The influence of visual novels like Doki Doki Literature Club, with cute graphics and wholesome interactions luring players into a false sense of security, can’t be understated. For some people, it’s seen as a gimmick, but for those who don’t have much experience with games like this (or those who are just looking for a fun time), it can be exciting. Cooking Companions mixes horror concepts and Eastern European stories to produce an enthralling and creepy adventure.
Cooking Companions centers around five characters who are stuck in the woods but have managed to find a cabin in the middle of nowhere. It’s unclear whether the group members are related or merely acquaintances, but their interactions suggest a relationship of some kind. The characters spend their day-to-day going out scavenging for items and food while negging (or just outright insulting) each other. But of course, the horror aspect is not to be forgotten, and things rapidly take a turn for the worse.
There are dialogue options that you can choose, mainly in regards to getting closer to characters and seeing unique dialogue. With a few exceptions, the choices that you make will display different dialogue options and won’t have an impact on the actual story. There are multiple endings that you can obtain, but a good chunk of them you’ll be able to find just by playing the game normally. When it comes to examining the different rooms, sometimes you’ll be able to find notes that give some insight into the world and the inhabitants of the cabin.
When it comes to the actual story and the writing, it’s a nice mix of eerie atmosphere and absurd situations. Given the short nature of the visual novel, the characters are pretty thin in their characterization and growth. Most of the storytelling is focused more on piecing together the mystery of what’s going on and why it’s happening.
As Cooking Companions is a visual novel, with the only gameplay being selecting dialogue choices. Given that you can save at any point, you can easily go back and observe what other choices result in. All choices have their bits of unique dialogue, but depending on who you’re interacting with, you can unlock new recipes and images that will appear in the extra section from the title screen. When given the choice to speak with a character or navigate to another part of the cabin, you’ll only be able to make one choice (unless told explicitly otherwise).
Character sprites are 2D, taking an anime inspiration, while the environment leans more realistic and dreary. The designs of the characters are more whimsical, leaning more into the “wholesome” atmosphere that the promotional images for the game portray. Along with the cute character models, there is overly jolly music that really leans into the feeling that something is not right.
On the flipside, the horror art stands out against the cute character art, especially when the two are blending together in the same scenes. The mix of using the images as jump scares and just slipping the images into scenes with no warning adds to the horrifying atmosphere. Even in scenes where nothing happens, you end up tense waiting for the shoe to drop.
Cooking Companions is a short and eerie visual novel that is best to jump into without looking too deeply into it. Of course, for those who scare easily or don’t like jump scares of any kind, this visual novel may not be a fun time. But for those who love a creepy atmosphere and a story to piece together, you’ll find yourself right at home. This game is a love letter to many Eastern European stories and some indie horror games. Even those who aren’t familiar with the tales will find themselves entertained nonetheless.
Cooking Companions gets a 7/10.
