Cooking games are fast becoming one of the hottest genres of free Flash games. While arcade games, word games, and puzzles might still be the most popular games on most casual gaming portals, cooking games and so called "dress up" games are growing in popularity among female gamers, especially in the pre-teen demographic.
What defines a cooking game? Well, essentially any casual game related to food could be classed as a cooking game. Jigsaws, slide puzzles, card games, if they are related to food then technically they could be classed as cooking games, but generally true cooking games are more specific.
There are 2 styles of Flash game which are generally classed as cooking games. In the first, players must follow specific recipes in order to serve customers with their requested food. From sandwiches to pizzas, cakes to sushi, the format is generally the same. Click on a number of ingredients in the correct order, and serve them to a customer before a timer runs out.
The second style of cooking game is less structured. This normally takes the form of decorating a cake, and has more in common with the dress-up genre than traditional games. The focus is firmly on being creative, rather than trying to win, and often these types of game allow the user to print their creations, or email them to a friend.
It is this creativity which appeals to female gamers. While traditional games tend to be goal driven, with the focus on winning, defeating an enemy, or completing a task, cooking and dress-up games are about creativity. Taking part isn't just more important than winning, it is the sole reason for playing!
With more and more Flash games portals and developers there is more competition than ever for the attention of gamers. As a newly emerging market, cooking games could just be the next big thing in casual gaming.
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