One Piece: Grand Gourmet is Kairosoft’s latest management game, built around running a restaurant aboard a ship in the One Piece universe rather than preparing food directly. As with many of the studio’s titles, it uses pixel art and a fast-moving structure filled with details and references to the source material.
The game is primarily designed as a mobile experience, which is unsurprising given Kairosoft’s catalogue. Its release on PC and Nintendo Switch is the more unexpected aspect. On Switch, the controls work well, although the game can feel better suited to a smaller, portable screen than to a television.
The story follows Sanji, Luffy and Zoro after they discover that impostors are damaging the Baratie’s reputation. The Straw Hats decide to take over the Baratie 2 to confront them, while the player assists them through an original character. The game’s strong attention to One Piece details is one of its main attractions and makes it especially appealing to fans of Eiichiro Oda’s work.
Restaurant management unfolds through an almost self-running daily cycle. During the day, the restaurant operates, while the characters rest at night. Players search for missing Straw Hats, ingredients for dishes and drinks, and new customers. They can also fulfil customer requests to build loyalty, earn money and complete objectives that unlock new areas of the One Piece world.
The player is responsible for producing tables, chairs and other unusual items requested by customers, as well as expanding the ship. Notifications constantly signal that something needs to be made or that a customer has placed a request. Players can leave the activity running for a while or immediately open the relevant menu and respond to each alert.
This high level of automation leaves the player focused on major decisions and objectives while the restaurant continues operating at a rapid pace. It also makes the controls work better than expected on both PC and Switch. Menus are quick to access, movement around the screen is fluid and the button shortcuts soon become intuitive.
One Piece: Grand Gourmet clearly resembles a mobile game, but that does not prevent its management loop from becoming absorbing. After the initial explanations, it is easy to keep playing longer than intended. The limited interactivity will be familiar to Kairosoft players, while the fast pace and One Piece setting provide enough charm to keep the experience engaging for hours.
The result is a highly automated management game with considerable fan service. Its appeal is likely to be strongest among One Piece followers and players already comfortable with Kairosoft’s distinctive style.
Sources: Eurogamer Portugal.