Cooking Mama

 DS
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
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  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. 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. ButThis 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.… Expand
  2. TJM.
    Oct 3, 2006
    7
    The replay value of this game lies in achieving gold medals for every last dish. Beyond that, Cooking Mama is best played in bite-sized morsels, and one should not pick it up at $20 expecting a full course meal.
  3. JennB.
    Jan 20, 2007
    8
    This goes well with those who enjoy mini games. Being obsessed with simulators, I was instantly addicted. For only $20, its worth picking up.
  4. HannahR.
    May 10, 2007
    7
    This game is fun for all ages. Anyone can play it. i think it has affected by psyche in real life though. I find my self chopping, slicing, stewing, saute-ing furiously in my real kitchen to get that mental gold medal. Help!! I have clocked this game over the duration of about 3 days and found that the only way to get a gold is to get 100%. This can be frustrating if you make something This game is fun for all ages. Anyone can play it. i think it has affected by psyche in real life though. I find my self chopping, slicing, stewing, saute-ing furiously in my real kitchen to get that mental gold medal. Help!! I have clocked this game over the duration of about 3 days and found that the only way to get a gold is to get 100%. This can be frustrating if you make something with about 7 stages and you get one minor thing wrong. Somethings seem almost impossible but you can do it if you don't mind getting repetitive stress syndrome in your hand. The game utilizes the touch screen very well AND you can blow into the microphone. How cool is that?!… Expand
  5. ChrisW.
    Sep 18, 2006
    9
    I consider this game to be a must own next to any warioware or brain age game. For only $20, this title gives you hours of minigame psuedo-cooking fun. Some recipes are simple enough that you could make them in the real world if you were so inclined. I really enjoyed this title, one of my best DS purchases yet. Very fun!
  6. Rumblebeelove
    Nov 26, 2010
    7
    Adorable graphics and a slew of mini games, heck the whole game is mini games. It's amusing and for that $20 price tag. It's not the best out there, but definitely the best for that price.
  7. IrishChai
    Sep 26, 2011
    7
    There have actually been a couple 'cooking' games on the market before but I think they were always limited to obscure Japanese imports that never saw an English or American release. This game does a pretty good job of doing the same thing those did; introducing some fun minigames based entirely around cooking. I don't know exactly what it is that makes these games so addictive, but I canThere have actually been a couple 'cooking' games on the market before but I think they were always limited to obscure Japanese imports that never saw an English or American release. This game does a pretty good job of doing the same thing those did; introducing some fun minigames based entirely around cooking. I don't know exactly what it is that makes these games so addictive, but I can highly recommend giving this series a try when you have a few extra dollars. At it's current price, it's a great deal for some casual fun when you are in the mood for it. I only rated it a 7 because honestly the premise is extremely basic, and it's almost a direct copy of the earlier import cooking games I had played, but it's still a fun experience for the price.… Expand
  8. funkydoodycool
    May 9, 2015
    6
    I'm not sure why this is so entertaining, but it is. And it's given me ideas for making fun lunches at home.

    Shallow and repetitive, but somehow compelling.
  9. nintendo-sekta
    Jan 26, 2019
    10
    Игра хороша. Игра это сбор множества мини игр. В ней множество рецептов. Игра может затянуть на несколько часов прохождения.
  10. vivianholeslut
    May 25, 2021
    7
    Cooking Mama is a cooking simulator in the form a various mini games. I like
  11. wagyumascara
    May 25, 2021
    7
    Cooking Mama is a fun casual game for any age group. Though some of the Minigames are unforgiving with it's judging, I still overall enjoyed getting all the gold medals. It doesn't have the classic asian mama voice acting that I grew to love so It gets a 7 :)
  12. 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.
  13. Jell0oPudd1n
    May 30, 2023
    10
    YummersYummersYummersYummersYummersYummersYummersYummersYummersYummersYummers
    **** off

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

Critic Reviews

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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
  1. 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]
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  2. GameBrink
    78
    The dishes and ingredients are all very detailed and look just like they should and Mama comes across as the tough extremist she is. She exudes her “Cook or die” mentality in every scene she graces. [JPN Import]
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  3. NTSC-uk
    40
    Although there are a few clever mini-game ideas worth seeing, overall it will not hold your interest for long, which is disappointing since the whole concept of using the DS touch screen to control your way around the kitchen seems so natural. [JPN Import]
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