Rival Restaurants
- Players
- 2-6
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 5 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 60 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 10+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.2 / 5
- Year
- 2019
About the game
In Rival Restaurants, you run a competing eatery racing to earn 20 popularity points by buying ingredients, trading with rivals, and cooking increasingly advanced recipes. Each day cycles through collecting income and moving, a frantic real-time buying-and-bartering phase, then cooking recipes to score points. Every player controls a chef with a unique asymmetric power, and restaurants level up with bonus rewards along the way. The real-time trading phase keeps the table buzzing with negotiation and quick thinking.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's team enjoys the frantic energy Rival Restaurants brings to the table with its real-time trading phase - it plays almost like a mini economic auction sprint. The asymmetric chef powers and restaurant abilities give a nice variety of strategies to explore across plays. It's louder and more chaotic than a typical set-collection game, which is exactly its appeal for the right group. A fun choice when you want your game night to get a little rowdy.
What we like
- Frantic real-time trading phase keeps energy high.
- Asymmetric chefs and restaurants add build variety.
- Accessible rules for a fairly large player count.
- Fun food/cooking theme with a lively pace.
Keep in mind
- Real-time play can overwhelm quieter or slower players.
- Negotiation-heavy design won't suit everyone.
- Can feel chaotic and hard to plan around.
Who it's for
Great for ages 10+ social groups of up to 6 who enjoy real-time trading and negotiation games.
