MARLVEL

Cooking Festival vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Cooking Festival's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Cooking Festival
This App
Merge Cooking®
Nemesis
Cooking Games, Make Ice Creams
Contender
Cakes Maker : Cooking Desserts
Contender
Cooking Games, Yummy Pizza
Contender
Chef Curry ft. Steph & Ayesha
Contender
Sweet Escapes: Build A Bakery
Peer
I Want Pizza
Peer
Stacky Ice Cream Runner
Peer
Ice Cream Stack Runner Games
Peer
Core Identity
DeveloperBoomBit, Inc.HappibitsBWEB SARLBWEB SARLBWEB SARLPM Studios, Inc.Redemption GamesRollic GamesAzel GamesAzel Games
CategoryGamesGamesEntertainmentGamesGamesGamesGamesGamesCasualCasual
PlatformAndroid, iOSAndroid, iOSiOSiOSiOSiOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroidAndroid
Store Metrics
Rating4.7 / 54.7 / 54.2 / 54.1 / 54.3 / 54.5 / 54.7 / 54.6 / 54.1 / 54.5 / 5
Ratings Count14540,4301,4241,6353,8501,12393,20626,9953,4776,346
PriceFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree
Release DateJun 2, 2020Sep 19, 2022Feb 26, 2016Nov 13, 2015Feb 2, 2019Nov 7, 2017Aug 2, 2019Nov 30, 2021Sep 4, 2025Jan 13, 2023
Last UpdatedFeb 23, 2026Jul 1, 2026Feb 23, 2021Jun 7, 2025Jun 15, 2021Apr 18, 2018Apr 22, 2026May 19, 2026Mar 26, 2026May 8, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentpositivemixed----mixednegative--
Score85/10045/100----55/10025/100--
Praises
  • Accessible and simple controls for casual play
  • Relaxing and addictive core merge gameplay provides a satisfying long-term time-killing experience
  • Visually charming restaurant themes and cute design details keep the experience fresh for players
----
  • Adorable animal characters and creative cake decorating mechanics provide a relaxing experience for casual players
  • Nostalgic appeal for long-term players who have returned to the game after several years
  • Satisfying core gameplay loop provides a relaxing experience for casual players during short sessions
--
Complaints
  • Progression pacing and ad frequency
  • Aggressive pop-up advertisements and forced event tutorials disrupt the flow of gameplay for users
  • Background audio and music playback are interrupted by the game, preventing multitasking during play
  • Energy system constraints and removal of ad-based rewards force players toward unwanted micro-transactions
----
  • Aggressive ad frequency following recent updates disrupts the flow of the core match-three gameplay loop
  • Technical instability including game crashes and loading failures prevents access to progress on flagship devices
  • Paid ad-removal purchases fail to function, leaving users with forced advertisements after payment
  • Frequent application crashes prevent progress past early levels on various mobile device configurations
--
Requests
  • Cloud-save functionality
  • Cross-device progress synchronization and cloud save recovery are needed to prevent total data loss
----
  • Visual gallery or history feature to view all previously created cake designs and decorations
  • Refunds requested by users who paid for ad-free experiences that remain non-functional
--
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Low-friction tap-to-cook mechanics sustain high session frequency
  • Global city progression provides clear long-term goals
  • Special customer boosts drive repeat visits
  • Offline-capable core loop sustains engagement in low-connectivity markets
  • Visual design aesthetic drives high organic install velocity
----
  • Animal-assistant system provides a unique thematic hook
  • Village-building meta-game offers broader progression than single-location rivals
  • Satisfying core stacking loop provides high-frequency engagement for casual sessions
--
Weaknesses
  • No cloud-save functionality despite user requests
  • Progression pacing feels repetitive
  • Lack of social-narrative layer compared to category rivals
  • Lack of cloud-save functionality causes total progress loss on device migration
  • Aggressive ad-frequency disrupts the core relaxing gameplay loop
----
  • Aggressive ad frequency post-update
  • Technical instability and game crashes
  • Lack of cloud-save functionality
  • Paid ad-removal purchases fail to trigger, driving refund requests
  • Frequent crashes prevent progress on early levels
--
Pricingfreemiumfreemiumfreefreefreefreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfree
Momentum-Intense---ZombieSteadyMaintenance--
Update Cadence-5 versions, ~3d avg---5 versions5 versions, 4 majors/6mo, ~16d avg5 versions, ~13d avg--

Compare Cooking Festival head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Cooking Festival, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

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Data licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0