I’ve been immersing myself in the new demos featured during this month’s Steam Next Fest. Among the multitude of fantastic multiplayer titles, one that gripped my attention is Sizzle and Stack, an exasperating, nerve-wracking cooking card game.

It starts off gradually. Initially, there are only a few dishes to grasp and prepare, centered primarily around various egg recipes. From fried eggs to scrambled and cheesy versions, I found myself overwhelmed by the plethora of choices.

I aimed to follow culinary principles, keeping my workspace tidy, but it soon spiraled into chaos. I found potatoes in the fridge, flour in the fryer, and onions scattered all about.

To create specific dishes, you gather ingredients by purchasing random packs, which is the sole method to procure food for your kitchen. Unfortunately, the items received can be unpredictable. During one instance, I desperately tried to obtain steak for three customers craving burgers, only to end up with an abundance of onions and chicken.

The urgent task of trying to meet the demands of impatient customers while sifting through supplies can be quite frustrating. If you fail to satisfy enough customers, your run comes to a close, forcing you to start from scratch. But like many roguelike games, experience comes from failure, allowing you to mold your skills with each attempt.

The more I played, the better I became. From cooking a simple fried egg to eventually tackling carbonara, even if the thought of making pasta still terrifies me.