Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3
A dystopian food truck sequel with android helpers.
Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3 (styled as 3?!) is a restaurant simulation game from Vertigo Gaming. It follows *Cook, Serve, Delicious! 2* and launched on Windows via Steam early access in January 2020, with a full release on October 14, 2020 for Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and an Amazon Luna version on October 20, 2020. A macOS version arrived in November 2020.
Set in a war-torn dystopian America in 2042, the story picks up after the previous game’s restaurant was destroyed. Two search-and-recovery androids, Cleaver (voiced by Twitch streamer Vana) and Whisk (voiced by Negaoryx), find the player-character chef alive and offer their food truck to restart the business. The chef enters a national food truck championship called the Iron Speedway, where announcers (voiced by Northernlion and Kate Letourneau) oversee challenges requiring perfect runs while rival trucks try to sabotage the player.
Gameplay follows the series’ formula: players assemble a menu of two to eight dishes before each day, each dish rated from zero to five in prep difficulty. Some days impose minimum point values, specific dish counts, or food-type requirements. The truck makes two or more stops per day; before each stop, players can cook meals at holding stations and prepare special orders at prep stations. At each stop, they serve completed dishes or make custom orders (e.g., specific condiments on a hamburger) within a time limit. Dishes require sequences of keyboard, mouse, or controller actions, with on-screen instructions. Players are ranked on order completion speed and custom preparation accuracy, and penalized for missed orders or steps like undercooking meat. After each day, in-game currency rewards allow buying new recipes and truck upgrades.
New to *CSD3*: no restaurant chores; an android driver can serve completed orders while the player handles others; a "Chill" mode reduces order volume and pace but lowers rewards; and a "Zen campaign" offers a less time-pressured experience.
The game received "generally positive" reviews on Metacritic and strong approval on OpenCritic, with 85% of critics recommending it. PC Gamer’s Emma Davies described it as "as moreish as a tube of Pringles," noting its compelling menu-tinkering and appeal as both a quick snack and a full banquet.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!
- Developer
- Vertigo Gaming
- Engine
- GameMaker Studio
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows / Nintendo Switch / PlayStation 4 / Xbox One / Amazon Luna / macOS
- Released
- Windows, Switch, PS4, Xbox One / October 14, 2020 / Amazon Luna / October 20, 2020 / macOS / November 19, 2020
- Genre
- Simulation
- Modes
- Single-player, local cooperative
- Designer
- David Galindo
- Programmer
- Darryl Davis / David Galindo
- Artist
- Camille Kuo / Lizzy Dawson / Pierre Quéru
- Writer
- Nicholas Kraak / Ryan Matejka
- Composer
- Jonathan Geer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3 is set in a dystopian America in 2042 that has been ravaged by war, which destroyed the player's former restaurant. Two search and recovery androids, Cleaver (voiced by Twitch streamer Vana, Havana Mahoney) and Whisk (voiced by Negaoryx, Emme Montgomery), find the chef (the player-character) still alive and offer their truck to use as a food truck. The chef becomes part of a national food truck championship called the Iron Speedway, where announcers voiced by Northernlion and Kate Letourneau challenge the player to complete perfect runs while competing trucks attempt sabotage.
Gameplay involves assembling a menu of two to eight dishes with point values from zero to five, then serving customers at multiple stops per day. Players use prep and holding stations to cook dishes, following on-screen sequences of keyboard-and-mouse or controller actions. Custom orders require following specific preparation instructions. The player is ranked on order completion speed and accuracy, and penalized for missed orders or cooking steps. In-game currency earned can be used to buy new recipes and equipment.
New features include the removal of chores from previous titles, the ability to use an android driver to serve completed orders while the player works on others, and a 'Chill' mode that reduces order rate and rewards. A 'Zen campaign' offers a less intense experience. The game was released in early access on January 29, 2020 for Windows, with full releases in October 2020 for Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Amazon Luna, and a macOS release in November 2020.
Reader's Guide
Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3 received generally positive reviews on Metacritic and strong approval on OpenCritic, with 85% of critics recommending it. Emma Davies of PC Gamer described the game as 'moreish as a tube of Pringles' and noted its compelling nature in encouraging players to optimize their menu. The game's shift to a food truck setting and the introduction of android assistants and difficulty modes represent a notable evolution of the series' formula. Its legacy lies in maintaining the core cooking simulation challenge while adapting to a mobile, competitive context, and in offering accessibility options like Chill mode and Zen campaign that broaden its appeal. The game's narrative, set in a war-torn future, and its use of Twitch streamers as voice actors reflect the era's gaming culture.
Did You Know?
- Cleaver and Whisk, the android characters, are voiced by Twitch streamers Vana (Havana Mahoney) and Negaoryx (Emme Montgomery).
- The Iron Speedway announcers are voiced by Northernlion and Kate Letourneau.
- A 'Chill' mode reduces order rate and rewards, while a 'Zen campaign' offers a less intense experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?
It is a restaurant simulation game developed by Vertigo Gaming that serves as the sequel to Cook, Serve, Delicious! 2. Players manage a food-truck operation while juggling multiple kitchen stations under intense time pressure.
Who are Cleaver and Whisk in Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?
They are two search-and-recovery androids who assist the player throughout the game. Cleaver is voiced by Twitch streamer Vana, and Whisk acts as the second android helper at the truck.
What is the setting and premise of Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?
The story takes place in a war-torn, dystopian America in the year 2042. After the previous game's restaurant is destroyed, the player must keep serving customers out of a mobile food truck instead of a fixed location.
What platforms can I play Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3 on?
The full release covers Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Amazon Luna, with a macOS build arriving the following month. A Windows early-access version was available on Steam beginning in January 2020.
How did critics and players receive Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?
The title earned generally positive scores on Metacritic and an 85% recommendation rate on OpenCritic. Reviewers highlighted its frenetic multi-station gameplay and the fresh dystopian food-truck angle as standout elements.
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