- Primary Subject: Cooking Mama (Franchise Series)
- Key Update: This opinion piece argues that the ongoing absence of a new installment is a massive missed opportunity given the boom of cozy games and the capabilities of the Switch 2 hardware.
- Status: Confirmed (The franchise has remained entirely dormant since 2022's Cooking Mama: Cuisine!)
- Last Verified: July 9, 2026
- Quick Answer: While no new title is announced, the booming cozy genre and Switch 2 features, like HD Rumble 2, make a franchise revival heavily demanded.
One of the games I became obsessed with when I was a kid was Cooking Mama. My parents gifted it to me after I got my DS Lite, and I was immediately hooked.
The gameplay wasn't anything riveting. It was extremely cozy - you chopped, sliced, and created new dishes with Mama's instructions. But something about it was so addicting. I ended up getting Cooking Mama: Cook Off for my Wii and even played Cooking Mama: Cuisine! on my iPhone.
And the one on Apple is actually the last Cooking Mama game released to this day. It came out in 2022, and since then, news on an upcoming Cooking Mama game has been little to none. And honestly? It's criminal.
We Deserve a New Cooking Mama Game
Now, let me get something straight. I know Cooking Mama isn't a game highly sought after by hardcore, triple-A gamers. But for people like me who enjoyed the slow-paced nature of learning a new recipe and being taught all the steps by Mama, it's a godsend.
The fact that we haven't gotten a new Cooking Mama game since Cuisine is baffling. I personally believe that a new installment to the franchise will be more successful now than ever.
The cozy genre has been on the rise for years now. Games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Stardew Valley, and Unpacking proved that making low-stress games with repeatable gameplay can sell millions. This is especially true with food-centered games - just take a look at Good Pizza, Great Pizza.
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Games like Cooking Mama offer you instant gratification. It doesn't take long to perfect a recipe, making it a suitable cozy game for gamers who are tired of massive open-world titles. Plus, having Mama by your side telling you "Don't worry, Mama will fix it!" makes you feel like you're being taken care of by Mama herself.
The fact that cozy games are popular right now, paired with the nostalgia that naturally comes with Cooking Mama, proves that Nintendo and Office Create are sleeping on a missed opportunity. Releasing a new Cooking Mama game now is perfect for both kids and adults yearning for nostalgic, comforting titles.
On top of that, food content is extremely well-loved right now. Food culture is on the rise thanks to food content creators, ASMR mukbangs, and "aesthetic" tutorials. A modern Cooking Mama with viral recipes and clean visuals would be a great addition to social media's food culture landscape.
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Another thing that NEEDS to be mentioned is that the title is perfect for the Switch 2's capabilities. The console features HD Rumble 2, which means you'd be able to feel something like a carrot's density as you chop it or the subtle crunch when you peel off a shrimp. The Switch 2 also has a mouse mode, which is great for when you need to decorate a cake you're baking.
Office Create is sitting on a gold mine. All they have to do is hit the drawing board on a unique concept and bring back our dear Mama.
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