In a little over an hour, Venba accomplishes impressive things, both in introducing and authentically portraying a culture that Western gamers may not be familiar with, as well as in telling a moving story of love, loss, family, and the role of food in tying all of these things together.
Originally from Southern India, Venba moves to Canada with her husband to seek a better life in Canada. The vignette-like narrative spans decades and generations, with each snippet focusing on some form of Indian cuisine Venba prepares from a recipe book handed down to her from her mother.
As far as cooking is concerned, it’s a fairly straightforward process. You’ll click on ingredients and move them where needed, or maybe rotate an analog stick here and there to mix batter or sieve rice. Despite the fact that the recipe book serves as a guide, some words have faded or become obscured over time. If guesswork isn’t your thing, there’s a hint system that will point you in the right direction.
The music and sound effects shine during these segments. The soundtrack is killer — we’ve got it on while penning this review, actually — and the crackle of the oil as you sizzle is so well-realised that if you close your eyes with headphones on it’s like you’re actually in the kitchen. All of this helps tremendously to lend Venba a sense of authenticity, and it’s impossible not to feel the love that went into the creation of this game while you cook, even if you have no idea what a dosa is.
The end credits made us feel as if we had been on a generational journey — one that was both happy and sad, disappointing and hopeful, and most of all, deeply moving. We cried. As we write this review, we’re smiling and considering going back for another try.
Pros:
- Great music and sound effects.
- Narrative that moves.
- Excellent pace.
Cons:
- You need to guess some cooking puzzles.
This game gets a 9 out of 10.