Reviewed by JoJo, prohibit reproduce without permission.

SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off is a combination simulation and time management game based on the famous IP SpongeBob SquarePants. Its graphics are top-notch and look even better than the actual cartoon series we remember from our childhood. If you're a SpongeBob fan and grew up with the classic cartoon, then you won't be able to resist SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off. Playing as SpongeBob and run a restaurant on the seafloor with familiar friends Mr. Krabs, Squidward, Sandy, and Patrick is a lot of fun just to think about! In addition to our familiar characters, the various scenes of Bikini Bottom are also perfectly integrated into the game, all of which are your childhood memories.

The story revolves around the culinary skills of SpongeBob SquarePants. As any true fan knows, SpongeBob works as a fry cook at the Krusty Krab, flipping burgers for his cheapskate boss, Mr. Krabs. In the Krusty Cook-Off, SpongeBob is tasked with serving hungry customers a variety of meals, starting with a pancake stand. There are 3 such locations to unlock, each including 30 levels. You can also revisit previous venues afterward for additional levels, which is useful for replayability. Each new food stand starts with a few simple ingredients. As you progress, you can earn money, which allows you to upgrade your facilities to prepare more food at a faster rate.

The gameplay of SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off combines simulation management with time management and is presented in the form of levels. Each level has a specific task, such as completing a certain number of orders, earning a certain amount of money, or getting only positive reviews from customers, sometimes with a time limit. If you move a little slower, the customer may get impatient and leave. Once they order a dish, the green bar will start ticking slowly, turning yellow then red, which indicates the level of patience. Let it drop to the lowest point and the customer will leave in disgust. It's not that easy to get through the levels. In addition to the strategy required, you need to keep upgrading your equipment, otherwise, you won't be able to keep your customers happy even if you have 4 hands.

Once you have served enough customers and completed a level's objectives, you will receive revenue and move on. You can use this income for a range of different restaurant upgrades. You can buy new ingredients, increase revenue, buy appliances, increase efficiency by speeding up cooking times or allowing you to cook more at a time. More money means more upgrades! Add things to your restaurant, change tables, and floors, chairs, etc. ...... Doing so can make your tips better.

In the early levels, you will have enough gold for upgrades, but as the game progresses it becomes difficult to get enough gold and gems for free. However, players can watch 30-second video ads to earn more income. This seems simple enough, but usually, the 30-second ads repeat the same thing over and over again, making the whole process feel monotonous and frustrating. Of course, you can get around this by buying gems with real money, but so far we haven't had to buy additional gems to buy restaurant upgrades. You can spend gems on new cosmetic items through the Twister system. This allows you to dress the playable characters SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward in a variety of different costumes. Of course, if you're willing to be patient, you can get one item per day for free.