This one claims to be a cooking game, but I think it’s more an exercise in visual programming using STEM skills and such.  The story is that in a dystopian future, most folks can’t afford real food and just eat some kind of synthetic nutrition paste.  But rich people can afford real food, so you are a chef and prepare food for the rich by arranging neon colored icons to perform actions.  Neon Noodles is available on all current consoles, but reviewed on PS4 here.

In each stage, you must place icons depicting food and utensils and other things on a grid, and arrows in between to show what must be done first.  You can also place bots that’ll perform certain actions, too.  You get your instructions through email-like text boxes and complete the stage when the requirements are met.  The problem I had was I couldn’t understand this game at all.  I know my brain isn’t wired to get computer programming, and that may be part of it, but I felt the instructions and tutorials were not clear whatsoever.  So I really didn’t get very far before becoming disinterested.

Kid Factor:

Neon Noodles is rated T for Teen with ESRB descriptors of Violent References and Language.  Since the graphics are just symbols on a grid, the descriptors are in the text only.  Because of the high difficulty and level of reading involved, I’d say this one is best for older gamers.  It’s a shame because I think the game could be considered educational if I could’ve figured it out.

Tags: Game Reviews