You've just inherited an old restaurant and you must turn it into a successful business! Hire personnel, order the right ingredients and be ready to serve the customers that enter your restaurant. The success will depend entirely on your efficiency in the kitchen!
Kitchen Rush is an innovative real-time cooperative game that simulates the excitement of a high-pressure kitchen environment. It does so through worker placement, using hourglasses as your workers. These hourglasses are used to take orders from customers, prepare their dishes, serve them on time, buy groceries, clean plates and make sure enough money is made each round to cover wages, expenses, upgrades and hopefully, leave a profit. Any worker placed on an action space may not be used elsewhere before the sand within the hourglass runs out, making each decision important as time is limited.
The game is for 1-4 players and plays for 4 rounds of 4 minutes. The fun, excitement and rush it brings to the table offers a full course for gamers and family members alike.
- It's one of the best real-time co-op games I've ever played.
- The game moves really quick.
- If you're a fan of Overcooked, you've got to try this board game.
- There are not enough spaces to cook for everybody or get ingredients, leading to a cramped feel.
- Restaurant cooking and order fulfillment
- A kitchen environment
- Overcooked
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative play — Players work together to take orders, get ingredients, cook food, and plate it, requiring constant communication and coordination.
- Real-Time — Players use sand timers for their actions, and the game proceeds in real-time with a fixed number of rounds.
- Set Collection — Players need to fulfill orders by collecting the correct ingredients and plating the food.
- Worker Placement — Sand timers act as workers that are placed on different locations on the board to perform actions.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Marty we've been providing background noise for gamers for six years straight and we hope to do it to continue to do it for many more years
- Krispy Kreme is just a mouthful of hot lard at their best cold yeasty goop at their worst gross
- If you're a fan of overcooked you've got to try this board game and if you're not it's one of the best real time co-op games I've ever played
- The art is incredible I love the art of this game it reminds me like brass Birmingham I just like that style that look at that late 1800s Victorian age type stuff the art is great
- The rub is not the flavor text all the text with the spells and the monsters so this spell does this for me this in this monster has this option
References (from this video)
- cooperative energy
- fast and chaotic fun
- timing issues; real-time can hamper engagement
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- real-time cooperative work placement — simultaneous actions; speed matters; everyone acts in real time
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this game is amazing
- it completely blew me away
- Gaia Project... I enjoyed it more than Terra Mystica
- Masters Trials did a good job of combating the number one issue of cooperative games
- it's a really good card game version of a previous game
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
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Quotes (from this video)
- I have a policy for the past three years that when I go to be convention I buy one game because this is the only way I can manage not to have a giant shelf of shame that I need to chew through
- there are only two ways to meet new people either be nice to them or just insult them to their face
- I'm totally I'm trying to find the non swearing words fiction oh yeah it's very addictive
- it's the only way I can manage not to have a giant shelf of shame
- my middle name is crazy
References (from this video)
- real-time co-op about running a kitchen
- running a kitchen
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative — A real-time co-op game about running a kitchen.
- Real-Time — A real-time co-op game about running a kitchen.
- sand timers — You use sand timers to take actions.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
References (from this video)
- Overcooked II
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- moving out which is also chaotic and fun
- i haven't played kitchen rush yet but i imagine it's a big version of this yes this is basically kitchen rust the video game
- the bread had it coming
References (from this video)
- artwork and table presence
- clear tutorial-style scenario progression
- strong Overcooked-like vibes for a cooperative kitchen game
- real-time cooperative challenge
- scaling for two players reduces chaos
- high chaos and unforgiving mistakes
- rounds can be stressful and hard to recover from
- expansion not included / not sure if re-release
- two-player version has limited options; potential balance issues
- financial pressure from paying staff and resources can derail rounds
- restaurant management, cooking, serving customers
- restaurant kitchen / run a restaurant
- scenarios introduced gradually to guide learning
- Overcooked
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- order fulfillment and cooking — collect ingredients, cook, plate, and serve dishes according to orders
- real-time worker placement with hourglasses — each player has two workers and a common worker; hours glass actions; cannot move while on a space until time expires
- round-based timing — four rounds with four-minute real-time segments; a timer controls round length
- Scoring and stars — customers pay money; stars and chef hats unlock areas and bonuses
- Stock Holding — buy ingredients and spices; store in storeroom; money management
- stocking and buying — buy ingredients and spices; store in storeroom; money management
- tables and plates management — different plate shapes; dishes require different plates; washing and dish management
- unlocking and progression — stars and chef hats unlock new storage or board sections; progress via completing VIP orders
- Worker Placement — each player has two workers and a common worker; hours glass actions; cannot move while on a space until time expires
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a cooperative real time game real time
- oh no this is so chaotic
- strong overcooked vibes for sure
- the scenarios and stepping you through with those scenarios really does bring everyone up the curve
- it's unforgiving on mistakes
- the aim of the game is to collect certain amount of monies after four rounds
References (from this video)
- Has elements of running a restaurant.
- Elements might be difficult to integrate into a campaign.
- Restaurant Management
- Plate Up!
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Real-Time — The game has a frantic real-time aspect.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the Restriction is supposed to be and when we moved which was a few years ago now it did get to these shelves are it get the games to fit on those shelves I think we did that and maybe had a bit of room to spare but since moving it's yeah there's a lot of extra shelves downstairs
- 300 is the mark of too much and that includes like the shelves of tiny games of the game and the C crazy
- it's size is driving it more than the numbers and as I said it's it's got a it's got to shrink down to mostly this room and there are big gaps but yeah it'll happen
- Mansions is like a cube to itself Eldritch horror is a Quee to itself
- Shadows of Brimstone that's probably the game that's it's probably tied from tied with Marvel United for a game that's taken up the most amount of space
- box size is the issue and that's why like it's so one of them may be um like Imperial like Imperial was a cool idea and a a great train game but like one of the major things it's get it's got against it is that's one whole cax Cube for that game also box size is the issue
- the game is always a favorite I think we've all got a copy of the game it never needs taken anywhere
- My number one wish list for board game arena is more Cooperative games
- I am continuously and constantly in gam castles of burgundy and I'm still no better at it
References (from this video)
- Some of the most fun worker placement
- Replicates the feel of games like Overcooked
- Cooking environment is well-weaved into the rush
- Gives an essence of pressure
- Works well with family and friends
- Recommended for fans of 'The Bear', cooking, or Overcooked
- Some may pass on it due to not liking cooperative or real-time games, or sand timers.
- Replicating the feel of games like Overcooked, managing a busy kitchen
- A kitchen environment
- Overcooked
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative — Players work together to manage the kitchen.
- Real-Time — Played in timed rounds where players must complete tasks before time runs out.
- Worker Placement — Workers are sand timers with cooldowns, used for various kitchen tasks.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- And considering it's one of my favorite genres of all time, and we just did a review of Kinfire, which caused me to noodle on this top 10 list again.
- But nonetheless, no matter how you slice it, Dune Imperium does a really great job of mixing worker placement with some light elements of deck building, effortlessly weaving together this economic backbone that works so well for the world of Frank Herbert.
- This is some of the most fun worker placement that I've done with my family, with my friends.
- Viticulture Essential Edition which I think is just one of the best purest worker placement games that you can get.
- It just feels refined and smart and elegant and propulsive and nuanced.
- But I still think Viticulture Essential Edition as is, is just one of the tightest, most easily recommendable midweight Euro purchases you can give to anyone.
- It's just man everything I love about board games.
- But the lantern action when you draft one of the lower value dice, which yes, they are less powerful dice, but still functional.
- it's just a beautifully presented, tight, small box Euro that gives you so much to do in such a really pleasing package that just makes you frustrated when you play that you can't get more out of any of your turns.
- Let me know in the comments below what are your favorite worker placement games.
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- The hourglass draining will signify the length of time that an action takes.
- The spice bag is designed to slow you down in placing spices.
- If you had used the waiter space to serve an order promptly during in the round and then found out that you had prepared it incorrectly the team loses to prestige instead of one.
- The common helper would be paid first and then one of the other workers would not be paid and would not be available in the next round of the game.
- These are all detrimental to the players.
- Fish spoil and have to be returned to the main supply.
- If you keep the food critic waiting you will lose additional prestige.
References (from this video)
- Hourglasses signify action length.
- Black hourglasses can be used by all players.
- Promptly serving orders provides an extra dollar.
- Upgrades can make actions more powerful.
- Modules add challenge and variety.
- Setup has many steps and changes based on player count.
- If an order is prepared incorrectly, consequences are more severe.
- If the team cannot pay for all workers, prestige is lost.
- Fish spoil at the end of the round and incomplete plates with fish must be discarded.
- Event cards are detrimental to players.
- a restaurant
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Point Allowance System — The amount of sand in each hourglass dictates the number of actions a player can take before it needs to be refilled or moved.
- cooperative play — Players work together to achieve a common goal, managing shared resources and actions to fulfill orders and meet objectives.
- Order Fulfillment — The core gameplay loop involves taking orders, gathering components, cooking dishes, and serving them for rewards.
- Real-Time — The game is played in real time with a four-minute timer per round, using hourglasses to track action duration. Players must stop actions when time expires but can complete those with sand remaining.
- Resource Management — Players manage money, ingredients, spices, and plates to complete orders and pay worker wages.
- Set Collection — Players collect specific ingredients and spices to match the requirements on order cards.
- Stock Market/Economy — Players earn money and prestige, and must pay wages at the end of each round. Insufficient funds lead to worker unavailability and prestige loss.
- Variable player powers — Black hourglasses can be used and moved by all players, acting as a shared resource.
- Worker Placement — Players use hourglass workers to occupy action spaces on the board. Each space has specific rules regarding placement and action execution, with restrictions on moving workers before their hourglass runs out.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- The hourglass draining will signify the length of time that an action takes.
- The spice bag is designed to slow you down in placing spices.
- If you had used the waiter space to serve an order promptly during in the round and then found out that you had prepared it incorrectly the team loses to prestige instead of one.
- The common helper would be paid first and then one of the other workers would not be paid and would not be available in the next round of the game.
- These are all detrimental to the players.
- Fish spoil and have to be returned to the main supply.
- If you keep the food critic waiting you will lose additional prestige.
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- But the thing is every time we play Kitchen Rush, we lose.
- We've never won a single game, but I love it.
References (from this video)
- engaging theme
- fun to play as a family activity
- can be challenging to master
- work simulation
- restaurant kitchen
- cooperative multitasking
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action programming — plan actions to fulfill orders
- timer/rounds — timed turns to manage tasks
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's whimsical it's really a classical fantasy tale
- a speed game that I think is a fund
- it's a dropping game where you try to drop treasures you're drafting
- it's a great game to play at the end of a game weekend
- I would never play with any other account because it doesn't I don't care anything about what happened when we play four players
References (from this video)
- High-energy, thematic, accessible
- Potentially chaotic for some groups
- Managing a bustling kitchen under time pressure
- Real-time cooperative restaurant kitchen
- Fuse
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- real-time cooperative — Players manage tasks with sand timers; actions are time-bound and players interact to avoid bottlenecks.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I can't wait to chat to you all again at next year's Expo or Essen in October
- this is easily the best game that I played all weekend and it wasn't even a board game
- meeting the actual viewers... I had so much fun chatting to you all about your favorite board games
- I make these videos in this flat on my own and it makes it so much better to get out there and meet people
References (from this video)
- cohesive cooperative experience; players have purpose throughout
- invested in escalation and strategy over time
- production feels dated; sand timers can stick
- victory condition can feel overly difficult on medium level
- cooperative real-time cooking
- restaurant kitchen simulation
- communal problem solving under pressure
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Game — players coordinate actions to fulfill orders in real time
- Real-time cooperative play — players coordinate actions to fulfill orders in real time
- timer-driven escalation — time ticks push players to optimize and speed up decisions
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the extremely tight economy in the game where every decision that you make is a resource in and of itself
- I'm a big Bruno Katala fan and this is exactly what I look for out of a Bruno Katala game
- it's adorable, it's cuteness incarnate
- this is now my favorite Dinosaur Island game
- it feels so much more substantial than a lot of rolling right games
References (from this video)
- Highly thematic and kinetic
- Innovative timers-based worker mechanic
- Potentially punishing if timers mismanage
- Fast-paced cafe/restaurant operations
- Restaurant kitchen co-op work management
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Timed action-chains with sand timers — Every action is bound by sand timers; players coordinate to run a restaurant.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the majority of these I got for free as review copies
- I'm interested in all of these games but most of them I haven't played yet
- I absolutely love when I dream
- this is the party version right here
References (from this video)
- very thematic and hectic
- fast-paced teamwork
- real-time may be stressful for casual players
- real-time cooperative kitchen management
- restaurant kitchen
- tempo-driven, chaotic teamwork
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- real-time cooperative — players act in real time to complete kitchen tasks and orders
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- great negotiation game about building casinos in Vegas
- it's an epic negotiation game
- cooperative with limited communication
- one of the only deck-building games that I really like
- cooperative storytelling with survival mechanics
References (from this video)
- Cooperative real-time cooking chaos
- Restaurant kitchen
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- real-time / timer-driven — sand timers drive worker actions; players manage kitchen tasks
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I'm super excited to try this one out
- I can't wait to try out Nemesis
- they call it a romantic comedy in a board game
- it's a murder mystery on a cruise ship
- top 20 most anticipated games at Essen 2017
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- It's quirky and it's different.
- It's the best one that's out there.
- In 20 years there will be so many better board games with virtual reality, but right now it's the best one that's out there.
- One map and you're racing to finish.
- This is a romantic comedy in a board game.
- Magic Maze is my number one game of 2017.
References (from this video)
- Immersive culinary theme
- Strong cooperative play
- Accessible to newcomers
- Table presence heavy
- Older components and setup can be fiddly
- Cooperative kitchen management
- Restaurant kitchen
- Light, thematic through play actions
- Rush MD
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative teamwork — Players coordinate to seat customers, take orders, cook, and serve within time constraints.
- Resource Management — Manage ingredients, orders, and staff efficiency.
- time/round-based actions — Actions are planned around game phases and time pressure.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Kitchen Rush is going to win this
- Millennium Blades is a fake Magic style card game.
- Gloomhaven is a huge box full of stuff.
- Spirit Island is a cooperative game, a tough cooperative game where we are the spirits of an island.
- Wingspan. Fantastic.
- Suburbia, easy.
References (from this video)
- Strong thematic sense of a hectic kitchen
- Engaging real-time planning and tactile dexterity
- Can be stressful or chaotic for some players
- Stressful, fast-paced cooking under a strict time limit
- Cooperative kitchen environment; chaotic restaurant workflow
- Real-time coordination with a clockwork/dexterity feel
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Timer — Actions are resolved only when the sand timer runs out; you plan around timer constraints.
- cooperative task management — Players discuss and assign tasks; ovens, stores, and spices create a supply chain.
- dexterity elements — Physical interaction to retrieve spices and complete tasks under time pressure.
- profit management — Earnings and salaries create a fragile profit margin that players must balance.
- sand-timer action planning — Actions are resolved only when the sand timer runs out; you plan around timer constraints.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- not alone is a great overall thematic game and that's why it's number 10 on the list
- season one is like 95% identical to the original pandemic
- it's like watching a Netflix show as you are playing these games
- Spirit Island is the most thematic out of all of these
- genuinely I felt like I was in this cramped pressure-filled crazy stressful submarine duking it out to the death
References (from this video)
- thematic and chaotic fun
- solid collaboration and teamwork experience
- great for groups and family play
- setup and component management can be lengthy
- some players may struggle with tempo
- cooking and service timing
- restaurant kitchen in a real-time style
- cooperative chaos
- Lego Games (cooperative kitchen/restaurant themes)
- Overcooked-inspired abstracts
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperation — team efforts to serve customers and manage ingredients
- Cooperative Actions — team efforts to serve customers and manage ingredients
- real-time / timer-driven actions — actions occur as timers run and players coordinate
- Resource Management — collect and manage ingredients to fulfill orders
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the satisfying interlocking puzzle
- I would much rather play this than Cluedo
- it's such an amazing theme that sure is set in a futuristic city but has such a comment on our modern world
- I just really love that form of communication
- this is one of the best party games there is