The tense and terrific TET tests your New Year cooking chops

Vietnamese cuisine has a special place in my heart after spending a 6-week stint for work in Ho Chi Minh. Despite how brief my trip was, it was full of memories of the most amazing food I have ever had in my life. From chic restaurants to sit-down kiosks by the streets, I was always happy to sit down and relish a meal.

I dream of Bánh xèo, Bún bò Huế, Chả cá, Cơm Rang, Bún chả, and more – but my poor kitchen skills mean the best solution to this craving is a plane ticket. Thankfully, the dream is kept alive with a short and sweet WarioWare-inspired game.

In TET, you are tasked with putting together the Lunar New Year meal before the guests arrive. It’s a tense countdown to the party, and you need to slice and dice your way through several steps before you claim your tasty victory.

The game’s charm comes from its vibrant art style and comedic presentation. The hand-drawn illustrations and energetic sound effects make it a fun experience. I particularly enjoy the mix of warm colors that really bring out the joy in the fun mini-games.

Created by Swiss-Vietnamese game designer Charlotte Broccard, TET feels like an endearing love letter to Vietnamese cuisine and culture – with each laborious Cooking Mama-esque step bringing you closer to a delicious meal with honored guests.

The personal touch can be felt with your endgame reward: recipes for your own Lunar New Year party!

You can play TET on Steam and itch.io, as well as on mobile via the App Store and Play Store; learn more about the game on their website.