I purchased this game because I saw it on a list of games that could help with mental health struggles. After about 5 hours of playing it over 2 weeks, I finally realized that I don't actually like the game very much. Here are my reasons. First, I did not like how the game feels very much like an app that urges you to make the many small transactions to purchase specialty and bonus items. I don't like that there are releases of categories of items and that this fact is constantly advertised to me via a window upon start-up and an icon in the top right corner during gameplay. In short, it does not feel like an immersive game on my computer, but something that was built for a phone.

As for gameplay, I dislike that it is not actually a relaxing game at all. I complete a lot of tasks and objectives, which means I get a lot of gems, but it is annoying and a hassle to go in and click on everything. The design of this part of the game reinforces the thought that this was originally a mobile game. I am constantly bombarded by people testing me to advance some kind of disjointed plot who get very annoyed if I fail them. There are customers with vague orders who get angry and demand refunds if I fail to produce the pizza in their heads, but even after asking for clarification in the game, I get very little information to do it correctly. This is how I realized that this game is a stressor for me that I didn't need in my life. I HATE how many times I have to click to add all the toppings (each one needs 18/pizza) for an order. I am tired of clicking but I can't get enough money to buy the tools that would add sauce or cheese or toppings faster. There are always toppings to unlock and some of them, like eggplant, are toppings I would NEVER put on a pizza. I know some people would, and that is their choice. But if I had a full-on customizable pizza shop game like I thought I was getting with this game, I would have been able to buy the toppings I wanted first and not the ones that the plot required me. Corn, on pizza? Really? How dare you, game. Maybe this game is meant to simulate the real world experience of running a pizza shop, but I was led to believe it would be something else.

There are good aspects to the game too. The characters on the whole are pleasant, and the artistry is cute and unique. I kept playing for so long because I wanted it to get better and I wanted to become engaged. It just didn't happen for me, and at this point, knowing what I know, it is not a game I will continue to play.

I like the game itself, but the money to income ratio isn't fun. I want to find this game relaxing but by the time you have money to purchase a buddy to help there is more ingredients to buy. I wouldn't classify it as cozy. And if you sat there and accumulated money it would take hundreds of days to buy all of them.

The game was really fun at first but as a PC player, the controls were really wonky and absolutely a direct port from the mobile version. The orders also got really repetitive after awhile as it seemed customers only wanted a one topping pizza OR every topping on their pizzas. This of course got more annoying as you unlocked more and more toppings. I enjoyed the game for the most part, and mainly just wish the controls were better. With that in mind, $10 feels a bit expensive, especially with all the DLC being a few dollars each AND micro transactions within the game itself. I generally love games like this, but likely won't be playing this one again.