Video games can be educational in some ways. There are some excellent video game titles available, that can inspire players to take up a hobby they would never have tried before or teach them some useful real-life skills.
Baking is a calming escapism and a great hobby to ease the stresses of reality. As such, baking and video games go hand-in-hand, designed for gamers wanting to try their hand at the culinary arts without getting into the kitchen. Here are some great games for any players that want to learn how to bake!
7 Cooking Simulator
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Android devices.
Cooking Simulator allows players to delve into the culinary arts in a realistic kitchen, equipped with dozens of cooking utensils and tools to get them started! Combined with real-life physics, Cooking Simulator is about as realistic as players can get without cooking at their own stove! The base game of Cooking Simulator offers 80 basic recipes for players to master and learn to use authentic-looking ingredients.
If that isn't enough, there are several expansions for players to choose from, including the Cakes and Cookies DLC. This special pack grants access to tons of new content for players with a sweet tooth. They get to bake and decorate customizable desserts in a bakery, with loads of new baking mechanics and gadgets for an extra realistic feel.
6 The Sims 4
- Platforms: PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
The Sims is a global phenomenon that has only increased in popularity since The Sims 4 became free-to-play. Players get to create their dream life from scratch, by building a house from the ground up and customizing their own characters to live a lifetime with. Characters can also develop individual skills and traits.
The Sims 4 features many DLC and expansions that add bonus content to the base game, including the Get To Work expansion. This introduces several new career paths, including the Baker profession. This skill adds tons of new recipes to the game, from store-bought cake mixes to chocolate souffle. They can even open their own bakery and sell their products in the display cabinets for customers to purchase!
5 Stardew Valley
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android devices
Stardew Valley is a wholesome indie farming sim beloved by players worldwide. Players inherit a farm plot and cozy cottage left behind by their grandfather. They are tasked with building it into a self-sustaining agricultural empire, expanding their property, and growing crops.
Once they've upgraded their house, players can cook meals at their stove for added benefits. There are over 80 different dishes that players can unlock and make, from American-style fluffy pancakes to the Pink Cake enjoyed by many of Pelican Town's residents. Stardew Valley's aspiring farmers can become chef connoisseurs in no time, making delicious snacks to provide them with ample stat bonuses to get through a day on the farm. Players could even be inspired to bake some of these recipes in real life!
4 Bakery Simulator
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Ever dreamed of owning a bakery? Bakery Simulator lets that dream become a reality, without all the real-life hassle of expenses and cleaning dishes! Players get to put on their chef's hat and bake various buns, pastries, and cakes for customers at various locations with in-depth instructions to follow to make the perfect pastry.
The player is at the forefront of everything in Bakery Simulator. They must take individual orders, prep the correct ingredients, bake the order, and then hop in their car to deliver the finished product to the customer! Baking each order is performed from a first-person perspective for a truly immersive experience.
3 Cook, Serve, Delicious! Franchise
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, macOS, iOS and Android devices.
Cook, Serve, Delicious! is a delightful restaurant simulation franchise that sees players in control of their own restaurant and its menu, and making orders for customers. Each Cook, Serve, Delicious game has different food options and fully customizable eateries. The menu must be changed frequently to entice customers back to earn more money and grow in popularity.
There are hundreds of different recipes, from gourmet global cuisine to wholesome home-cooked meals; there's something to tickle every payer's taste buds and hopefully inspire them to create their own recipes!
2 Cooking Mama Franchise
- Platforms: PS4, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android devices.
No other gaming franchise tackles the heat and stress of the kitchen with such a charming atmosphere like Cooking Mama! Since the days of the Nintendo Wii and DS, Cooking Mama has inspired aspiring cooks everywhere to get stuck into the kitchen, selling millions of copies worldwide.
The simple mini-game-focused gameplay can range from chopping items with parallel lines to stirring ingredients in a bowl. Players can flip through a recipe book chock-full of different dishes to create, from savory snacks to tasty desserts and sweet treats, with Cooking Mama's guidance!
1 Lemon Cake
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
Lemon Cake is a cozy café management game in which players move into an abandoned bakery and get it back up and running with the help of the resident-friendly spirit. The bakery features a restaurant sitting area for customers and even a backyard farm where players can gather organic ingredients like honey and fruit for their delicious recipes!
The game offers more than a (baker's) dozen recipes for the player to unlock and try, from the sweet and simple Marshmallow Twist to the more complex yet tasty Blueberry Cheesecake. Lemon Cake gives players a taste of what it is like to run their own bakery without real-life stress; perfect for aspiring bakers!