Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends is a charming simulation game that lets you take the reins over a robot chef. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth playing.
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends Review Overview
What is Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends?
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends is a simulation game centered around an aspiring robot chef with dreams of becoming a world-famous cook. The story begins with the chef moving into a charming village filled with friendly residents, all eager for him to take over the recently vacated sushi shop. This is a golden opportunity for the robot chef to pursue his culinary ambitions, striving to serve the best sushi, run the finest restaurant, and become the top chef in the community.
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends features:
⚫︎ Restaurant Management
⚫︎ Friendship Mechanics
⚫︎ Controller Support (Recommended)
⚫︎ Enviromental Changes
⚫︎ Multiple Quests
⚫︎ Daily Challenges
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends's gameplay and story.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Steam |
 Xbox |
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Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Story Quests Propel the Game Forward Relationship Building with Villagers Furnishings Boost Restaurant Performance Strategic Recipe Upgrades |
Lack of Hands-On Cooking Mechanics Limited Mouse Functionality and No Key Binding Options Slow Start May Deter Players |
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends Overall Score - 80/100
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends offers a blend of management and simulation gameplay, aiming to immerse players in the world of culinary entrepreneurship. While the core concept revolves around "making" sushi and managing a restaurant, the game's focus quickly shifts towards the wholesome story quests that unfold throughout gameplay. These narrative-driven quests take center stage, overshadowing the culinary aspects and becoming the primary attraction for players. The storytelling and character development add depth and charm to the overall experience.
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends Story - 8/10
The narrative of Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends
is driven by a series of tasks, each unraveling a part of the story. Players start as an outsider robot and gradually build their reputation through their restaurant. This progression is well-paced, with the game's popularity system designed to ensure that players engage with the unfolding storylines. The various stories are compelling and enjoyable, making the narrative a central and captivating element of the game.
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends Gameplay - 7/10
The core gameplay mechanics focus on strategy and management, requiring players to carefully plan and optimize their restaurant operations. Players are also encouraged to explore the town, interacting with various objects and NPCs. Collecting cans scattered around town allows for recycling them in exchange for gold, adding a rewarding aspect to exploration. Additionally, the occasional spawning of gifts provides extra incentives for players to remain engaged with their environment.
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends Visuals - 8/10
The visuals in Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends are both charming and cozy, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for players. The cartoony and playful art style is beautifully crafted, featuring vibrant colors and whimsical designs that enhance the overall appeal of the game. The attention to detail in the environment and character design adds depth to the visual experience, making the village and its inhabitants feel alive and engaging. This art style not only captures the eye but also contributes to the game's lighthearted and friendly tone, encouraging players to spend hours on end in the delightful world of Rolling Hills.
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends Audio - 8/10
The audio in Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends
perfectly complements the game's atmosphere. The soundtrack features a rhythm accompanied by synth sounds that effectively replicate the techy, robotic theme of the protagonist while maintaining a lighthearted and warm tone. This blend of audio elements enhances the overall mood, making players feel comfortable and happy as they play. The music and sound effects are thoughtfully designed to align with the game's charming aesthetic, contributing significantly to the player's enjoyment.
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends Value for Money - 9/10
Priced at $14.99, Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends offers exceptional value for money, delivering a rich blend of strategy, management, and simulation gameplay. The game provides numerous hours of engaging content through its compelling story quests, dynamic relationship-building mechanics, and various challenges that keep players invested. The charming visuals and delightful audio further enhance the experience, making it a thoroughly enjoyable package. For its price, players receive a well-rounded game, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of simulation and management games.
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends Review: Delivers a Tasty Treat in Gaming Experience
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends bears similarities to beloved restaurant management games like Restaurant/Bakery Story and Diner Dash due to its core mechanics. While the game's execution is commendable, it falls short of reaching the phenomenal status achieved by some of its predecessors. Initially, I was anticipating a hands-on cooking experience akin to the engaging mechanics found in Good Pizza, Great Pizza. However, I quickly discovered that gameplay primarily revolves around delivering prepared sushi to customers rather than crafting it from scratch. This deviation from traditional cooking mechanics may disappoint those expecting a more interactive culinary experience, including myself who wanted a more hands-on approach to sushi preparation. It ultimately does not detract from the overall charm of the game's restaurant management aspect, but I just can't help imagining what could've been.
Additionally, the absence of a waiting time for sushi preparation further contributed to the game's simplicity. Instead of having to strategize and manage the timing of food preparation, the conveyor belt automatically dispenses sushi whenever a new batch is needed. While this streamlined approach may appeal to casual players or those seeking a more relaxed gaming experience, it ultimately diminishes the challenge and depth of the gameplay. As a result, the game becomes quite easy to navigate, with little room for skill development.
Customers serve as the primary challenge in managing the restaurant, yet even this aspect is relatively easy to handle. While they introduce some level of complexity, especially with their tendency to doze off, managing them is not particularly demanding. Customers frequently nod off, requiring constant attention from players to ensure they are promptly awakened with a friendly honk. Failing to do so may result in negative reviews, emphasizing the importance of attentive customer service in maintaining a successful restaurant.
In addition to the sleepy customers, players must also contend with the occasional nuisance of customers attempting to snap embarrassing photos. Evading these intrusive patrons is essential to avoid being stunned with embarrassment, which temporarily disrupts the flow of restaurant operations. While these interactions add a layer of challenge to the gameplay, they are relatively easy to navigate and do not significantly impact the overall difficulty of managing the restaurant.
One of the highlights of the game is the opportunity to visit the furniture store after closing hours and invest earned gold in new furnishings to enhance the restaurant's appeal. Each piece of furniture offers unique incentives that contribute to the overall ambiance and efficiency of the establishment. For example, purchasing a television can encourage customers to spend more money, while adding a plant can create a more relaxed atmosphere, improving customer patience. Additionally, investing in lights or other electrifying decor can expedite the sushi-making process, allowing for faster service and increased customer turnover.
What I particularly enjoyed about this aspect of the game is the instant gratification of seeing tangible benefits from my purchases. It's incredibly satisfying to witness the immediate impact of upgrading the restaurant's furnishings and observing how they positively influence customer behavior and overall restaurant performance. This cycle of investment and reward adds depth to the gameplay experience, providing players with a sense of progress and accomplishment as they continuously improve and refine their restaurant's setup.
In addition to managing the restaurant's day-to-day operations, players are presented with daily challenges that offer special currency as rewards. Completing these challenges not only offers a sense of accomplishment but also provides access to valuable resources that can further enhance the restaurant's offerings and ambiance. Whether it's unlocking new recipes to expand the menu, acquiring stylish hats to personalize the chef's appearance, or investing in new furniture to improve customer satisfaction, these daily challenges offer a welcome opportunity for progression and customization.
While navigating the world of Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends, I couldn't help but notice how compact the environment is. While this simplicity has its merits, I found myself yearning for a map or zoom function to provide a broader perspective of the town. A map or zoom feature would not only enhance navigation but also offer a greater sense of immersion in the game world. It would allow players to better orient themselves within the village, making it easier to locate key destinations such as the restaurant, furniture store, and various points of interest. Additionally, a zoom function could reveal hidden details and Easter eggs scattered throughout the town, encouraging exploration and discovery.
While the individual stories within Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends may not be particularly extraordinary, collectively they play a pivotal role in driving the game forward. The narrative serves as the backbone of the gameplay experience, providing context and motivation for the player's actions. Through these stories, players are introduced to a colorful cast of characters in the vibrant world of the game.
The friendship mechanic adds another layer of depth to the gameplay experience, allowing players to cultivate relationships with the game's characters. While it may seem trivial to spend virtual currency on coffee to spend time with NPCs, it mirrors a certain realism of modern social interactions. In today's day and age, spending time with friends often involves some form of expenditure, whether it's buying a coffee or treating someone to a meal. By incorporating this mechanic, the game not only adds a touch of authenticity but also encourages players to invest in building meaningful connections within the virtual community.
In conclusion, Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends offers a delightful and cozy gaming experience. The charming visuals, engaging storytelling, and endearing characters create a warm and inviting atmosphere that draws players into the game's world. However, the ease of gameplay may pose a challenge for some players, as the lack of significant challenges or obstacles could potentially lead to boredom over time.
While the game excels in providing a relaxing and enjoyable experience, there is room for improvement in terms of adding more depth and challenge to the gameplay. Introducing additional gameplay mechanics, such as more complex restaurant management tasks or increased difficulty levels, could help enhance the overall experience and provide a greater sense of satisfaction for players seeking a more stimulating gaming experience.
Despite these minor shortcomings, Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends remains a charming and endearing game that is sure to appeal to fans of simulation and management games. With its cozy atmosphere and lovable characters, it offers a welcome escape into a world of culinary adventure and friendship.
Pros of Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends
| Things Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends Got Right |
|---|
|
Story Quests Propel the Game Forward Relationship Building with Villagers Furnishings Boost Restaurant Performance Strategic Recipe Upgrades |
Story Quests Propel the Game Forward
The game's story quests are integral to your progress, ensuring that the narrative is always evolving. These quests are well-integrated and enjoyable, adding depth to the gameplay. As you advance, you'll find that your restaurant's ability to level up is directly tied to your quest completion, making it essential to stay engaged with the story. The narrative-driven quests provide a sense of purpose and direction, making the game more immersive and satisfying.
Relationship Building with Villagers
Building relationships with the village residents is a key feature that adds another layer of interaction and strategy. Spending money on coffee to spend time with friends might seem like a simple task, but it comes with substantial benefits. Developing these relationships can reward you with special currencies for daily challenges, assistance with catching fish, and access to perfect ingredients in the market. This dynamic relationship-building system enhances the gameplay by providing tangible rewards and fostering a sense of community within the game.
Furnishings Boost Restaurant Performance
Furnishings play a crucial role in managing your restaurant, each type offering unique bonuses that can significantly enhance your restaurant's efficiency. The four types of furnishings are Charming, which grants bonus experience points; Profitable, which increases gold earnings; Relaxing, which extends customer patience; and Electric, which speeds up sushi-making. Strategically choosing and upgrading your furnishings can lead to a more successful restaurant, adding a layer of depth and customization to the management aspect of the game.
Strategic Recipe Upgrades
Upgrading recipes is both easy and strategic, adding an element of planning to your culinary endeavors. Recipes are categorized into Fish, Veggie, Hearty, Sweet, and Rainbow, each with its unique appeal and benefits. Deciding which recipes to upgrade and when to do so can impact your restaurant's success, making this feature both engaging and rewarding. The ability to improve your dishes ensures that your menu remains fresh and appealing to customers.
Cons of Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends
| Things That Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends Can Improve |
|---|
|
Lack of Hands-On Cooking Mechanics Limited Mouse Functionality and No Key Binding Options Slow Start May Deter Players |
Lack of Hands-On Cooking Mechanics
Despite the game's premise of making sushi, there is no actual cooking mechanic where players can prepare sushi themselves. Instead, players unlock and upgrade recipes, and then simply allow a conveyor belt to release sushi when the restaurant opens. This can be disappointing for those expecting an interactive cooking experience, as the gameplay focuses more on management rather than hands-on culinary activities.
Limited Mouse Functionality and No Key Binding Options
While the game is optimized for controller use, this can be a drawback for PC players accustomed to mouse and keyboard controls. The cursor remains on-screen despite having no functional use, and intuitive actions like left-clicking to enter are absent. Additionally, the lack of key binding options means players cannot customize controls to their preference, which might hinder the gaming experience initially. Although the default keyboard controls are standard and straightforward (WASD to move, Enter to interact, Esc for the main menu), the inability to personalize these settings can be frustrating.
Slow Start May Deter Players
The game's beginning can feel tedious, as the initial gameplay involves setting up without much action or engagement. Within the first ten minutes, players realize that they won't be actively making sushi, which can be a letdown for those expecting immediate excitement. While the game does pick up and become more engaging, the slow start might be a dealbreaker for players looking for an instantly captivating experience.
Is Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends Worth It?
Definitely Worth A Bite
In a sea of gaming options, Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends is a delectable treat that's worth sinking your chopsticks into. While it may not roll out the red carpet of innovation, its blend of management, simulation, and heartwarming narratives serves up a satisfying dish for players craving a cozy and charming experience. From the first bite, the game's delightful visuals and engaging storytelling whisk players away to a whimsical world filled with quirky characters and delightful surprises. While it may lack the spicy kick of intense challenge, its easy-to-navigate gameplay and adorable aesthetic make it a perfect palate cleanser for casual players and sushi enthusiasts alike. Just be prepared for a journey that's more about savoring the flavors of friendship and relaxation than chasing the thrill of high-stakes challenges.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
Xbox |
||||
| Price | $14.99 | ||||
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends FAQ
Which platforms support the Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends?
The game is accessible across multiple platforms, including PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, and Xbox Series X|S.
How Can I Access Decor Mode in Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends?
You can access "view" mode by pressing the A button on your Xbox controller or F in your keyboard.
Are there characters in the press kit screenshot that are no longer in game?
According to the developer, Catch & Release, an owl, a dog and other animals were removed from production. But they promise an array of human and non-human customers.
Will there be a multiplayer option available?
According to the developer, multiplayer is not a plan at the moment but perhaps it is something they may consider in future updates.
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Rolling Hills Product Information
 | |
| Title | ROLLING HILLS |
|---|---|
| Release Date | June 4, 2024 |
| Developer | Catch & Release, LLC |
| Publisher | Humble Games |
| Supported Platforms | PC(Steam, Xbox/Microsoft), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One |
| Genre | Simulation, Cozy, Cooking |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| Rating | ESRB E |
| Official Website | Rolling Hills Official Website |
