Cooking Mama

 DS
Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 35
  3. Negative: 2 out of 35
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  1. IGN
    70
    Cooking Mama does what it sets out to do very well, even if its concept will never be a true gaming classic. It's a really good niche-filler that utilizes the DS well.
  2. Gamezilla!
    70
    Just keep in mind that while there are a lot of different things to do, this experience is definitely best enjoyed in short bursts.
  3. Deeko
    70
    With seventy six recipes, there is a lot of play value here, but once you're done, you're done.
  5. Nintendo Power
    70
    As is, it's a tasty morsel that will appeal especially to conoisseurs of DS oddities like "Phoenix Wright" and "Trauma Center". Bon appetit! [Nov. 2006, p.90]
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  6. Yahoo!
    70
    So while there isn't all that much on the menu, the fast-paced and simple gameplay can't fail to raise a smile, at least for the first few plays. Most will set it aside after that, but it's priced at a decidedly value-conscious $20 -- less than the cost of a good steak.
  7. GameDaily
    70
    It's not cool getting all the way to the end of a dish and losing because of some tech failure. But for the most part, things work quite well, and Cooking Mama is a steal at $19.99.
  8. IC-Games
    70
    The main factor here is the playability, and bar the aforementioned niggles we came across we can't deny that 'Cooking Mama' uses the Nintendo DS touch screen in every conceivable and more importantly, fun, way.
  9. GameSpot
    69
    Cooking Mama is a cute, charming little cooking-themed minigame collection, but it lacks direction and depth.
  10. N-Insanity
    68
    Cooking Mama saves the data progressively, so it’s incredibly easy to boot up, cook up a couple dishes, and shut down.
  11. Gaming Age
    67
    Whether you are a master in the kitchen or if you burn toast, Cooking Mama lets you enjoy simulating cooking without all the mess.
  12. My Gamer
    66
    While the game does something new and is perfect for a quick game session on the way to work or on a break, it lacks the potential to be anything more.
  13. NintendoWorldReport
    65
    Cooking Mama was fun for a while, but after the novelty wore off, the repetition of the mini-games and the janky stylus controls just became a bigger and more noticeable defect, and while I’d love to praise the game for trying something different, I have to fault it for not having much depth. [JPN Import]
  14. Game Informer
    65
    Along these lines, Cooking Mama could have been a wacky, gameplay-oriented way to have some fun with my food. Because of the dual-screen layout and minigame design, it just plain isn't. [Oct. 2006, p.114]
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  15. Nintendojo
    64
    Controls are tight and responsive, and offer up an entirely new experience, especially since Cooking Mama is one of the first of its kind, but the experience will not last.
  16. Game Almighty
    63
    If you’re looking for a portable Mario Party fix, minus the Party aspect, be sure to pick up Cooking Mama.
  17. GameSpy
    60
    Sadly, the only multiplayer mode included is a downloadable demo you can distribute to your friends -- we would have loved a cooking contest a la Iron Chef, where the highest scoring player across a series of mini-games would win the fame and glory. Still, the mini-games can be fun.
  18. GamesRadar+
    60
    Our only technical beef with the game is the occasionally spotty touch screen control. Some of the minigame commands aren't as responsive as they could be, leading to bad grades on dishes you know you're nailing. Other than that, everything here works great - just take your time and don't expect too much.
  19. Modojo
    60
    The cheery 'bloop-de-bleep' repeated throughout the entire game is enough to make ears bleed.
  20. Eurogamer
    60
    A charming novelty game, well presented and simply and effectively executed. Just don't go expecting anything more than your thirteen pounds' worth.
  21. G4 TV
    60
    It's like one of those pricey meals that foodies order at swank restaurants. Three bites and the plate is clean. It's a good thing that Cooking Mama has an early bird special price tag, because right about now we're ready for the desert menu.
  22. VideoGamer
    60
    The core idea of turning cooking into a series of mini-games works well, and the gameplay is simple enough for almost anyone to enjoy. Sadly, a lack of variety does make it a game that won't be played much once the novelty factor has worn off.
  23. 3DAvenue
    60
    The game is so unique and original that DS owners have to play it, but the fact it’s so short makes it not worth coughing up the cash for.
  24. The Sydney Morning Herald
    60
    A lot of fun but unlikely to satisfy your gaming appetite.
  25. Games Master UK
    56
    Cheerful stuff, with questionable challenge, and, sadly, questionable point. [Jan 2007, p.67]
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  26. Nintendo Gamer
    54
    It's not that it's badly made or anything. It's just a bit dull, and there's only so many polygon peppers we want to chop. [Dec 2006, p.43]
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Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Best DS Game of 2006
25
#25 Most Discussed DS Game of 2006
36
#36 Most Shared DS Game of 2006

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 36 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 36
  3. Negative: 2 out of 36
  1. COOKINGMAMA2222
    Jan 24, 2018
    10
    This game changed my life. I was once sad, I was once alone. But nay, no longer, Mama is here. She is here for me and she is here for you. SheThis game changed my life. I was once sad, I was once alone. But nay, no longer, Mama is here. She is here for me and she is here for you. She will not abandon you at age 14, she is a true mother. Cooking Mama stimulates the way you think about food. For example, I would describe the food as interesting and a journey to another world, another time. Much more peaceful and serene. But nothing compares to the kind and gentle words that Mama says to you as she whispers to you, "Even better than Mama." This type of encouragement is the first I've seen in many years. I wish she existed in real life but in a way, she does. One criticism I would make is I think that she should leave her husband, Papa. He does not treat her the way she deserves. As she is my mama, I would treat as a goddess, a true queen of cooking. To quote a great philosopher, "It is not what you cook which makes the dish, it is with who you cook which makes the dish." I am not one to be sentimental or cry over things such as video games but this came to me in a time of difficulties. Where I did not even know how to bake a cupcake? But cooking mama taught me, nay, influenced me to strive better when I cook. I owe them my livelihood. This is the game that will change your life. This is the game that will lift you out of your depression and teach you how to love and how it is to be loved.Bob Marley once said, "she will be loved." When I heard that, I did not know how I would be loved. But this game showed me that. I will be loved. By Mama. In conclusion, great game, taught me a world about values, morals and cooking. Thank you, Majesco Games and thank you, Mama.… Full Review »
  2. Yojimbo2015
    Jun 2, 2023
    3
    Copy actions on the touch screen when prompted, kind of like a kitchen-bound version of Simon Says. About as much fun as it sounds.
  3. Jell0oPudd1n
    May 30, 2023
    10
    YummersYummersYummersYummersYummersYummersYummersYummersYummersYummersYummers
    **** off
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