get some team cohesion. In the meantime, the madness provides a lot of entertainment.

It’s very rewarding once the team starts to gel and wins more often. Not just from winning but it’s very satisfying working together as a team. Something that sets co-op games apart from other competitive games.

Getting good at a game is rewarding in itself. Getting good as a team at a game is even better. There’s something about being part of a team that is different than individual success.

I never liked team projects in school. Mainly because they were work and being paired with people I barely knew. Co-op games are meant to be played with friends or family. It isn’t a chore, it’s fun.

Originally, co-op games in the past were side scrollers or shooting games. Players didn’t do much more than share the same screen space. While I always had more fun to playing with a friend than against them.

Newer co-op games really capture the essence of teamwork. Overcooked, and games like it, are built on the ability of everyone to work together.

Instead of cooking, this game is about moving. Up to 4 players can join in and try their hand at moving. The clock is ticking and typical household items need moved. Whether they get there in one piece or not is optional.

If you like Overcooked then Moving Out 2 is worth checking out. From the corny jokes to the themed levels, this game checks every box for fun as Overcooked.

It’s easy to learn, the controls are intuitive, and anyone can pick it up. There’s a light narrative like Overcooked but the main appeal of this game is the gameplay.

Instead of filling orders players work together to move items from point A to B. It sounds simple but is actually a lot of fun.

In lieu of delivering food this game has you delivering cars. People need their car parked or brought to them. It’s up to you and your teammates to shuffle all the cars around.

Whether you’re good or bad at driving, all that matters is the vehicle arrives at the designated spot in time. While the game revolves around driving cars around, it feels a lot like walking around. At any rate the controls aren’t too bad to learn.

Compared to Overcooked this game is less complicated. Simply pick up or drop off cars. However, it’s faster paced and more chaotic than Overcooked. Very Very Valet is every bit as fun as Overcooked.

In this game you play as a construction worker instead of a chef. Rooms need remodeling and it’s up to you and your teammates to get the job done in time.

Much like Overcooked, Tools Up requires a lot of teamwork. Players must work together to avoid making mistakes or messes. A blueprint lays out the painting, flooring, or decorations that need done.

Each player has to keep busy with their task or you won’t finish in time. In addition to the remodeling, receiving deliveries keeps your team on its toes. Cleaning up spills and fixing mistakes also costs time.

In my opinion, Tools Up is very similar to Overcooked. If you enjoy Overcooked then there’s good reason to believe you would enjoy Tools Up!

As an alternative to playing a chef, Out of Space has you playing as a galactic janitor. Aliens and the goo they spawn from have overrun the spaceship you’re responsible for. Armed with a bucket and a mop, your task is to clean up the ship and restore power to every room.

Playing as a janitor isn’t as glamorous as being a chef. There aren’t any orders to fill. Simply restore power to all the rooms to win. You can choose between a 6, 9, or 12 room ship.

Out of Space keeps your team busy cleaning up goo and aliens while also eating and sleeping. Taking and keeping each room clean requires the efforts of everyone playing.

I’m a bit biased since this is one of my favorite games ever. But I think Out of Space is the best alternative to Overcooked!

Instead of playing as a chef, Lumberhill has you playing as a lumberjack. Orders need filled in a timely fashion to win. But these orders are for lumber and animals.

Lumberhill plays like Overcooked since the order system is similar. Players need to chop trees or herd animals to their designated delivery area to fill orders. While orders are simpler, there’s more obstacles to completing an order than in Overcooked.

Players are kept busy putting out fires, avoiding hostile animals, or falling to their death in Lumberhill. If you’re looking for a game similar to Overcooked then Lumberhill fits the bill.

In this game players are flight attendants instead of chefs. Although, there is chopping, cooking, and serving involved. Players are tasked with keeping everyone happy during the flight.

Shakes on a Plane is larger in scope than Overcooked. In addition to prepping and delivering food, players are tasked with cleaning up trash, passing out throw up bags, delivering luggage so passengers can parachute to their destination, keeping passengers seated, avoiding turbulence, and, of course, snakes.

There are also four unique playable characters, each with their own special ability. Overall, I’d say Shakes on a Plane is most similar to Overcooked. However, it’s a bit more complicated.

If you found Overcooked too easy and are ready to take your team to the next level Shakes on a Plane is a great option.

An alternative to playing as chefs is working together to figure out puzzles. Each level has new obstacles that need overcome. Players need to reunite a baby with it’s mother, provide heat to a cold lodger, initiate fireworks, or deliver eggs.

This game is similar to Overcooked in that it’s another four player co-op game. An Inventioneer needs to grab a gear, belt, level, or other items then place them in the best way to make progress. Players then make adjustments until the task is completed successfully.

While not as fast paced as Overcooked, Inventioneers captures the teamwork and cooperation found in Overcooked. If you’re looking for a game similar to Overcooked then Inventioneers is worth a try.

What sets Overcooked apart from other games is the cooperative nature of the game. As opposed to a competitive nature, Overcooked requires the coordinated efforts of every player, not just a few.

Everyone doing their own thing can work, but it isn’t the best way to play. Delegating tasks, communication, and time management are hallmarks of Overcooked.

Which are also part of all of the games I listed here. There are other fun co-op games, such as Space Food Truck, but they don’t play like Overcooked. True, turn based card games or side scrollers are fun co-op games. But as much as I love Kirby Star Allies, I have to admit it’s nothing like Overcooked.

The games that made my list are similar to Overcooked. They share many of the features that make Overcooked so great.

The games on this list include the same innovative gameplay mechanics found in Overcooked! Instead of jumping, shooting, or attacking. Overcooked has players preparing, serving, or washing. Which really draws out a team effort to win.

The games on this list involve cleaning, herding, painting, driving, and placing components to win. Instead of racking up a high score, achievements are task based. Which makes playing as a team all the more fun.

Every game on my list offers an engaging multiplayer experience. We have played many multiplayer games over the years and these are the ones that top our list of games that provide a similar experience to Overcooked.

Cooperative gameplay is a popular choice among gamers. The thrill of working together with friends or family members to overcome challenges and reach common goals adds excitement and depth to the gaming experience.

However, co-op games also bring about a healthy dose of competition, as players strive to outperform their teammates. We have been known to stray from the expected way to play, just to engage in food fights, fling each other off the map, or see who can do the worst.

One of the key aspects of co-op gaming is teamwork. In games like Overcooked, we must communicate effectively and coordinate our actions to succeed. Each player has a specific role to play in completing tasks and achieving objectives, and success hinges on how well team members work together. When everyone fulfills our responsibilities and supports each other, the team can achieve a significantly enjoyable gaming experience.

While cooperation is essential in co-op games, some games on my list also offer competitive modes that allow players to go head-to-head against each other. This adds an extra layer of excitement and intensity to the gameplay, as friends or family members compete to prove who is the best.

Whether it’s racing against each other in Very Very Valet or battling it out in Lumberhill, competitive modes offer a fun and challenging way to test your skills and see who comes out on top.

One of the great things about co-op games is that they are accessible to players of all skill levels. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a newcomer to the gaming world, co-op games offer a fun and engaging experience that anyone can enjoy.

Simple controls and straightforward gameplay mechanics allow anyone to quickly pick up the basics and start playing with their friends or family members.

Another benefit of co-op gaming is that there are games available for every skill level. Whether you’re looking for a casual experience or a more challenging adventure, there are co-op games to suit your preferences.

From family-friendly titles like Tools Up to more intense experiences like Shakes on a Plane, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. If you want a challenge, try a 12 room ship with 4 players in Out of Space with secret Santa rules. One of the hardest games we’ve ever played.

Co-op games often feature simplified controls that make it easy for players to jump in and start playing. Most of the games I listed only use 3 buttons. However, beneath the surface, are often complex strategies and tactics to master.

Whether it’s coordinating your actions with your teammates, devising a plan to overcome a tough challenge, or strategizing to outwit your opponents, I’ve found co-op games offer a depth of gameplay that keeps us engaged and coming back for more.

Gaming has long been a social activity, bringing friends and family members together to bond and have fun. Co-op games amplify this social aspect, as players must communicate and collaborate with each other to succeed.

Whether you’re working together to solve a puzzle, strategizing to take down a boss, or competing against each other in a friendly match, co-op games build connections and strengthen relationships through shared experiences. I know our 4 player Switch days are the highlight of my week.

Playing co-op games with friends or family members have strengthened bonds and created lasting memories for us. Our shared victories and defeats, the laughter and excitement, and the moments of teamwork and collaboration all contribute to a sense of camaraderie and unity.

By working together towards a common goal, players can forge stronger relationships and create a sense of solidarity that extends beyond the game itself.

One of the best parts in my experience of playing co-op games is sharing moments of triumph and failure with my teammates. Whether I’m high-fiving each other after a hard-fought victory or laughing together at a silly mistake (usually mine), co-op games elicit a range of emotions that bring everyone closer together. Our shared experiences and memories created through gameplay have strengthened my friendships and provided a sense of joy and connection that extends beyond the screen.

In conclusion, co-op games offer more than just fun – they provide a platform for players to unite, collaborate, and build relationships through shared experiences. Whether you’re working together to overcome challenges, competing against each other in friendly matches, or simply enjoying each other’s company in a virtual world. Co-op games bring people together in a way that few other activities can. So grab your controllers, team up with your friends or family members, and start playing some of the games listed here – because when it comes to co-op gaming, teamwork really does make the dream work.

Discover the Best Games Like Overcooked for Endless Fun brought to you by David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

While they all follow the same basic premise and gameplay. There are some subtle differences we discovered. All the games center around playing as chefs. Preparing, cooking, serving, and washing dishes.

The main difference between the original Overcooked and Overcooked 2 is:

• Throwing
• Dashing
• Order complexity

Overcooked All You Can Eat is not a separate game. Rather it’s the combination of all the Overcooked content. It has Overcooked 1, Overcooked 2, bonus content, and an assist mode.

If you want both games plus bonus material then Overcooked All You Can Eat is the best option. However, if you already have the original Overcooked and Overcooked 2, then the primary addition is the assist mode. We got it anyway since it’s one of our favorite games and we love all the different chefs to choose from.

Throwing is new to Overcooked 2. We found it’s useful in just about every level. While it would be useful in Overcooked 1, throwing is not available in the original.

Any chef can throw. Not all items can be thrown. Throwing doesn’t work with dishes, pots, pans, or mixing bowls. You can throw any ingredient.

The ability to throw changes the game in a fundamental way. For example, in Overcooked you have to go to a pot to add an onion to the soup. In Overcooked 2 you can throw the onion from the chopper to the pot.

Ingredients needed to be carried to the chopper in Overcooked. While you can just throw them to the chopper in Overcooked 2. Throwing saves a lot of time spent walking and cuts down on the necessary dashing.

Dashing is possible in every version of Overcooked. However, it’s toned down in Overcooked 2. In the first version dashing is powerful enough to send chefs flying off the map. Overcooked 2 nerfs dashing so it isn’t as fast or powerful.

It’s so powerful in the original version there’s a dashing trick to kind of throw items to chefs across small gaps. Actually throwing items is much better though.

In Overcooked, we almost constantly used dash. If we wanted to get 3 stars then dashing is essential. Except on ice levels. Then dashing causes more harm than good.

While dashing is definitely useful in Overcooked 2. We found we used throwing equally as much as dashing in that version. Whereas dashing was used the majority of the time in Overcooked 1 since it was the only option.

The last major difference is order complexity. When we played Overcooked 2 we noticed the orders tend to require more items or steps to finish. In the original Overcooked there were simple soup orders, cheese pizza, burritos, salads, etc. Orders in Overcooked 2 added several toppings to pizza, more items in a salad, and complicated baked items.

I’m not a fan of 4 or 5 ingredient orders that require mixing, baking or frying in Overcooked 2. Give me onion soup, cheese pizza, and burritos of Overcooked 1 all day.

While orders in Overcooked 1 are simpler, the gameplay is not as forgiving. We found Overcooked 1 has short rounds requiring you to be a regular Frank Bunker Gilbreth. He’s the guy from the late 1800’s who came up with “the best way” to do something.

If you’ve ever worked in a factory or on an assembly line then you’ve no doubt been introduced to Frank Bunker Gilbreth’s efficiency. In my experience, Overcooked is a masterclass in efficiency.

We found keeping busy isn’t enough to get 3 stars on every level. And 3 stars are required to get to the final level. We found you have to run a tight kitchen in Overcooked 1. Making sure to get the assembly line going as fast as possible with as little waste as possible.

If too much time is spent cooking or chopping, not enough orders get filled. While the follow up to the original loosens up a bit, the orders are more complicated.

Call me crazy, but I prefer the simpler orders and blazing assembly line feel of Overcooked 1. At least until later levels. The lava, ice, and space levels are brutal in my experience.

You spend much of the game making use of the dash button only to be punished for using it at all on any level with ice or lava. Just staying on the platform long enough to get 1 order filled is hard on any level with ice or lava.

Then there’s the space levels which require a high level of efficiency. We mostly play with 4 chefs but had to drop 2. It’s the only way we were able to get the 3rd star required to advance on many levels.

The final level in Overcooked 1 is actually fun. It’s challenging but not impossible. There’s a falling hazard but it isn’t as bad as the ice or lava levels. Overall, it’s my favorite version. Mainly due to the simpler orders.

Overcooked 2 dials back the dashing and adds throwing ingredients. Two welcome additions since the dashing is a bit unpredictable in the first game.

I’ll never forget the first time I threw some lettuce from the ingredient box to the chopper. I knew I was going to like this feature. Of course, the first thing my fellow chefs did was have a food fight. Burying each other with an endless supply of ingredients.

Needless to say throwing is a winner. The second version seems to focus more on moving ingredient boxes, adding conveyor belts, adding portals, and buttons.

While we still had to focus on efficiency, it didn’t feel like a blazing fast assembly line. Mostly just figuring out an effective workflow around all the obstacles worked for Overcooked 2.

Many levels in Overcooked 2 had us switching roles. Ingredients would only be available for a short time, the stove would move, or platforms moved.

Overcooked 2 definitely mixed it up with new orders, choppers such as the guillotine, canons to move between platforms, portals, and many more buttons.

Just completing an order felt like more of a challenge in Overcooked 2. Whereas the original felt like an efficiency machine. While efficiency matters in both. Overcooked 2 seemed a slower pace since it was more focused on working around moving obstacles and changing circumstances.

The final level in Overcooked 2 took place over a few environments but overall was fun too.

Since this is just a combination of the first two games there isn’t anything essentially different about the gameplay. This version adds an assist mode which allows you to adjust the timers and difficulty.

It also includes all the bonus content. Bonus content includes a player vs player mode, themed levels, and additional chefs. While all the bonus content is available separately with the original Overcooked and Overcooked 2. It’s built into Overcooked All You Can Eat.

None of the Overcooked games are well balanced. We found it’s best to play with 2 or 4 players. Playing with 3 is much harder for some reason. Only a lunatic plays Overcooked solo. Switching between chefs is enough to drive anyone crazy.

We cut our teeth so to speak on the original Overcooked. Overcooked 2 mixes it up in a good way. And Overcooked All You Can Eat brings a lot to the table.

If you haven’t played the Overcooked games they’re worth checking out.

Differences between Overcooked versions brought to you by David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

Because of this, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite games that we know for sure can be played with four players on one Nintendo Switch console. Please note that to be able to play these or any other games for the Nintendo Switch with four players, you’ll need to have at least one controller or set of controllers for each person playing.

Moving Out

In Moving Out, you and your friends can become Packmore’s “best” moving team and save the world (along with everybody’s stuff). The concept is fairly simple; carry everything from one place to another as fast as you can. Of course, you’ll have to avoid ghosts, guava-lava, giant crushers, oil slicks, and oncoming traffic while you do it! You’ll also occasionally have to chase down your cargo and keep it from escaping the truck while you load everything else on! We have a more in-depth review of Moving Out. We also have a gameplay guide that lists out all the levels, and we have an achievements guide that tells you how to get 100% on every level in the main campaign.

Moving Out 2

Moving Out 2 is the sequel to Moving Out, and it includes even more locations than the first. In this game, the F.A.R.T.’s (Furniture Arrangement and Relocation Technicians) will be traveling to new dimensions and will leave no box unmoved. This game also has more types of levels, such as score attack, and moving in, which is now a type of level rather than a mode like it was in the first game. You can read more about what we think of the game here in our review of Moving Out 2.

Overcooked!

In Overcooked! You save the world by cooking! Chop, scrub, dash, and deliver orders as fast as you can to curb the hunger of the Ever Peckish! Master the many challenges that each dynamic kitchen has to offer as you cook your way to victory. You’ll have to make orders such as soup, fish-and-chips, hamburgers, and pizza, in some of the most unimaginable places like outer-space, inside volcanoes, and even in multiple trucks driving alongside each other on the highway! You can read more of our thoughts about this game in this review of Overcooked! right here on Family Game Squad.

Overcooked! 2

An amazing sequel to Overcooked, Overcooked! 2 takes the principles established in the first game and manages to refine and improve upon them. It even introduces new mechanics, such as the ability to throw ingredients! This game has some of the same recipes as the original, but it also adds in sushi, cakes/pancakes, and more! This time in the Onion Kingdom, the Onion King has accidentally unleashed a hangry horde of Unbread monsters! While you don’t really need to have played the first game to understand the story of this one, I still recommend getting both since they’re both great games.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Just like most other installments in the Mario Kart series, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe offers lots of high-speed fun and madness for all. Up to four players can participate in Grand Prix, Battle, and VS Modes with just a single console and four controllers. It’s our number one most played game on the Switch, so all of us here at Family Game Squad can highly recommend this one! We’ve had plenty of fun times with this game, and you can about some of our best moments in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe here.

Super Mario Party

With a whopping eighty two mini-games that support four players on a single Nintendo Switch, there’s lots to do in Super Mario Party! Not to mention all the game modes, such as Mario Party, Partner Party, River Survival, Sound Stage, Mariothon, and Square Off. As a side note, this game does not support Pro-Controllers, meaning that you’d need four individual Joy-Cons to be able to play with four players.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

Go for gold in these super-powered sports events starring your favorite characters from the Mario and Sonic universes! Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 features real-life olympic sports events such as equestrian, relay, rugby, football (soccer), table tennis, and many others. In Addition, there are “Dream Events”, which are events that are somewhat based on real life events, only with some unique twists thrown in, and some of them even take place in iconic locations from Mario’s and Sonic’s other adventures, such as the Mushroom Kingdom from Mario Odyssey or Metropolis from Sonic Forces!

Disney Tsum Tsum Festival

Play as the adorable Tsum Tsum versions of characters from popular Disney movies in lots of fun mini-games! In Disney Tsum Tsum Festival, there’s mini-games like Tsum Maze (Pacman), Tsum Curling, Spinner Battle, and more! Plus in each mini-game you can choose to play in either co-op or competitive mode, which completely changes how the game works! This game also includes challenges for each mini-game via Bingo Challenge Cards which provide more opportunities to earn coins (which you use to unlock characters), adding just that much more to the already fun-filled mini-games!

Team Sonic Racing

How could you go wrong with a game where the fastest thing alive teams up with his friends and drives some of the fastest race cars on the planet? In Team Sonic Racing, you don’t just share your points in grand prix. You can also send your items to your teammates to help them take down the competition, or help them with a slipstream boost if they’re going a little slow by driving near them, or they can follow in your tracks to build up a small speed boost! All of which adds points to your Team Ultimate meter that, once full, lets your whole team perform a Team Ultimate speed boost that makes you all invincible!

Carnival Games

Have a fun day at the carnival without ever leaving your living room! In Carnival Games, you can take part in twenty fun mini-games, ranging from flying mini-rockets through outer space tunnels to bouncing around collecting bananas! You even play each game as your own custom made avatar! And if you want to just jump into the action without having to make a character the first time you play, the game comes with some premade characters ready for you to choose from.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

Race the clock together in these purr-fect 3D platformer games! In Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, Bowser has captured the seven Sprixie Princesses, and up to four players can team up and play as either Mario, Luigi, Toad, Peach, or (later) Rosalina to save the day! In Bowser’s Fury, Bowser is on a rampage that even his own son, Bowser Jr., can’t stop alone! Explore the various islands around Lake Lapcat to find and collect Cat Shines to clear the goop and calm Bowser down!

Kirby Star Allies

Make friends wherever you go in this side-scrolling adventure! In Kirby Star Allies, player one plays as Kirby, while the other players control Kirby’s friends and enemies-turned-allies. All players can harness elemental abilities that affect the environment and enemies in unique ways, and each player can combine their powers to get new abilities, such as combining the sword ability with Burning Leo’s fire breath to get a Sizzle Sword that can slice and burn obstacles at the same time!

Kirby Fighters 2

Battle for glory with (or against) your friends in Kirby Fighters 2! Win battles to level up and unlock more stages, abilities, and headgear to choose from! With four players, you can do either free for all battles or team battles where you could do two versus two, two versus one versus one, or even three versus one! And if you have save data from Kirby Star Allies (listed earlier in this post) or Super Kirby Clash (a free download on the Nintendo Switch eShop that can also be done with up to four players on one console), you can even unlock exclusive headgear for some of the abilities!

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Build the island paradise of your dreams in Animal Crossing: New Horizons! Amass a fortune to decorate and upgrade your home and island to make it a nice place for you, your family, and up to ten animal neighbors to call home! Time in the game is synced up with your Nintendo Switch’s system clock, so you can watch the seasons and time of day change on your island at the same time as your own backyard! You can even catch two hundred different kinds of bugs and fish that can be donated to your island’s museum where you can learn some interesting facts about the real-life counterparts!

Snow Moto Racing Freedom

Pull off crazy stunts as you zoom through gorgeous snowy landscapes on your snowmobile in Snow Moto Racing Freedom! You can choose between three different modes when doing four player split-screen mode; Snocross, Sprint, and Leisure. Each of which can take place on one of the three expansive maps where you can even set things like the time of day and weather!

Mario Tennis Aces

Tennis just got a whole lot more intense in Mario Tennis Aces! Fill up your power gauge to pull off impressive feats like Zone Speed to slow down time, or Zone Shots that can weaken or even break your opponents’ rackets if they don’t counter it right, or save up all your power to do your character’s Special Shot and send the ball rocketing toward your opponents’ side of the court with enough force to instantly break their rackets if they counter it wrong, if they can even get there in time!

Snipperclips Plus – Cut it out, together!

Work together to cut the paper pals Snip and Clip into keys, gears, hooks, and whatever else you can come up with to solve lots of challenging puzzles! In Snipperclips Plus – Cut it out, together! You catch creatures, pop balloons, and more in Party mode. Or get competitive in Blitz mode with mini-games like hockey, hoops, and territory! There’s also a relaxing Stamp mode where you can use your characters as stamps to make beautiful masterpieces!

Sonic Mania Plus

Sonic Mania Plus is a retro-styled 2D pixel art platformer where you race through vibrant levels going for the best time and most points. Collect rings, destroy robots, and break power-up monitors to help you in your quest to save the world from Dr. Eggman’s (Robotnik’s?) latest evil scheme! If you have the Encore mode DLC (included in the “Plus” edition of Sonic Mania), you can race with up to three other players in Competition mode, where you can play through most of the levels available in the main story mode! Each playable character has their own set of unique abilities that open up possibilities for different routes, even in Competition mode!

Super Mario Maker 2

Ever wanted to design your own levels for a Mario game? Well, now you can! In Super Mario Maker 2, you can make your very own courses inspired by games like Super Mario 3D World, Super Mario Bros. 1 and 3, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, and Super Mario World! Even if you’re not the creative type, if you have an online membership, you can play courses made by Nintendo and other players from all over the world! While you can’t make courses or do story mode with four players at once, you can still play already made courses with four players.

Game Builder Garage

While actually making games is limited to single player (though multiple controllers can be connected to control the pointer on the screen, we find that it’s a bit hectic to try and collaborate on making a game in that way), the number of players in the games you make is essentially only limited by your creativity and skills. In Game Builder Garage you can make basically any kind of game you can dream up if you have the imagination, problem solving skills, and patience required to make it a reality. You don’t even need to have any coding experience! All the logic and visuals are created by placing and connecting things called “Nodon”, and there are several helpful lessons that teach you how to make good use of them to make the game of your dreams.

Hello Kitty Kruisers With Sanrio Friends

In Hello Kitty Kruisers With Sanrio Friends, you race in adorable cars, boats, and planes in this game starring Hello Kitty and her friends! This is a great first racing game for younger players who might have trouble with a more complex game such as Mario Kart or Team Sonic Racing, as this game has fairly simple controls and straightforward courses.

Pretty Princess Party

Experience a day in the life of a magical princess in Pretty Princess Party! Race your horses, pick flowers, dance, and more to restore magic to the kingdom! You even get to dress up your own pretty princess and make her look however you want! While story mode is only single-player, all the mini-games can be done with up to four players on one console. Chickadee especially loves this game, and has even written a guide on it!

I hope that this list has helped you find some games that you and your family can enjoy together.

The Best Family-Friendly Four-Player Games for the Nintendo Switch brought to you by Unicorn Gamer

Unicorn is Cool and really good at video games. She likes to play with her family and is really good at finding secrets, doing hard things and things like that. Her favorite games right now are: Sonic Frontiers, Super Mario Odessey and Kirby And The Forgotten Land.

We play a lot of Overcooked on our Nintendo Switch. It’s one of our favorites. Along the way we’ve learned a thing or two. There are some basic strategies plus a few cheats.

Overcooked is primarily about efficiency. When you play as a chef, there are few tasks to perform: cooking, preparing, serving, and cleaning. As long as your players remain busy doing those tasks you’ll probably earn 3 stars.

Idleness is the biggest enemy in Overcooked. The more you stand around figuring out what to do or waiting on another player, the more likely it is to earn fewer stars.

Preventable errors, such as a fire or mistakes in an order, cause huge wastes of time. Avoid those as much as possible, but don’t get too down when mistakes happen. It’s easy to do in Overcooked.

Most rounds have a target amount of points to earn the most stars. The points equate to a certain amount of orders. The orders equate to a certain amount of tasks to complete. There’s only so much chopping, mixing, cooking, and serving that needs done for each level.

Doing any more or less than is necessary amounts to a waste of time. So Overcooked is primarily about being very efficient. While there isn’t any one size fits all way to play, there are some strategies and important points to know.

When I think of strategy games, Starcraft or Call of Duty come to mind. Not Overcooked. Yet, there are strategies to this game. Each round has a different layout or challenges. So it would fill a book to write a strat for every round.

Instead, here are some are general strategies for Overcooked:

• Make individual players responsible for specific tasks
• Bring empty pots to the choppers, not ingredients to empty pots
• Swap pots or pans when it makes sense
• Don’t leave chopped items on the chopper
• Never move from one area to another empty handed
• Don’t stand idle for more than a few seconds, do something else
• Use dash as much as possible

When we play, each player is responsible for certain tasks. One player does the chopping, another does the washing, another does the serving, and another does the cooking. It doesn’t mean another player can’t help chop or cook, just that the one task is primary the responsibility for one player.

For example, when a round starts everyone grabs ingredients and starts chopping. Then near the end of a round everyone is washing or serving.

One thing that really helped us get better was assigning each order to a chef. Chef A was responsible for the first order, while chef B handled the second order. And so on throughout the round.

The other chefs played a supporting role by chopping, washing, and serving.

While individual players are responsible for the main tasks, everyone is responsible for the side tasks. Such as bringing back dirty dishes, bringing ingredients to the chopper, putting cooked food on a plate, etc. The closest person should always grab food about to catch on fire.

Throughout the round cooking is the main bottleneck. Be sure to get that task going as soon as possible and for as long as possible.

This was a game changer for us. Putting empty pots near the chopper saves many trips back and forth. You can chop and place all the ingredients quickly then make one trip with a full pot.

In general this is about saving steps. We also do this with empty plates, empty mixing bowls, etc. It’s more efficient to bring any vessel that holds two or more items to those items.

Bring an empty mixing bowl to the flour and eggs. Take an empty plates to the ingredients. Use the plate to load up Hamburger buns, hot dog buns, soft shells for burritos, the green paper thing, cooked rice, chopped ingredients, or anything that goes on a plate besides cooked food.

There are only a few levels where swapping the pots for rice and pans for cooking meat makes sense. But this strategy is about thinking outside the box. Don’t play the game the developers want you to play, make your own rules.

If they don’t give you much counter space don’t play that game. We found there’s plenty of room or the floor.

When a level only gives you limited access to ingredients, grab more than you need and leave them on the floor. If they move the ingredients around to confuse you, grab a bunch of ingredients and leave them in one area, the floor.

This is probably more of a best practice than a strategy. But when you’re finished chopping move the item closer to the player doing the cooking or serving.

When we play our chopper lays out ingredients efficiently and in groups. So the player doing the cooking or serving doesn’t need to search or run to items. They know exactly where chopped lettuce is the entire round.

It’s the choppers job to layout chopped items in groups. If left randomly it adds to someone else’s workload. When the ingredients are organized we can also easily see which items we’re low on.

This also applies to getting ingredients, cooking, and serving. Leaving finished orders in the same location saves the server from searching for it. Leaving items that need to be chopped on the chopper or next to it saves time for the copper.

Some levels this is impossible, but as much as you can stick to an efficient routine.

There’s an old adage about empty hands, or is it idle hands? Anyway, as a rule you shouldn’t move from one area to another empty handed. Grab dirty dishes, ingredients, empty mixing bowls, etc.

The more efficient everyone is the better your team will score.

This time I know the old adage about not eating from the bread of idleness applies. It’s fine to wait 2 or 3 seconds for an order to finish cooking or mixing. But in general, you should jump in and help with side tasks rather than sit idle for 5 seconds.

There’s as such thing as being counterproductive too. Don’t disrupt someone else’s routine to avoid being idle. It may cause confusion. Instead, speed up chopping or washing by doubling up on the same task.

Get in the habit of mashing that dash button whenever you need to go somewhere. The only exception is the levels with ice or when you can fall off a platform. During those levels, ease off the dash button.

For most levels using the dash is fine. Some levels are laid out to punish you for walking instead of passing items across a counter or conveyor. We found dashing is just as good as the step saving methods.

One cheat in Overcooked is using the dash to sort of throw ingredients. Drop an item as you’re dashing and it will travel across short gaps. Such as between the two trucks on the highway or the two rafts in the river.

Another cheat in Overcooked is using the dash to move from one platform to another. On the levels with lava or water, where you’re supposed to stay in your kitchen. You can move from one kitchen to another by dashing across short gaps.

Cheat by dropping mixing bowls, pans, or kabob things off the map instead of taking them back. Why walk it back when it will just reappear?

This may qualify as a cheat, but stop chopping an ingredient before it’s done. The rats don’t bother partially chopped items. Or those in pots.

This doesn’t work for every level and many times playing the game the way they set it up is better. But be on the lookout for shortcuts.

Overcooked tips and tricks brought to you by David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space, and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

Our Nintendo Switch gets a lot of use. We play a ton of 4 player games. Overcooked! is one of our favorite co-op games. It’s a popular couch game to play with friends or family.

Overcooked has you playing as chefs in a variety of kitchens, cooking a broad range of food, for some unusual customers. There’s a lot of chopping, mixing, cooking, and serving. Plus washing dishes. Because who doesn’t love washing dishes?

All of this preparing, serving, and washing has to be done as efficiently as possible, otherwise orders time out. Plus you won’t get a tip.

While many of the tasks are routine, for some reason this game is still fun. Who would think making soup or salad would be so entertaining? There must be some subconscious appeal to hearing that ding when you serve an order. Job well done.

Overcooked has many levels, taking place in many geographical regions and in space. Plus cooking a variety of food. All building up to a final showdown between the chefs and a giant meatball, aka the ever-peckish, that’s hungry. Which is ironic considering he’s made of food.

Anyway, there is a narrative to this game. Including a talking onion and his dog. Overcooked also has cut scenes, additional chefs to unlock, and a few mini games. The additional chefs are just skins, all chefs are the same underneath.

The mini games offer player vs player action. It’s not a battle, rather a competition to see which kitchen is faster at cranking out orders.

If you’re looking for a co-op game Overcooked is an ideal choice. It’s challenging, fun, and requires teamwork. it’s a great choice for friends or family.

Overcooked is best with 2 players. We played with 3 players and it just didn’t seem as balanced, many levels were harder. Playing with 4 players was much better than 3 players. I don’t recommend playing Overcooked solo.

If you’re looking for a challenging multi player game Overcooked is a good choice. It’s not like most party or mini games for multiple people. Those anyone can just pick up and play. Overcooked starts off easy with salads but gets progressively more challenging.

Overcooked has a learning curve. It starts simple enough, but later levels add more ingredients and kitchens get more complicated layouts. So the earlier levels got us used to the basics and later it gets more challenging.

There isn’t an assist mode for Overcooked so we got stuck on later levels. We normally played with 4 players but couldn’t get enough stars to continue.

Through trial and error we discovered 2 players could get 3 stars. Playing Overcooked with different numbers of players resulted in very different levels of difficulty.

Our tests revealed 3 players is the hardest, 2 was the easiest, and 4 was in between. As mentioned before solo play is nearly unplayable since we had to switch between chefs.

Switching back and forth is counter productive since you’re only 1 person. At best it saves 2 seconds chopping or washing dishes. At worst switching chefs unnecessarily adds to the workload. We just couldn’t imagine doing all the levels this way.

I wouldn’t consider Overcooked glitchy but if we spend a lot of time dashing into each other and occasionally found our chefs stuck in weird places. Also, dashes look like farting. We figured that was intentional.

The music throughout Overcooked is hands down the best background music in any game I’ve played. I love Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario, but Overcooked takes the cake for background music.

A minor complaint is the ingredient icons. Some are hard to tell apart. They could have made each item more distinct color. But again, this is minor.

Otherwise the graphics are great. They make good use of the screen. It isn’t zoomed out or too busy. We had no issues with losing track of our character or items because of the graphics.

Overcooked is similar to Moving Out 2, Out of Space, Lumberhill, and Very Very Valet to name a few. All of these games are made for up to 4 players that work as a team.

Overcooked is similar to Lumberhill and Very Very Valet in that you have to fill individual orders before they time out plus each round is timed. There are levels in which you can fall off, which is annoying but Lumberhill is the most annoying on this score.

Overcooked requires more co-ordination than Moving Out in my experience. Each player has to work at specific tasks, unlike Moving Out where there’s one task, moving items. Overcooked has preparing, cooking, serving, and cleaning dishes. You need to work as a team to clear the level.

Overcooked is similar to Out of Space as far as a challenge goes. If you don’t shy away from a struggle, these two games are for you. They both keep you running around doing jobs but Out of Space doesn’t have any timers.

Our Overcooked review gives it 9 out of 10 stars. It’s one of our favorite games. Who would have thought working in a kitches was sa much fun?

We never get bored playing any of the versions. I thought some of the space, ice, and lava levels were harder with 4 players. But having to play a few levels with 2 players didn’t ruin the game.

The graphics didn’t cause any problems and the music is top notch. I found the gameplay engaging and the storyline interesting.

Overcooked has a lot to offer. There’s also newer versions of this game which we reviewed. Overall, Overcooked is top notch fun to play with friends or family.

Overcooked! review brought to you by David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space and Overcooked All You Can Eat.

We’ve played Overcooked for over 110 hours according to our Nintendo Switch. I’m sure there are many people who have played more. However, there are many people who are just getting started all the time.

If you just got Overcooked or have been playing a while, then this guide can help you get all the stars in Overcooked. The first time through the game 3 stars per level is the most you can earn. After completing the game you can go back and earn 4 stars.

Playing Overcooked is primarily about efficiency. As a chef, your job is to be as efficient as possible. What that looks like in the game can vary.

When we first started, we made the mistake of thinking everyone would do their own thing and as long as we kept busy we’d do Ok. While this works to get 1 or 2 stars it isn’t sustainable.

You need to consistently get 2 or 3 stars to finish the game. Then you can go back and work on getting 4 stars. When working on getting 4 stars you’ll be amazed how much you have improved.

Overcooked has a steep learning curve, but we enjoyed it as beginners, intermediate players, and still enjoy it as pro’s. Not many games have that appeal.

The training level is just 2 ingredients, tomatoes and lettuce. it teaches you to just chop up as many items as you can. Which is fine. However, if you spend every level just chopping as many ingredients as possible. It leads to chaos and inefficiency.

We found when the workload on one player is too light another player has too much of a workload. The ideal team of chefs balances the workload but in an organized fashion. Designate these tasks to each chef:

• Chopping chef
• Preparing/cooking chef
• Dish washing chef
• Serving chef

If you only have two players, you’ll have to assign two jobs to each chef. Distributing the jobs isn’t a hard rule. Any chef can jump in and help if necessary.

We discovered it’s best to focus on one order at a time when there are 2 players. With 4 players you can focus on 2 orders at a time. For 3 players, we usually focus on 1 order at a time but anticipate the 2nd order much more.

As for solo, we just don’t. Overcooked is the best multiplayer game ever (I like Out of Space better). For solo play it actually sucks in my experience, I don’t recommend it. But Overcooked is awesome for multiple players.

When a level starts there are two orders in the queue. At least for those first two orders everyone should grab the ingredients and do the chopping. Once the cooking starts, then break off into your designated roles.

We mostly play 4 players, so we dedicate 2 chefs responsible for managing the orders. While the other 2 chefs are responsible for managing the routine jobs.

The 2 cooking chefs primarily keep the cooking going. They get or call out the ingredients to the chopper. They make sure the correct ingredients get mixed, cooked, and put on a plate.

The 2 chopping chefs primarily keep the chopping going. They make sure there’s no shortage of dishes, or ingredients. Serving mostly depends on the level in my experience.

For two players we’ve tried two strategies. Strategy A has one chef responsible for managing the orders, while the other does all the mindless tasks such as chopping, washing, and serving.

Strategy B has each chef managing an order from beginning to end. Each chef gathers their own ingredients, chops, cooks, serves, and washes their own dishes.

It really depends on the level which strategy makes the most sense. Some levels don’t give every chef access to the choppers or serving area. So you have to choose between these two strategies depending on the level.

In our experience, these are the two strategies that work the best. If everyone has to think about an order it gets confusing. Because one chef winds up chopping up ingredients for an order that’s being served.

Those ingredients rarely go to waste, but having 1 chef manage 1 order keeps the confusion to a minimum. Calling out what ingredients you’re getting or what order you’re working on is important.

Prepping a meal usually involves chopping or prepping plates. In my experience there are usually a few standard items plus a few specific items.

For example, all pizza requires dough, tomatoes, and cheese. All burritos require a soft shell and rice on a plate. Hamburgers and hot dogs all need a bun. Many levels require flour or eggs.

Look for the patterns in the orders and prepare the plates, mixers, or pots accordingly. When one chef focuses on preparing the standard items of every order, while the other focuses on preparing the order specific items. Then our kitchen functions very efficiently.

It takes the burden off the chef managing the orders if they don’t have to serve, but serving is basically everyone’s job. Except when the level blocks access to the serving area.

Washing dishes is best if it’s one chefs responsibility. It’s an important job to keep the kitchen flowing. Everything grinds to a halt when there aren’t any clean dishes in my experience.

It’s extremely rare to see two sinks. So dishwashing is a bottleneck. There’s usually two or more choppers, ovens, or stoves so you don’t have to wait. But from what I’ve seen, one sink creates the potential to really slow things down.

One thing common to every level in the windup at the beginning, the assembly line in full swing, and the winding down in the last 30 seconds. How you handle these stages and the transitions has a big impact on getting 4 stars in my experience.

Our first time through the game the focus was on delegating tasks to each chef. Letting one chef manage individual orders while the others work at the chopping, washing, and serving is enough to get through the game.

When we went through it the second time, we were ready for the meta strategy. This involves getting the assembly line going as quickly as possible. Maintaining the assembly line through the bulk of the level. And most importantly, winding down at the end so you don’t waste time.

I mentioned it earlier when I said everyone should start the level by grabbing ingredients. Then when the cooking starts split up.

But we didn’t make this transition abruptly. We took time in the first 15 seconds of the round to setup our assembly line. We move plates next to ovens or stoves. If we have limited access to ingredients, we make a pile of them on the floor. We also double up on chopping an extra ingredient before moving to our primary tasks.

After the first 15 seconds our workflow is setup and the first order nearing completion. For the majority of the round we just keep the assembly line going as smoothly as possible. We look for any bottlenecks before they cause problems.

Glancing at the clock is important too. Overcooked warns you for the last 20 seconds but we found this isn’t early enough. When we see the timer hit 60 seconds the chefs managing the orders can estimate how many orders we can get done.

They call out things like we don’t need anymore rice cooking or potatoes chopped. Or say we’ll need 3 more plates, 2 more hamburgers, etc.

When the timer gets to 30 seconds we only chop any crucial items. In my experience the last 30 seconds is like the first 15 seconds where everyone jumps in to complete the last 2 or 3 orders.

We double up chopping those last few ingredients, help load the mixers, double up washing dishes or get plates to the cookers. Anything to push those last 2 or 3 orders out before time runs out.

A good sign of efficiency is you won’t have many leftover ingredients or things cooking when the round ends.

When learning how to play Overcooked, don’t worry about being fast. I’ve found just keeping busy isn’t enough to get 3 stars. In my experience speed comes with practice.

Instead, focus on filling one order at a time. Learn how to fill orders, not how to cook up a ton of hamburgers, or chop up a ton of ingredients. Once we grasped a process that worked for us, then we got faster.

There is a learning curve so don’t sweat it if you don’t get 3 stars on every level. Most levels we experimented during the first attempt. Through trial and error we figured out an assembly line that worked for us. Then by the second or third attempt we were able to get 2 or 3 stars.

It took some time. However, we enjoyed learning to play Overcooked and eventually completing the game.

How to play Overcooked brought to you by David M.

I’m David M. I’ve been playing video games a long time, my pong game was fire. Now, my kids run circles around me but we always have a good time. We mostly play party and family games. Strategy and battle games are still among my favorites. I like writing about games almost as much as I do playing them. My favorite games are: Moving Out 2, Out of Space, and Overcooked All You Can Eat.