# One Piece Grand Gourmet Review: A Retro Restaurant Simulator That Surprises > In its One Piece Grand Gourmet review, Anime News Network finds the pixel-based restaurant simulator to be a charming, retro-style management game. - Canonical URL: https://coreiten.com/en/article/one-piece-grand-gourmet-review-a-pixel-based-restaurant-sim - Language: en - Section: Best Games - Author: Sami - Published: 2026-10-22T00:02:06+03:00 - Modified: 2026-10-22T00:02:06+03:00 - Publisher: CoreITen (https://coreiten.com) - Keywords: One Piece Grand Gourmet, Anime News Network, Baratie, Luffy, Sanji, Overcooked, One Piece Odyssey ## Summary One Piece Grand Gourmet is a surprising pixel-based restaurant simulator that successfully delivers a retro gaming experience even for players unfamiliar with the series. - The premise places Luffy and Sanji on a version of the Baratie restaurant that contradicts the established timeline by appearing after the time skip during the Grand Line period. - Players control a customizable mute robot running back-of-house operations alongside a talking duck, while Sanji helps make decisions and Luffy gathers ingredients on timer-based adventures. - The management style focuses on macro decisions like placing buildings, setting menus, and competing against a rival fake Baratie rather than frantic manual management. - The first hour features an overwhelming torrent of tutorials before the rhythm of the daily timer system finally clicks into place. - The game features nostalgic cameos, including Koby and Helmeppo as they looked over 20 years ago, alongside dead characters visiting the restaurant without explanation. - Anime News Network concludes that the game feels like a forgotten SNES or GBA title and highly recommends it for simulation and restaurant RPG fans. **Why it matters:** This review highlights how franchise-tied games can successfully pivot into unexpected genres like retro management sims while appealing beyond hardcore fans. --- *One Piece Grand Gourmet* offers a surprising departure from the franchise's usual action titles, delivering a pixel-based restaurant simulator. According to a review by Anime News Network, the game successfully captures the feel of a classic retro simulator, making it a worthwhile experience even for players who are not deeply familiar with the series' lore. ### A Non-Canon Culinary Adventure The premise places Luffy and Sanji on a version of the Baratie restaurant that contradicts the series' timeline. The game is set well after the time skip and during the Grand Line period, far removed from the Baratie's original appearance in East Blue. The reviewer notes that the game handwaves this discrepancy much like a filler arc or film would, allowing it to divert from established canon without requiring deep franchise knowledge from the player. Players control a customizable robot character who cannot speak but efficiently runs the back-of-house operations for the floating restaurant, accompanied by a talking duck. Sanji assists with the new Baratie's decision-making, while Luffy embarks on timer-based adventures to gather ingredients, meet customers, and trigger events. ### Management Mechanics and Tutorials Rather than forcing manual management in the style of *Overcooked*, the game focuses on broader decisions. Players choose where to place new buildings, set menu items, and send Luffy on expeditions. The overall goal is to help the Baratie earn more money than a rival "fake" Baratie, which gradually unlocks more areas of the world. The review points out that the game can be overwhelming at first, with the first hour delivering a non-stop torrent of tutorials that introduce new mechanics before previous ones are fully grasped. However, once the tutorials slow down, the rhythm of the daily timer system begins to click and make sense. ### Nostalgic Customization and Cameos Each unlocked area features characters from various story arcs. While the main Straw Hat crew is oddly absent for a significant portion of the game, numerous side characters make appearances. The game embraces time shenanigans without explanation, featuring characters like Koby and Helmeppo as they appeared over 20 years ago, and even bringing dead characters to visit the restaurant. The customization options allow players to build their own Baratie, design meal sets, choose plate decorations, and set the general decor. RPG elements ensure that these choices impact how the restaurant operates. The game also offers sidequests and reasons to revisit cleared areas, using exclamation marks in the menus to indicate incomplete zones. According to the reviewer, the experience feels very much like a forgotten SNES or GBA game. ### Final Verdict Anime News Network concludes that *One Piece Grand Gourmet* is highly successful at delivering an old-fashioned simulation game wrapped in a franchise theme. While the reviewer questions whether the branding might deter some players, they note that the game might not have existed without it. Ultimately, it is highly recommended for fans of simulation games and restaurant RPGs, even if it might not appeal to players who are strictly looking for traditional action-oriented franchise titles. ## Sources - [animenewsnetwork.com](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/game/nintendo-switch-nintendo-switch-2-pc-via-steam-ios-and-android/one-piece-grand-gourmet/a-simulated-/.242984)