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Steam News11 August 202510mo ago

Spookitchen Playtest Now Open! (Aug 13 – Aug 31)

Hello, this is YNOT! We’re here to bring you the latest news about our spooky-cute cooking tycoon, Spookitchen. 🎃 1500+ Wishlists! We hit 1 500 wishlists! Thanks so much for all the love and support.

In this update5

Full notes

Full Spookitchen update

Read the full published notes in a cleaner layout. The original post stays linked below.

Repeated intro

Hello, this is YNOT!

What changed

2 fixes8 additions14 changes0 removals
  • Gameplay
  • Balance
  • UI and audio
  • Maps
  • Fixes
changed🎃Update Patch NotesCompared to the first playtest, the core content hasn’t changed much — but we’ve made several improvements to reduce overall fatigue and guide players more naturally through the game, including level design reworks and an updated tutorial.
changed🎃Update Patch NotesOne major change: previously, you could receive random phone calls in the kitchen — even while exploring dungeons — forcing you to run back. Now, we’ve added a Phone Order Gauge so you can take calls whenever you want. We’ve also added a Pause menu and Return Portal to improve convenience.
added🎃Update Patch NotesWe’ve introduced a tutorial for the order-and-delivery cycle early in the game, rebalanced levels, and streamlined playtime from about 2–3 hours to around 1–2 hours.
addedAdditionsRhythm game added to cooking mini-game
addedAdditionsNew area: Backyard
addedAdditionsAdditional tags added based on extra ingredients when cooking

Spookitchen changes

changedCompared to the first playtest, the core content hasn’t changed much — but we’ve made several improvements to reduce overall fatigue and guide players more naturally through the game, including level design reworks and an updated tutorial.
changedOne major change: previously, you could receive random phone calls in the kitchen — even while exploring dungeons — forcing you to run back. Now, we’ve added a Phone Order Gauge so you can take calls whenever you want. We’ve also added a Pause menu and Return Portal to improve convenience.
addedWe’ve introduced a tutorial for the order-and-delivery cycle early in the game, rebalanced levels, and streamlined playtime from about 2–3 hours to around 1–2 hours.
addedRhythm game added to cooking mini-game
addedNew area: Backyard

We’re here to bring you the latest news about our spooky-cute cooking tycoon, Spookitchen.

🎃 1500+ Wishlists!

We hit 1 500 wishlists!

Thanks so much for all the love and support.

🎃 Playtest Open (Aug 13 – Aug 31)

From August 13 to August 31, the Spookitchen playtest will be available on Steam!

Unlike our previous closed recruitment on Discord, this time there’s no need to sign up — you can jump right in and play as soon as the playtest goes live.

We’re opening it up so that folks discovering us through BIC can easily try the game from our Steam page.

🎃 We’re heading to BIC!

Spookitchen will be exhibiting at the Busan Indie Connect Festival (BIC)!

BIC Online Exhibition

📅 Aug 8 – Aug 29 If you have a BIC online ticket, you can play Spookitchen on the BIC website.

BIC Offline Exhibition

📅 Aug 15 – Aug 17 📍 BEXCO Exhibition Hall, Busan We’ll be running a playable booth for Spookitchen at BIC!

🎃GIGDC First Round Passed

Spookitchen has passed the first round of the Global Indie Game Development Contest (GIGDC)!

Thank you so much for all your supportive comments.

🎃Update Patch Notes

Compared to the first playtest, the core content hasn’t changed much — but we’ve made several improvements to reduce overall fatigue and guide players more naturally through the game, including level design reworks and an updated tutorial.

One major change: previously, you could receive random phone calls in the kitchen — even while exploring dungeons — forcing you to run back. Now, we’ve added a Phone Order Gauge so you can take calls whenever you want. We’ve also added a Pause menu and Return Portal to improve convenience.

We’ve introduced a tutorial for the order-and-delivery cycle early in the game, rebalanced levels, and streamlined playtime from about 2–3 hours to around 1–2 hours.

Additions

  • Tutorial

  • Return portal in dungeons

  • Rhythm game added to cooking mini-game

  • New area: Backyard

  • Pause menu with ESC

  • Move all to storage / move all to inventory functions

  • Order tag filtering

  • Additional tags added based on extra ingredients when cooking

  • NPC animations

  • Graphics options & performance optimization with occlusion culling

  • Notice when Popularity Bar is full and victory is possible

  • Popularity progress bar now previews today’s gained popularity

  • Order management UI now shows order status preview

Changes

  • Changed to taking orders manually by spending Phone Order Gauge

  • Cancelling an order now decreases popularity

  • Updated character voice sounds

  • Dungeon and map layouts adjusted, reduced map length

  • Mines now open 24/7

  • Forfeiting a round now counts as a loss

  • Improved seed planting convenience

  • Rebalanced and redesigned levels

  • Improved UI/UX visibility and readability

  • Updated windmill cooking animation

  • Added ability to preview recipes with Alt while cooking

  • Edited dialogue and retranslated English/Japanese

  • Improved movement, jump speed, and overall feel

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed display error for Advanced Stardust Dispenser

  • Fixed sound effect volume adjustment bug

🎃 Plans Moving Forward

We’ll continue refining the build to make it more appealing and prepare a public demo. Planned work includes:

  • Adding story and intro

  • Opening new areas

  • More balancing and level design work

  • Creating background music

  • Uploading the demo to itch.io and other platforms

  • Adding more language translations

Thank you so much to everyone supporting Spookitchen! See you soon in our quirky little ghost restaurant! 👻👻

  • Dev Team YNOT

Source

Steam News / 11 August 2025

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