Cooking Stories is a business and career simulation and time management game. The player produces a popular trending cooking and sit-down dining show on the YummyTube network. Their job is to help host Natalie and her assistant, up-and-coming cooking star Olivia, manage a restaurant experience and show. Their ultimate goal is to become one of the most celebrated producers in the industry.
The player also assists Natalie with dealing with her former boss and competitor and helps Olivia improve her appearance and confidence and renovate her apartment. In many behind-the-scenes moments, they also select positive or negative dialogue for the characters via a three-selection "choose-your-own-adventure" format.
Natalie walks the player through all of the steps they must take to become a culinary legend. The player seats guests, directs Olivia to serve drinks and food and clean tables, collects payments, and orders new equipment and decorations. When they receive a lot of positive feedback, they receive gold coins, cash bills, diamonds and gift boxes. They use the revenues to transform Olivia's life and buy items for the show and restaurant.
As the player becomes more successful, Cooking Stories allows them to buy and earn boosters. They can use winged shoes to help Olivia move faster while she performs her on-air duties, a stopwatch that makes the kitchen equipment speed up, and a change purse that causes guests to pay double. That said, boosters aren't the only ways to improve some aspects of play.
