- An ambitious new release from Gambir Studio, Indonesia’s leading indie studio
- Anime-inspired art and intuitive mini-games, 98% positive Steam demo reviews
Indonesian indie game developer Gambir Studio and Swedish indie publisher Raw Fury officially released the cooking management simulation game ‘KuloNiku: Bowl Up!’ on April 7 for PC and Mac platforms (Steam).
The game is a cooking simulation in which the protagonist, who inherits his grandmother’s meatball restaurant, sets out to reclaim the title of best restaurant in the small town of ‘Kuroniku’ through cooking, management, and battles against rival chefs; it has been receiving favorable reviews from multiple professional media outlets since its release.
Relive Grandma’s Home Cooking… A Cooking Battle in a Small Village
The player must inherit their grandmother’s famous meatball restaurant, ‘Bakuso,’ in the small town of ‘Kuroniku’ and reclaim the honor of being the town’s best restaurant.
The core objective of the game is to restore the restaurant’s reputation by fulfilling the demanding orders of unique residents and serving food. Beyond simple restaurant management, the competition with Stella, the rockstar chef leading Souper Starz, is another element that heightens the tension of the gameplay.
The game encompasses diverse narratives that extend beyond restaurant management. Unexpected stories, such as a super spy and hidden secrets, are woven throughout the game, and it maintains its unique freshness while utilizing familiar animation elements like a tsundere rival chef, exaggerated declarations, and cooking battles.
A chewy cooking experience and ‘Meatball Brawl’… A harmony of strategy and speed
Players personally perform the entire cooking process, from washing dishes and chopping chili peppers to boiling broth and adjusting the seasoning. In particular, on Mondays and Thursdays, a one-on-one cooking battle event called “Meatbrawls” is held on a local TV station. The game proceeds in a turn-based format that requires a comprehensive test of strategy, creativity, and cooking skills, as well as speed.
‘Cozy Mode’ is also supported for players who want to enjoy the game without pressure. In this mode, time limits and guest patience systems are disabled, allowing you to enjoy the game without stress.
A warm world where the sensibility of animation comes alive
Visuals and sound are also elements that elevate the game’s appeal. The vivid and lively anime-style art, the subtle facial expressions of NPCs, and the voice actors’ onomatopoeic performances combine to create a warm and cute atmosphere.
In terms of sound, cooking sound effects, such as the cheerful popping sound of putting ingredients in and taking them out of a pot, enhance immersion, while the softly flowing background music completes the cozy atmosphere of the game. The Deluxe Edition includes a digital artbook and a digital soundtrack.
Steam demo 98% positive, followed by rave reviews from media after launch
The demo version released on Steam proved high expectations even before launch, recording a positive rating of 98% out of 112 user reviews. Since the official release, various game media outlets have continued to give favorable reviews.
Some media outlets have praised this title as one that exquisitely combines the strengths of various cooking games, citing the fun of the cooking system and the unique structure of ‘Meat Brawl’ as its main strengths. Additionally, the anime aesthetic, humorous narrative, and story elements that evoke empathy are also receiving positive reviews.
Indonesia’s Leading Indie Studio’s First Major PC Challenge
Gambir Studio, the developer, is an Indonesian indie game developer established in 2016 that has released more than 15 titles to date and has recorded over 20 million cumulative downloads.
Having established themselves as a prominent growth stock in the Indonesian game industry, receiving support from the Google Indie Game Accelerator, they have partnered with Swedish indie publisher Raw Fury to launch a full-scale assault on the PC market with this title. ‘Kuroniku: Ball Up!’ is considered their first major PC project and their most ambitious challenge to date.
Culonicu: Ball Up! Related Information
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Gambir Studio (Indonesia) |
| Publisher | Raw Fury (Sweden) |
| Genre | Cozy Cooking Management Simulation |
| Release platform | PC·Mac (Steam) |
| Release date | April 7, 2026 |
| price | $11.99 / €11.99 / £10.99 (20% lunch discount) |
| Main Content | Cooking Mini-game / Meatball Brawl (Turn-based Cooking Battle) / Restaurant Customization / Town NPC Relationship System / Festival Event |
| Accessibility | Cozy Mode (Timer OFF) / Vibration Feedback Support |
| Community | X (Twitter), Discord, Bluesky |
| Steam Page | https://store.steampowered.com/app/3357960/KuloNiku_Bowl_Up/ |
