Venba

Venba is an indie cross between a narrative game and a cooking simulator. It was inspired by Indian culture, especially musicals and Tamil cinema. It's easily recognizable thanks to its eye-pleasing, colorful visuals. The game was developed by Toronto-based Visai Games.

Plot

The story revolves around Venba and her husband Paavalan - a family of Indian immigrants who move to Canada in the 1980s. The player witnesses their daily routines and problems over several decades. They learn about Venba's heritage and try to fill in the gaps of her cookbook, damaged while they were moving out.

Mechanics

The game tasks us with talking to characters and facing culinary challenges. The primary gameplay mechanic is preparing regional South Indian cuisine. We'll make such dishes as idli (fluffy steamed rice cakes), biryani (baked rice) and puttu (rice flour snacks).

Our kitchen includes a variety of spices specific to India and different utensils (from ordinary knives and pots to special idli trays). We're only assisted by the protagonist's memories and incomplete recipes. In the meantime, we take part in family life, talk to our loved ones and face problems concerning work, raising children or finding a place to belong amidst a foreign culture.

Last updated on 29 July 2023