Developer: Gambir Studio
Platform: PC (Reviewed)
Genre: Casual, Simulation
Publisher: Raw Fury
KuloNiku: Bowl Up! is developed by Gambir Studio and published by Raw Fury. Gambir Studio brings a distinctly Southeast Asian-inspired flavour to the game’s themes and cuisine, while Raw Fury helps package it into a polished indie experience with global appeal.
The game drops you into a small, cosy town of KuloNiku, where you return as a chef from the big city. You return to take over your late grandmother’s once-famous meatball restaurant, and once again get it running and have it become famous. The story is very intentional and core to the gameplay. The gameplay lasts roughly 10 hours, which is truly worth the price.
The main premise of the game is that it runs as a cooking and management sim with light life elements. You chop, boil, fry, season and assemble your noodle dishes step by step, one by one. Each action costs points, whether it’s time or money. Orders can become increasingly complex, and you unlock different ingredients. But the game is simple to learn and can surprisingly become deep over time. The meatball brawl can be considered one of the highlight features of the game as you compete in cooking battles, trying to impress and win over the judges, which can increase the reputation of your business. The rounds encourage creativity and allow you to mess around. There is also a cosy mode, which can be enabled and disabled in the game, that allows you to play with no time pressure, turning the game into a chill and stress-free experience.
The controls are intuitive and easy, and are designed to feel satisfying and almost relaxing. Actions like chopping and frying are extremely responsive. These actions feel so realistic with their animations, almost making it seem as if you were doing them by hand. The controls are easy to pick up.
Visually, KuloNiku Bowl Up! stands out! Its anime-inspired 2D character with 3D environments is crafted so beautifully. The game features a bright, colourful, cosy palette with an almost retro vibe to it. Overall, it’s an incredible modern indie charm game mixed with nostalgic anime energy. Kuloniku is expressive, warm and perfectly fits the tone of the game. The sound is one of the game’s most underrated strengths; the game comes with cooking sounds that are so crisp and satisfying, with the music being soft and giving the vibe of a slice of life. Instead of the music dominating to get your attention, the soundtrack enhances the cosy atmosphere without distracting from the gameplay.
Overall, the game has an addictive cooking loop, is incredibly charming and relaxing, and is a well-lengthened game that you can definitely try to 100% complete. KuloNikoBowl Up! is a fantastic, cosy indie game that elevated the cooking genre with creativity and charm.
Overall: 8.5/10
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