I won’t go into details, but for years I’ve been somewhat envious of those who can cook. My dad trained as a chef and worked in a kitchen or two, but the only reason he’s not doing that now is because the head chef blamed burnt potatoes on him despite the fact that the head chef was the one cooking them. Who knows what happens when a pan or a fist hits someone’s face? Anything could happen, and sometime in January, anything might happen if I manage to drag anyone into Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together.

The sequel to Big Cheese Studio’s 2019 title Cooking Simulator, Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together, looks to add more ingredients, more cooking, and more chaos as you decide who shouts “yes, chef!” and who gets to swear like a trooper. Indeed, idiot sandwich and all that. “Like a gourmet dish finally ready to be served, Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together will land on Steam on January 20, 2026. The full release will include over 200 ingredients, 80 recipes, 30 special skills and perks, and 11 customer groups,” notes the press release sent out yesterday.

It continues, “But the first taste is coming even sooner – this December, during a special pre-release event, Big Cheese Studio will reveal the first details of the sequel to a game whose original installment won the hearts of players around the world.” If I’m honest, a lot of the press release from there on is the PR fluff that repeats those same points and reveals some of the details that I assume will be expanded upon in December.

Unlike Cooking Simulator from 2019, the restaurant isn’t just a porthole in the wall where you place finished dishes. Now you can walk out to have imaginary arguments with customers or do what Nathan Lane did in Mouse Hunt and what Cyprus Hill said, kill a man. Something you might also do when you play with friends and someone chops up onions, puts them in a bowl, then breaks the bowl by dropping it on the floor. However, working together is important as challenges mount up, or you could enjoy yourselves with the sandbox mode. You can even do a round of Ready, Steady, Cook.

However, that’s not all. “When you’re off the clock, you can customize your look and craft your unique chef avatar, or unwind in your cozy apartment – cooking, creating your own recipes, and perfecting your kitchen techniques.

It’s time to dive headfirst into the world of cooking! After a long day at the office or work, it’s time to relax and step into the kitchen. With your friends by your side, chase your dream of becoming the ultimate chef. Create, cook, and climb your way to the top, developing your restaurant until it becomes a first-class dining hotspot. Discover ingredients, cooking techniques, and ways to combine them into recipes that will satisfy every guest you encounter in the world of Cooking Simulator 2. You’ll need to handle customers, their moods, and their expectations – and your creativity is the key to success.“

Gaining experience will, of course, unlock progression: “Even the best recipe needs a skilled chef to turn it into something delicious – and you’re aiming to be the best! In the world of Cooking Simulator 2, you start with the basics: combining flavors and using simple ingredients. As you gain experience, new possibilities open up.” So baked beans on toast until I’m making lobster thermidor? I’m going to need mods to add haggis and black pudding so I can serve a proper breakfast.

Freaking certain people out aside, the press release continues: “You’ll level up as a professional, unlocking new skills and knowledge along the way. Collect 30 special skills and perks that impact gameplay – including the crucial ability to calm impatient customers, giving you extra time to prep their meals. And with thermal vision, you’ll gain a sense of heat, letting you tell when a dish is about to burn.

Your skills are your ticket to the top of the culinary world! The International Academy of Master Chefs, ‘Concorde Culinaire,’ will support you, challenge you, and reveal the secrets of the culinary arts. Read your customers, craft dishes with flair, and level up your kitchen. The Academy will reward you with mastery badges, bringing you closer to culinary perfection.“

I’ll admit, I do love these weird Polish-developed simulators that are above the crap of the 2000s, but aren’t so polished (not a pun) that they lack character. Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together looks to be taking chances in places, and it might not be totally refined, but it is more to talk about than other offerings. Cooking Simulator 2: Better Together is set to release on January 20th, 2026, where “It doesn’t always have to be a burnt crème brûlée. Why not toss a pan – or maybe… accidentally blow up half the kitchen?” Or you could just stick to the status quo.

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