COOK, SERVE, DELICIOUS! 3!?

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At its best, Cook, Serve, Delicious has always felt like arcade diner juggling mixed with a rhythm game. You customise your menus for each level, each item taking its own sequence of button presses to assemble (complete with mouthwatering artwork). CSD3 leans harder into that arcade quality than previous entries, creating a wonderfully focussed dine-’em-up.

Worries like what foods on your menu will perform well at what times of day and downsides like stinky foods have been completely extricated, allowing you to focus on pure, frantic, meal making. The game’s not about building the ultimate restaurant any more1 (but you can play Cook, Serve, Delicious 2 if you want that). It’s anything goes as the post-apocalyptic food truck setting gives plenty of excuse for variation (and even rival truck drive-bys).

You’re immersed in the chaos of preparing food as you hurtle from stop to stop. Each level is a route with its own rules, such as requiring a certain amount of food points (pushing you to use more complex recipes) or limiting the food categories (like only pies, or fried food). Holding Station food can be prepared in batches in advance, while you try to whip up Special Orders that are called in on the highway.

You’ll quickly learn which foods you’re comfortable making under pressure, 2 but the harder challenges push you out of your comfort zone. With over 350 levels, there’s masses to do. And while hitting buttons to make food is pretty much all you do, each challenge feels unique.

Though we don’t think we’ll ever be able to eat sopapillas again. Oscar Taylor-Kent

FOOTNOTES1 You can upgrade your truck to gain perks, though some, like adding prep stations, can be risk/reward. Pick a menu you can’t deliver and you’ll learn how much stress you can handle.