Bancho the Chef announced as a Dave the Diver prequel focused on cooking

As part of Sony's PlayStation State of Play showcase, Mintrocket, the team behind Dave the Diver revealed a prequel spin-off with Bancho the Chef.

This will be another genre-blending game mixing together cooking simulation with light RPG progression. You'll have to hone your skills to become a culinary master and go discover various ingredients along with managing a restaurant too. Across multiple locations including Japan, Korea, and China where you'll learn plenty of authentic dishes while you build up your reputation to unlock new techniques. It blends together story-driven missions with the craft of cooking.

Sounds like they'll easily have another hit on their hands here.

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From the press release sent to GamingOnLinux: “Bancho has long been a fan-favorite character in DAVE THE DIVER, and as a somewhat mysterious personality and highly skilled chef, we knew he was deserving of his own fully realized backstory,” said Jaeho Hwang, Head of Mintrocket. “This game is special to our team for many reasons, but most of all, we are thrilled to bring another adventure into the world that our fans love so much.”

Game Highlights:

• Cooking Sim Meets RPG Progression – Experience a unique genre mash-up where cooking mechanics, time management, minigames, and strategic restaurant operations are paired with character growth and narrative progression.
• Culinary Journey Across Asia – Travel through diverse regions including Japan, Korea, and China, learning authentic recipes and techniques inspired by real life local cuisine.
• Dynamic Gameplay Loop – Balance missions, mini-games, exploration, and practice as you progress through regions and master a diverse array of recipes.
• Earn Your Local Reputation – Fulfill requests from regional locals by serving the dishes they want, and raise the restaurant's reputation in each community you visit.
• Expanded World & Side Activities – Engage in additional content such as fishing, VIP missions, and more, adding variety to Bancho’s journey.
• A Story-Driven Origin Tale – Discover Bancho’s backstory and his connection to the DAVE THE DIVER universe in an all-new narrative-rich adventure which takes place years before the events of Dave The Diver.