New Co-Op Game ‘Stage Fright’ Announced by Overcooked Studio

At The Game Awards 2024, Ghost Town Games, the creative force behind Overcooked, has excitedly announced their latest cooperative adventure, Stage Fright. Known for their knack of crafting games that put teamwork to the test, the developers promise another fresh and chaotic experience. Although Stage Fright is set to launch on PC, fans eagerly await an official release date.

For those less familiar, Ghost Town Games is a small yet mighty indie developer, consisting of just three core team members who collaborate with experts as projects grow in scope. Their rise to fame began with the release of Overcooked in 2016, a game that quickly became a staple in multiplayer gaming for its lively and often frantic kitchen challenges. Following up with Overcooked 2 in 2018, the studio amplified the entertaining chaos with new settings and tests. After releasing the remastered Overcooked! All You Can Eat, fans have been curious about what the studio would concoct next.

Stage Fright, revealed during The Game Awards, promises to be another engaging cooperative journey where players tackle various obstacles, explore intriguing environments, and navigate escape room scenarios to unlock an ancient secret. If Stage Fright’s cooperative gameplay mirrors the intense teamwork required in Overcooked, players might just find their friendships put to the ultimate test.

This new title introduces us to Drew, Blake, and Charlie, whose unique perspectives players will control to experience the game’s rich story from fresh angles. In a chat with TheGamer, a representative from Hello Games, the publisher, remarked that Stage Fright would offer “Overcooked-style chaotic moments,” and pledged that its originality would stand toe-to-toe with their iconic predecessor. Built specifically for cooperative play, the game will support both online pairings and the beloved couch co-op mode.

A highlight of Stage Fright is its dedication to accessibility. Emphasizing teamwork and communication, the game is designed to be enjoyed by a broad audience, focusing more on solving puzzles than on quick reflexes. This approach is a nod to Ghost Town Games’ previous efforts, as seen in the introduction of assist mode in Overcooked: All You Can Eat, aimed at widening accessibility.

Though the release of Stage Fright might be further down the road than fans would like, details about the game will continue to trickle out over the coming year. Overcooked devotees have plenty to look forward to, and it’s safe to say that anticipation will only build as more information becomes available about this promising new adventure.