Have you ever dreamed of becoming a master chef? Join a group of passionate apprentices in the merge cooking game Foodstars, where you’ll combine a vast array of ingredients, collect recipes and face trials set by kitchen superstars.

What we love: The fresh and engaging merge mechanics, of course. A cooking element distinguishes Foodstars from similar games, so you can whip up a meal as you play. To prepare a dish, you’ll need to merge kitchen equipment such as grills, frying pans and blenders in addition to food ingredients. The challenging gameplay is matched with charming characters – there’s the meticulous apprentice Marco, his gluttonous parrot Nottie, adorable soup expert Sakura and mukbang-loving idol Luna. What links these gourmands? All will be revealed as you play.

Quick tip: Completing orders earns you coins to renovate cafes, kaiseki dining rooms, taco shops and other themed eateries, and if you collect enough stars, you can activate Star Chef Fever and enjoy the assistance of other chefs. It’s a golden opportunity to cook up a storm, since most tools and ingredients are enhanced, cooldowns are eliminated and cooking speeds are increased. You’ll be able to turn out loads of delicious dishes in no time at all.

Meet the creator: Founded in 2021, Happibits has a 150-strong team responsible for hit casual games such as Merge Cooking and Solitaire Resort. They believe that even small moments of joy can have far-reaching effects. To authentically portray the diverse cuisines and eateries in Foodstars, the team invested a great deal of effort into research. The vintage decor and background music of Texan barbecue joint Route 66, for example, pays homage to 1950s American pop culture, while the wagashi shop’s menu is inspired by traditional Japanese sweets.