Ethan Crossfield 
Mayhem À La Carte is an upcoming Steam co-op game for players who enjoy teamwork under pressure, but want more than kitchen timers and falling orders. INGAME Studios is combining restaurant management with fast first-person combat, sending one to four players into kitchens that must keep serving while enemies attack. The game is scheduled to enter Steam Early Access in 2027, making it one to watch rather than play today.
What players can expect from the core gameplay
The central challenge is divided between cooking and defense. Players will need to organize responsibilities, prepare meals, and maintain the flow of orders while fighting through enemy waves. That structure gives the game the familiar coordination demands of Overcooked, but places them inside a first-person shooter where communication is required for survival as well as efficiency.
Mayhem À La Carte is designed for one to four players, so the experience should support both solo play and full co-op groups. Its reveal trailer presents a deliberately chaotic setting in which kitchen duties continue even while the team is under assault. The concept is unusual, but the two systems are connected rather than treated as separate modes.
Why the combat and cooking systems matter
INGAME Studios is building the restaurant mechanics directly into the action. Ingredients are not simply resources for recipes; they can also be thrown as weapons. Burnt meals are described as explosive, while frozen items can halt enemies. Other effects include shrinking targets and making them slip, giving the combat a playful tone instead of presenting it as a conventional military shooter.
The presentation also leans into comic-book style, with on-screen sound effects adding visual emphasis to the mayhem. This could help the game stand apart from standard co-op shooters, especially for groups looking for a party-friendly experience. However, its success will depend on whether managing orders remains engaging once the novelty of fighting with food wears off.
What comes next before the full release
The 2027 Early Access launch is expected to begin with approximately four to five hours of content. INGAME Studios plans to use player feedback to decide which features and ideas deserve the most attention, and intends to remain in Early Access for at least six months. The developer has also said that the full version should contain roughly twice the initial amount of content.
This is not the studio’s first co-op shooter. INGAME Studios previously released Crime Boss: Rockay City in 2024, a one-to-four-player co-op title that received Mostly Positive reviews from Steam users. Mayhem À La Carte has a more distinctive premise, but its long-term appeal will depend on how well the studio expands and balances that premise during development.
What players should know
- The game is planned for Steam Early Access in 2027, with no more specific launch date confirmed.
- Teams of one to four players will cook meals, manage orders, and defend a restaurant from enemy waves.
- Combat is presented from a first-person perspective, and ingredients can be used for offensive effects.
- The opening Early Access build is expected to offer four to five hours of content.
- INGAME Studios plans at least six months of Early Access and aims to double the launch content for the full release.
Expert View
Mayhem À La Carte has a clear hook and a promising co-op structure, particularly for groups that enjoy communication-heavy games. The combination of restaurant coordination and shooter combat could create memorable sessions, but the current information does not establish how much variety the Early Access build will contain. It is worth wishlisting and following through development, while waiting for more details before judging its long-term depth.
