Overcooked 2thrives on its delectably enjoyable party gameplayand cooperative tasks. Naturally, this means that the game stresses multiplayer and social gameplay; and it’s mostly designed to have multiple people working together to get cooking tasks done.
However, Team17 does allow players to play the entirety ofOvercooked 2solo. Interestingly, rather than implement AI chefs, the game forces players to multitask by controlling two chefs and swapping between them. It makes sense on the one hand, as an unpredictable AI chef would likely throw a player off—sincecoordination and communication are so integral here.
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This can be more difficult than it seems, as players will need to swap between them on the fly, which can be jarring as they’ll typically be in different areas, allocating different tasks. But while this can seem daunting, most of the game can be quite manageable in single-player, provided the right methods and strategies are used.
Minimize The Walking Distance
Since players will need to be covering lots of ground, it’s important that walking distance is kept to a minimum. Players will have to juggle tasks between two chefs, and this can make it seem like less is being achieved as a result, since both chefs will need to be moved independently. However, there is an advantage to this, which should be exploited.
Players are essentially able to teleport to two different areas with the touch of a button, which means locations/stations that are far from one another can be traversed quickly. Just make sure that both chefs are always close to the action, and minimize the movement needed to get there, and this disadvantage can be turned into an advantage.
Switch Between Chefs Often
As mentioned, two chefs are given to the player—and only one can be controlled at a time. There isno AI assisting the player.As such, it’s useful toswap between chefs relatively often,in order to get more tasks done quicker and more efficiently.
This will be required on those segmented stages where both chefs are confined to isolated areas. However, players should still use this function quite a bit during the more open levels. Much like multiplayer, it’s often a good idea to allocate jobs or areas to one chef, swapping between them when said job is needed. This should be done to both avoid confusion and to save time.
When not swapping chefs—be sure to utilize the dash mechanic frequently too. Additionally, players should still toss items from one chef to the other, so they can be grabbed quicker and more easily when swapping.
Swap Chefs While Starting To Perform An Action
Expanding a bit on the prior point—players can compound this by exploiting a unique mechanic in solo mode. When a player starts performing an action as one chef (a continuous act likechopping, or washing dishes), they can shift to the other idle chef without the action stopping.
When doing this,the first chef will continue performing that action until the task is completed, like a temporary AI character.While it may seem small, this added efficiency and extra seconds will add up over time and can make the difference in scoring an extra star at the end of the run.
And keep in mind,the act of boiling, steaming or frying allows players (both chefs) to leave the stationand do something else while the food is still cooking.
Approach The Game From A Different Perspective
Some players note thatOvercooked 2can seem duller and more grueling when flying solo, on account of all the chef-swapping usually required. However, this added challenge can add a fun new dimension to the game if players properly prepare and alter their tactics somewhat.
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The game should be viewed less from the lens of a chaotic party romp. Instead, it should be approached more likea puzzle game—where speed, focus, and multitasking is keyrather than communication and coordinating with others. Instead of allocating tasks between players, staying on the same page, and getting out of one another’s way, players mustinsteadkeep track of where both chefs are at any given time and be prepared to shift gears on the fly.
Practicing with trial runscan be hugely helpful in this case, as it’ll help train one’s brain to get used to the rapidly-shifting tasks, which can be pretty jarring at first.
Utilize Lower Score Thresholds And Finish Dishes In Order
The juggling of multiple tasks alone can seem unfair and overwhelming at times. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the game alsoaccommodates this by drastically decreasing the required scoreto get each star. This should be taken advantage of, by staying sharp and methodical while staying calm. Focus on the task at hand, and especially be mindful of the next order in line, which isdisplayed at the top-left of the screen.
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Finishing and sending out meals in order will providetip bonuses with up to a four-times multiplier.This can really go a long way towards getting three and four-star ratings. Even if it seems like little progress is being made, the tip bonus combined with the low score threshold will likely produce high scores.
To put things in perspective, here’s an example of the score differential between one and four players:
Stay Busy
While it’s been stressed that players should shift between chefs often, it’s also important in a more general sense to just stay occupied. Even if players don’t favor swapping chefs as much, they should at least keep one chef busy with tasks at almost all times.
Essentially, there should never beboth chefs standing aroundwith nothing to do—even if it means that one is simply running to the next target, washing dishes, or putting out a fire. Keep moving, keep performing actions, and keep busy.
Overall Strategy For Best Solo Play
To sum up—players will want to stress efficiency and multitask to the best of their ability. This is achieved by covering as much ground as possible, minimizing walking distance, swapping chefs, and trying to have at least one chef performing an action at any given time.
Players shouldn’t try to dotoo much, as this can lead to confusion and losing track. Rather, be swift, efficient, and methodical—getting the most out of both chefs.
Overcooked 2is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
