Okay, so Cooking Mama on the DS is basically the closest you'll get to actually cooking without making a mess in your kitchen. You use the stylus to chop veggies, flip pancakes, stir soup—all while Mama watches and judges your skills (she’s brutally honest, by the way).

At first, it seems simple—just follow the steps, right? But then you realize timing matters, and suddenly you’re sweating over whether your virtual omelet is gonna burn. The mini-games are weirdly satisfying, like peeling potatoes with quick swipes or carefully decorating a cake. And yeah, you will feel weirdly proud when Mama gives you a gold medal for your digital ramen.

It’s one of those games where you start thinking “just one more recipe” and then an hour’s gone. Also, the Japanese version has some extra dishes if you’re into that. Just don’t blame me when you start craving real food after playing.