If you’re on the hunt for something to fill the cosy void that the Nintendo DS left behind, then great news, because this Steam freebie looks like the type of banger you’d find hidden on a shelf of your local game store in the early 2000s.
Y’know, I love a deep, complex RPG or a gory first-person shooter as much as the next guy, but there’s something about the straightforward, basic simulation-style minigame, uh, games the Nintendo DS was known for that occasionally calls to me.
Sometimes, you just wanna take your brain out and match some shapes together on a tiny screen, but, sadly, we haven’t seen a new Cooking Mama game since the release of Cooking Mama: Cuisine back in 2022. Also, I’ve never actually heard of that game anyway, because it’s an Apple Arcade game.
That’s right folks, today’s new cosy Steam game is a cooking minigame… game. There’s gotta be a better way to say that.
Mimi’s Restaurant Helper is an upcoming anime-inspired cooking game from developer and publisher Crystal Rose Studio, set to release at some point in 2026.
As the name may imply, you’ll take on the role of a helper in a restaurant, assisting characters Mimi, Caroline and (the impressively muscular server) Alex with cooking, cleaning and serving customers. Seems kind of like you’re less of a “helper” and more like you’re actually working three separate jobs, but I digress.
According to the devs, Mimi’s Restaurant Helper is aiming to bring the “nostalgic energy of 2000s anime and flash games to life”, and I’d say, based on the trailer, that they’ve absolutely succeeded in matching those vibes.
If you’re already chomping at the bit to get your hands on this one, then, unfortunately, you’ll have to wait until the aforementioned vague time in 2026 to play it.
Just kidding, obviously there’s a demo. However, it is extremely fresh, so (as of writing) there aren’t any reviews for the title on the Steam store page.
But hey, that just means you get to be the first! It does also mean that I can’t tell you if the demo will be any good though, so you’ll just have to take a swing at this one for yourself if you like the vibes.
Would be funny if this ended up getting a release on the Nintendo Switch when it does drop, though. I wonder who even owns the rights to Cooking Mama these days? Considering all the drama surrounding the release of Cooking Mama: Cookstar back in 2021, I’m not even sure if Nintendo knows the answer to that one…
