Venba

Platforms

• PC

  Jul 31, 2023

  ---

  8.4

  playscore

  8.5

  15 Critics

  8.8

  1.61K Players
• PlayStation 5

  Jul 31, 2023

  ---

  8.4

  playscore

  8.5

  7 Critics

  9.4

  136 Players
• Xbox Series X|S

  Jul 31, 2023

  ---

  8.1

  playscore

  7.9

  7 Critics

  8.8

  1.00K Players
• Xbox One

  Jul 31, 2023

  ---

  NA

  playscore

  NA

  0 Critics

  8.8

  1.00K Players
• Nintendo Switch

  Jul 31, 2023

  ---

  NA

  playscore

  8.2

  11 Critics

  NA

  0 Players

37 critic reviews · 2 community reviews across all platforms

Critic Reviews

• 

  Hey Poor Player

  8.0

  Venba is ultimately over quite soon, but I’d rather have a beautiful but small experience that will stay with me than one that lingers too long and wears out its welcome. There are a few parts of its story that could perhaps have been explored with more depth, but its story comes together to span a generation in the blink of an eye and leave players feeling satisfied with the experience. This is a game well worth experiencing, which even the busiest players should be able to fit into a free evening.

  Reviewed on Series X|S

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• 

  GamesCreed

  7.0

  Overall, Venba might feel somewhat too brief to fully do justice to its character paths, but it has a lot to say about the importance of preserving one’s culture, the difficulties of generational friction, and the excruciating irony of realizing the value of something after you’ve already lost it.

  Reviewed on Switch

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• 

  Way Too Many Games

  7.5

  I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Venba, even more than I was anticipating. I expected a laid-back cooking sim, but what I got was a deeply moving narrative about generational struggles with immigration and creating a home for yourself in an unfamiliar land. Solving the puzzles of the missing steps in each recipe is surprisingly fun as well. Even though it’s a short experience, taking only about two hours to complete, it still a journey worth taking.

  Reviewed on Switch

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• 

  Hardcore Gamer

  9.0

  Through a exploration of Southern Indian cuisine and the preparation of it that’s been given a slight puzzler twist, Venba manages to serve up a captivating story about culture, motherhood, immigrant life and more, spiced up with likeable characters and great dialogue, and topped off with eye-catching visuals and an ear-pleasing soundtrack. It’s a short feast, but a filling one, so it would be wise to give it a shot. Would it help if we said that it might remind you of a rocket somehow?

  Reviewed on PC

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• 

  PlayStation Trophies

  8.0

  Short but oh-so-sweet, Venba is an engaging slice of life in which one family seeks to make a new life in Canada and overcome everyday obstacles, connecting and sharing special moments over South Indian cuisine. As the decades drift by and Venba and her family go through change and transition, food remains the one reliable constant – a permanent, immovable connection to their roots. Like a rich and aromatic biriyani, Venba is a tasty, short-lived morsel that lingers on the taste buds for but a moment, but lives on in the memory long after you've tucked in. Tasty.

  Reviewed on PS5

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• 

  GameSpew

  8.0

  This is a beautiful portrait of a couple and their son who feel just as real as you or I. It’s a celebration of being Indian, of being human, of being a parent, of culture, of food. It reminds us of the importance of family and tradition – and the joy that eating (and preparing) a good meal can bring even in the darkest of times. Brief as it may be, Venba has left a lasting impact – and it’s made us desperate to try some traditional Tamil cooking of our own.

  Reviewed on PS5

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• 

  Nintendo World Report

  6.5

  Venba packs an emotional punch, but it also pulls its punches a little bit, too. There’s more to this narrative and this family that deserves to be included in the experience, and while the cooking segments definitely sing, I’m ultimately left feeling like I’ve been served an appetizer rather than a main course. It’s beautiful in its colorful but minimalistic presentation and has a fitting musical score.

  Reviewed on Switch

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• 

  Push Square

  9.0

  The music and sound effects shine during these segments. The soundtrack is killer — we've got it on while penning this review, actually — and the crackle of the oil as you sizzle is so well-realised that if you close your eyes with headphones on it's like you're actually in the kitchen. All of this helps tremendously to lend Venba a sense of authenticity, and it's impossible not to feel the love that went into the creation of this game while you cook, even if you have no idea what a dosa is.

  Reviewed on PS5

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• 

  Shacknews

  9.0

  Venba beautifully depicts the struggle of the first-generation immigrant experience — fighting to give your family better opportunities while holding true to your roots. It’s a golden example of how games can give players an authentic peek into underrepresented cultures when the right people are in charge. With the game being beatable in a sleek two hours, it’s impossible not to give Venba an incredibly high recommendation.

  Reviewed on PC

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• 

  NintendoLife

  8.0

  In Venba’s short play time, the narrative-led cooking game conveys so much of this family’s experience. The stirring story is presented in snackable chapters, each with an emotional tale tied to a dish. The puzzles aren’t too challenging, making for a comforting, cosy playthrough as you prepare each meal. Be warned though: this game will make you hungry. And it may also make you cry.

  Reviewed on Switch

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Community Reviews

About the game