Diner Dash Review

Diner Dash is a frantic and fun-filled game that will have you racing to serve customers and keep them happy. Happy customers will tip more, earning you more money that can be used to upgrade your restaurant or even buy a new one. Different types of customers add some strategy in the mix and the chance for bigger tips if you properly seat and prioritize your customers. Simple controls and gameplay make this a game anyone can get into and enjoy.

Basic Gameplay

Diner Dash puts you in control of Flo, who decides to open a restaurant after growing tired of her stressful business job. New customers will come into the restaurant and you'll need to seat them at a clean and empty table. Once seated, they'll look over the menu for a while and then wait for you to take their order. You'll need to go to their table, take the order, and then give the order to the chef at the counter. The chef will cook the food and you'll need to pick it up and bring it to the table. The customers will eat, and when they finish you'll bring them a check, clean their table, and drop off the dirty dishes up by the counter for cleaning. It's fairly straightforward, but you'll be doing these steps for multiple tables at the same time (one table may need to be cleaned while another is waiting to order, etc.).

Careful Seating Pays Off

There's also a fair amount of strategy that comes into play when serving and seating customers. To get the biggest tips, you'll need to keep customers happy by serving them quickly. There are different customers types that all tip differently and have different levels of patience that determine how quickly they need to be served to stay happy. You'll need to take into account their level of patience and how well they tip when choosing which customers to serve first.

You can also boost your score by performing the same action multiple times in a row. The customers each have a color as well, and you are awarded bonus points for seating them in a spot of the same color. While much of it can be ignored when clearing levels, it adds something extra for more skilled players to tackle and advance faster.

New Customers Add to the Challenge

The levels in Diner Dash are split amongst several restaurants that Flo buys as you progress through the game. Levels don't significantly differ in the objective or gameplay, but do bring new types of customers, new upgrades, or even a new restaurant. New customers add to the complexity and challenge of levels, while upgrades help keep customers happy. New restaurants start you off with only the basics again and a new look or theme.

Game Modes

There are two different modes of play offered in the game that let you play through Flo's career or see how long you can last on an endless shift. Flo's Career is the normal gameplay that has you playing through levels and earning new upgrades or restaurants.

Endless Shift is similar, except you play continuously on one level. In this mode, you earn upgrades when you collect enough points. You get to pick out these upgrades (unlike in Flo's Career). You can buy new shoes to make Flo moves faster, or a radio to keep seated customers happy. As you play the number of customers and the types continues to increase and become more difficult to handle. Once enough customers become unhappy and leave, the game ends.

Controls are Easy to Learn

Controls in Diner Dash are very simple and easy enough to use for anyone to quickly pick them up and begin playing the game. Every action in the game can be completed with the mouse via pointing and clicking. You can click on a table to move Flo there and take an order or bring a check. You click on the food to move to the counter and pick it up. It's very easy to do, but also means that you're going to be doing a lot of clicking as you play the game.

Basic Presentation Works

The game's graphics and sounds aren't going to blow you away. However, they work well with the game and are on a similar level to those of other games in the same genre. Once positive aspect of the visuals is the colorful and “cartoony” look they bring. They really brighten up the game and add to the fun. The music doesn't really stand out, but isn't distracting either.

Repetitive By Nature

The biggest issue with the game is the tedious and repetitive nature of the controls and gameplay. You're going to be constantly clicking and doing the same things over and over regardless of mode or level. It's not long before it starts to get a bit boring and annoying. The addictive elements like going for larger tips and higher scores are somewhat addictive and might help keep you playing, but it depends on the type of player you are.

Conclusion - Hectic But Entertaining

Overall, Diner Dash is a great game that a lot of different players can get into and enjoy. It can get fairly hectic and somewhat repetitive, but it's still very entertaining. You can earn new upgrades to keep customers happy, or new restaurants that bring a new look and theme to your business. Different types of customers add an element of strategy. Two game modes bring different challenges to take on. Don't hesitate to give Diner Dash a try.