Overcooked 2 Switch 2 Edition

Overcooked 2 Switch 2 Edition
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2

Overcooked 2 has always been a favourite party game in our household. It’s a simple recipe for success: one cup of party play, two teaspoons of bright and colourful graphics, and a dash of either laughter or rage to taste. It’s been a while since we last caused chaos in the kitchen, but with the launch of the Switch 2, Team17 and Ghost Town Games have surprised us with a fresh update to the classic recipe. What’s it like? Grab some friends, sync those Joy-Cons, and prepare to test the strength of your friendships as we review Overcooked 2 on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Overcooked 2 actually has a pretty wild narrative to go along with the chaos, and that’s saying something for a game about cooking under pressure. Once again, you’re called back to the Onion Kingdom to help the Onion King and his loyal dog Kevin fend off a new culinary crisis. This time, it’s the Unbread, which are zombie loaves of bread that have risen from the grave and are threatening to devour the land. It’s all as ridiculous as it sounds, serving mostly as a fun excuse to throw players into one frantic kitchen after another. While the story remains the same, the Switch 2 Edition does bring a few new ingredients to the mix. You can now mess up the kitchen in full 4K at 60 frames per second, making the already wild action smoother and easier to follow. It also takes advantage of Nintendo Switch 2’s features, such as CameraPlay and GameShare. For those who like to collect every chef, there’s even a new exclusive addition to the roster: the Platinum Platypus, ready to slice, dice, and probably set a few kitchens on fire along the way.

For apprentice chefs visiting the kitchen for the first time, gameplay revolves around working together to fulfil orders for hungry customers within an allotted time limit. You will have to chop, boil, simmer, whisk, and combine ingredients along the way, sometimes even throwing ingredients from one end of the kitchen to the other. Teamwork is essential, and you will find yourself having to communicate just like in a real kitchen; otherwise, it all falls apart. Communication is so important; in fact, we would take a screenshot of the level, put it up on the TV, and figure out a plan of attack each time. And it worked. For a bit of fun, I have included a clip of one of these briefings at the end of the video review. The crazy part was that these briefings actually worked, and when we all clicked, we blitzed through the levels until the game introduced a curveball with dynamically changing kitchens.

Even then, the combination of challenge and teamwork added a fun layer to the game. We were calling out ingredients while sticking to our roles to ensure success. Some levels were frustrating, particularly those with conveyor belts, but for the most part, the levels were fun and challenging. Party play with two or more players is the best way to experience the game, but solo players have unique mechanics to help them through. By using the L and R buttons, you can shift between two chefs, setting one up at a workstation to automatically perform its tasks while you run around as the other chef. This tag-team approach takes a little time to get used to, but it works surprisingly well once you adapt. Outside of the main campaign, which sprawls across a map full of secrets to discover and kitchens to burn, there is also an adversarial versus mode and an arcade mode for those just looking to replay some favourite levels.

Overcooked 2 has always been bright, colourful, and full of personality, and the Switch 2 Edition takes it to the next level. In docked mode, the game runs in higher resolution, making the kitchens and characters pop even more. The vibrant visuals make it easy to track ingredients and tasks, even when the screen is full of chaos. The levels themselves are just as visually engaging. Each kitchen is designed with its own theme and mechanics, and they change frequently enough to keep you invested. Even replaying familiar levels felt exciting, with new hazards or layouts keeping the experience fresh and challenging. Performance is just as impressive as the visuals. The game stays locked and steady the entire time, even when everything is on fire, ingredients are flying across the kitchen, and multiple players are running around frantically. The smooth 60 frames per second ensures that the fast-paced action never feels clunky or laggy, which is essential when every second counts. On Switch 2, the combination of sharp visuals, level variety, and rock-solid performance makes the frantic kitchen gameplay more enjoyable than ever.

For my chefs looking into accessibility, there are no specific options here, so as always, I recommend further research into finding out if Overcooked 2 suits your needs. When it comes to value, the upgrade price for previous owners of Overcooked 2 is $16, and no additional DLC is included. While I’ve purchased a few upgrade packs since launch, this price point felt a bit on the steep side. To be fair, the new GameShare and CameraPlay features are there, but the issue is that I actually paid more for the upgrade than I did for the base game, which regularly dropped well below $12 AUD. I still had a blast with the game and the fresh visuals; however, so let me know how you feel about the price, as I would appreciate more perspective on upgrade prices. I also don’t know why they didn’t include the “All you can Eat” version of the game, which still isn’t compatible with the Switch 2.

Overcooked 2 on the Nintendo Switch 2 is still the chaotic, hilarious co-op experience that fans know and love. The core gameplay remains as fun and frantic as ever, and the addition of 4K visuals, 60 FPS, GameShare, CameraPlay, and the exclusive Platinum Platypus chef adds some nice touches for both new and returning players. For newcomers, this edition is an excellent entry point into the series. For longtime players, the upgrade is enjoyable, but whether it’s worth the $16 price tag depends on how much value you place on the visual improvements and Switch 2-specific features. If you love multiplayer chaos, frantic kitchens, and cooperative gameplay that tests friendships, Overcooked 2 Switch 2 Edition is a strong serving. Just make sure your friends are ready for the heat in the kitchen.

So What’s It Like? Overcooked 2 is still that great party game you love, with a little extra seasoning.

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