Local co-op-focused gamesare something of a “lost art”, often overshadowed by the rise of competitive online games and single-player epics. But Ghost Town Games and Team17 proved such a style can still be interesting and exciting. They’ve done this with theirsurprise indie hitOvercookedand its beefed-up sequel. The games bring a fun arcade sensibility with their simple mechanics and frantic gameplay on the one hand.
At the same time, they truly do their own thing, emphasizing multitasking and collaborating with others. This has spawned similar efforts (especially in the indie scene) — though there are also comparable titles that predate it. These are some of the most fun and interesting gamesOvercookedfans should love. For the most part, they stress coordination and juggling different tasks on the fly, usually (but not always) through multiplayer.
Updated Aug 07, 2025 by Stephen LaGioia:Once upon a time, Overcooked stood largely alone with its unique brand of party gameplay and frantic co-op multitasking. Few managed to strike that delicate balance of casual social gaming and hardcore precision like Team17’s social game. Fast-forward several years, and the game has helped cook up a wholesubgenreof task-juggling games often held together by teamwork. They’ve become a fun alternative to the usual minigame fest, racing romp, or fighting brawls often played with friends and siblings. And with the cold weather limiting outdoor activities and adding more appeal to these social games, it seemed fitting to revisit and add a few more notable entries to this list.
30Think Of The Children
Steam Score: 69%
Being a parent can be hectic and stressful, to say the least. But at least when it comes to this amusing romp from Jammed Up Studios, players can have fun doing so — absent real consequences. Described as a ‘co-op parenting simulator’, the goals are roughly what one would expect; keep the wild little ones under control and safe without much mess or embarrassment.
Multitasking is an understatement here, as parents will be frantically doing things like setting tables, fending off rabid dogs, and tending to BBQ cooking, all within a range of busy settings. There is much to manage in this colorful sim, organized somewhat by a checklist of tasks, and since the kids are usually out to start trouble, there’s rarely a dull moment to be had.
Players can tackle this one alone, but as is the case in real life, a second parent makes things somewhat more manageable.
29Out Of Space
Steam Score: 79%
This game brings a familiar aesthetic of vibrant visuals and an isometric view of multi-room layouts, along with co-op chaos — though from there, things largely diverge fromOvercooked. In fact,Out of Spacetends toshare as many parallels toThe Simsas Team17’s cooking game. The game plops multiple players in an outer space scenario as roommates.
There, they must build and maintain their space house — all while gathering resources for upgrades, clearing messes, and even dealing with alien infestations. With ample action and tons to do in the procedurally generated maps, there’s plenty of laugh-out-loud fun here, extended by updated challenges and events that add twists.
This game can be played solo, though it’s not easy (even with justtwoplayers) — and in deep space, can get a tad isolating. Luckily,Out of Spacealso offers online multiplayer.
28Baby Storm
Steam Score: 90%
Perhaps one of the only tasks more stressful than cooking several meals is tending to several babies and toddlers. Players assume the role of a kindergarten teacher with her hands full, as she must scramble about her classroom in a futile attempt to maintain order. Objectives mostly revolve around subduing the rowdy kiddies and keeping them under control.
These include chores like giving toys, changing diapers, feeding, cleaning, and breaking up squabbles. While this may sound more anxiety-inducing than fun, the aptly named studio Baby Corp manages to make this cute sim amusing and exciting. This is especially the case when unlocking more complex settings and dealing with babies laced with powers.
Baby Stormcan be playedsolo,though it’s advised to team up with a few more adults.
Standing some distance fromOvercookedin many avenues,Factoriois a rather involved resource management and building game, instead of the casual partier that is Team17’s romp. Still, the game shares some overlap when it comes to its demand for shifting between distinct tasks and keeping things running smoothly.
In this case, players must build automated factories scattered about a large 2D world, which in turn churn out usable items. All the while, builders will need to stave off hostile creatures that inhabit these areas.Factorioutilizes aSim City-esque crafting system that holds a fairly steep learning curve, to be sure. Yet, it proves immensely rewarding once the rules and mechanics are locked down, and players absorb the various moving pieces and chugging assembly lines.
26Trash Patrol
MediaCube Game’s amusing indie runs with a similarOvercookedvibe of top-down views and item shuffling — and adds quite a bit of raccoon mischief.Trash Patrolhas players running wild as the pesky critters as they scurry and rummage through houses, grabbing what they can.
The kickers are that they must evade the homeownerandwash their newly-obtained goodies — because what self-respecting raccoons want dirty items? Up to three other teammates can be utilized to bait the homeowners and reach hard-to-get goods. While lacking the polish and depth of Team17’s hit,Trash Patrolis even more unapologetically wild and festive.
25Surgeon Simulator 2
Metascore: 70
Like theOvercookedgames, this is a frantic arcade-style sim that will have multiple players fumbling through various tasks. While bobbling tasks in Team17’s game simply lead to grumpy, hungry customers,Surgeon Simulator 2putsliveson the line. These high stakes — coupled with precise controls, wonky physics, and deep surgical procedures — produce a uniquely tense experience.
The sequel to the 2013 sleeper hit dials up the depth and toughness, injecting co-op gameplay and a story mode that immerses players. LikeOvercooked, there are some funny moments to be had, thanks to cartoony visuals as well as bizarre circumstances and physics.
24Cake Mania
Score: 3.64 User Score On GameFAQs
As one might expect, there are ample parallels betweenOvercookedand this multitasking pressure cooker, with a key difference being that the player must scramble to serve dishessolohere. Of course, another distinction (aside from the 2D aesthetic) is that cakes alone are the focus. But while its gameplay just revolves around crafting one treat, that doesn’t meanCake Maniais any less thrilling or tough.
The series began as a Flash-based time management game in 2006. This eventually became apopular mobile game, and even saw releases on Wii and PS2. Still, it’s hard to beat the charm of the original, which (despite being fairly crude) shines for its gripping, accessible gameplay.
23Witchtastic
Described asOverocokedwith a witchy overlay,Witchtastichas up to four sorcerers scrambling through Gothic, rustic, and autumn-themed locales to whip up potions. Similarly, players will work simultaneously to brew their concoctions by grabbing different ingredients cued by dozens of recipes on screen.
Rather than pizza dough and burgers, players will be working with garlic, mushrooms, and nightshade. A few other unique elements are sprinkled in to align more withWitchtastic’s themes. These include creatures that stun and collectible wood to keep the cauldron burning. In another departure, the game offers an entertainingsolomode to amp up the multitasking.
2239 Days To Mars
Steam Score: 84%
This hand-drawn puzzler is a huge departure from the colorfulOvercooked– and mostothergames for that matter. Still, the emphasis on communication and multitasking certainly has some overlap.39 Days to Marshas players tinkering with several weird, inventive puzzles to progress and repair theirinspiring steampunk ship.
The campaign is slim, but the “outside the box” thinking and juggling of several tasks set the stage for extended trial and error sessions. Objectives span from controlling a space bicycle to simply fixing some tea. Players can technically tackle this onesoloby juggling more tasks, though relying on the AI adds a huge layer of challenge that can be tough to overcome.
21Potion Party
Steam Score: 91%
Overcookedfans will definitely sense some familiarity when it comes to this funny, frantic couch co-op, which swaps cooking with alchemy. In this colorful pixel-art romp, players must scramble in tandem with up to three others to create potions and manage their growing alchemy shop.
Along the way, they’ll cultivate fruits to be combined for potions, rack up money, and utilize special skills. Added to this is the ability to spruce up the store with decorations, unlock new unique characters, and upgrade tools to concoct more complex, valuable potions. Despite its flat aesthetic, the game adds a new dimension to this co-op cooking/crafting formula by featuring baddies and intruders that can sabotage the alchemists.
