Wholesome, whimsical and way too much fun — from its hummable soundtrack and bright colors, to its frantically entertaining gameplay and constantly climbing difficulty curve, I've enjoyed everything about PlateUp! despite my initial misgivings.

It was one of those games that I had on my wishlist for a while, with other games in the same genre also on my radar for a long time but I was always on the fence for one major reason: I intend to play fully solo. That will make for a lackluster experience, right?

Thankfully not at all!

Well, I can't say anything about other games like this one but what I am certain of, is that while PlateUp! is no doubt a different experience when alone, its still great as a single player game. Late stage/higher level play becomes questions of how much of your processes can you streamline and how many tasks can you automate before it all comes crashing down on your head. Rather than a game about teamwork, its all about efficiency as you slowly turn your restaurant into a food factory, more and more parts in the system swapped out for appliances that do more of the work for you since you're going to need more than two hands to feed these crowds.

For a moment, imagine one of those old time management sim flash/browser games. Now greatly expand on and modernize the gameplay loop, add lots of recipes, a leveling system, upgrades, customization, roguelite elements, random drops, random events and the ability to be in control of your entire layout and restaurant design. Polish it to a mirror sheen.

PlateUp! is also filled to the brim with charm and happiness. Don't let that fool you, though. Your guests have no patience, are constantly demanding something and they all hate you. But isn't that what running a restaurant is all about?

Wholesome, whimsical and way too much fun — from its hummable soundtrack and bright colors, to its frantically entertaining gameplay and constantly climbing difficulty curve, I've enjoyed everything about PlateUp! despite my initial misgivings. It was one of those games that I had on my wishlist for a while, with other games in the same genre also on my radar for a long time but I was always on the fence for one major reason: I intend to play fully solo. That will make for a lackluster experience, right? Thankfully not at all! Well, I can't say anything about other games like this one but what I am certain of, is that while PlateUp! is no doubt a different experience when alone, its still great as a single player game. Late stage/higher level play becomes questions of how much of your processes can you streamline and how many tasks can you automate before it all comes crashing down on your head. Rather than a game about teamwork, its all about efficiency as you slowly turn your restaurant into a food factory, more and more parts in the system swapped out for appliances that do more of the work for you since you're going to need more than two hands to feed these crowds. For a moment, imagine one of those old time management sim flash/browser games. Now greatly expand on and modernize the gameplay loop, add lots of recipes, a leveling system, upgrades, customization, roguelite elements, random drops, random events and the ability to be in control of your entire layout and restaurant design. Polish it to a mirror sheen. PlateUp! is also filled to the brim with charm and happiness. Don't let that fool you, though. Your guests have no patience, are constantly demanding something and they all hate you. But isn't that what running a restaurant is all about?