We all know someone who likes to play with his or her food, so why not give that epicurean enthusiast in your life a little fun this holiday season? Lots of new games are either already out on shelves or will be released in time for the holidays, so drop that turkey and get to the stores! Or just stay home and play with yourself. We don't care.
Anyhow, here are a few of our new favorites:
Fires up on: Nintendo DS
Out of the oven: 10/27/09
Quick bite: Just as the name says, you'll be shopping and chopping along with a character who looks way too young to be anyone's "Mama." This game is rated "E" for "Everyone," but maybe it should've been rated "EBV" for "Everyone But Vegetarians." Why? 'Cause the PETA folks created their own bloody spoof.
Fires up on: Wii
Out of the oven: 11/3/09
Quick bite: The Food Network's first video game teaches real cooking skills and provides more than 30 recipes. Sure you may look funny whipping your remote around like a whisk, but hey--you've never had so much fun making virtual grilled ahi with mojo, right?
Fires up on: Wii & Nintendo DS
Out of the oven: Q4 2009
Quick bite: Congrats! You've got your own sushi restaurant and you don't even have to worry about keeping the fish eggs fresh. But you will have to memorize recipes, roll some rice, process payment, and keep your customers happy.
Fires up on: X360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable
Out of the oven: 9/15/09
Quick bite: Obviously based on the movie of the same name, the plot involves a nerdy young inventor who creates a super mutating dynamic food replicator and now must save the world from a culinary catastrophe.
Fires up on: Windows XP/Vista
Out of the oven: 1/17/09
Quick bite: Cook your way through 60 different recipes from eight different countries and learn interesting trivia about food while mastering all new skills. Mini-games include food processors, mixers, raiding the fridge, and more.
Fires up on: Windows XP/Vista
Out of the oven: 4/17/09
Quick bite: Corporate lawyer Maria Bellaventura inherits her grandfather's Winery in Tuscany and leaves the rat race to run her own winemaking business. She visits 15 spots around the world, learning facts and tips about different wine blends and grapes.
7. Cake Mania 3
Fires up on: Nintendo DS, Windows XP/Vista
Out of the oven: 10/13/09
Quick bite: Bride-to-be Jill Evans must travel through time and work her cake-making magic on everyone she meets to get her loved ones back before the ceremony begins. Players travel to six different bakery environments, including the Jurassic Period, Medieval England and the future, serving demanding Medieval wizards and ancient Egyptian mummies.
Fires up on: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista
Out of the oven: 11/2/09
Quick bite: Ever wished you were on Top Chef or Hell's Kitchen? Play this game. In 66 days, you must successfully open and manage seven eateries, while making over 50 other recipes in kitchens you build and upgrade to win the Kitchen Brigade TV competition.
And if you are waiting until after Christmas to hit the big sales, here's a few you should keep an eye out for:
Fires up on: Nintendo DS & Wii
Out of the oven: 1/5/10
Quick bite: Don't let that burger grease get to your brain. Keep your fast food resto clean and humming along with three levels of difficulty.
Fires up on: Windows XP/Vista
Out of the oven: 12/31/09
Quick bite: "Build, cook and hire your way to the very top of the gastronomic biz, where tasty food is king and smart management reels in the dollar signs." It's a 16-mission campaign with new, themed-restaurants. You get to set up, decorate, and manage your resto, and even hire live entertainment to keep guests eating to the beats.
Did you find one we didn't? Post below and let us know!
