Cooking in Video Games

Overview

Cooking in video games has had many different implementations over the years for many different purposes. Even if cooking isn't an element of the game, most will have some sort of food and/or drink to heal the player character. Games that do have some sort of cooking, tend to build off that idea by allowing the player to make better and more effective consumables to boost their health.

Although cooking for health might be the most common association with cooking in video games, there's actually a lot of diversity in the way its used. Even within RPGs that use potion making and cooking, the mechanics can vary greatly.

Monster Hunter World

There are three main approaches to cooking in video games. The first: ‘cooking for health,’ was discussed above. The next: ‘cooking for stamina,’ refers to games in which cooking is more of a bonus activity, usually less important to overall gameplay. Often simulation games, these explore cooking in a more relaxed way.

Then of course, there are games solely about cooking. These games are the most diverse and simulate cooking in a variety of ways whether the focus is on preparing ingredients or the atmosphere of working in a kitchen.

Atelier Totori

Cooking in video games has become more prominent over the years, which can partially be attributed to the rise of crafting. Cooking and crafting share many similarities. Both are usually work the same way mechanically. Because of the rise in popularity of games like Minecraft which heavily emphasize those mechanics, more games have implemented both crafting and cooking.