Game: Umami
Genre:Â Casual, Indie
System: Steam (Windows)
Developer | Publisher: Mimmox | Mimmox, Nexting
Controller Support:Â Full
Price: US $13.67 | UK £11.99 | EU €13,67
Release Date: November 17th 2025
A review code was provided, many thanks to Mimmox.
Umami is a 3D Puzzle to Play on a Sunday Afternoon
That’s what Umami is about: a charming 3D puzzle perfect for a Sunday afternoon, when the day is calm and the bees are buzzing outside. The soothing nature of the experience combines perfectly with that time of the day when you just want to occupy your mind without thinking too much and maybe admire a few delightfully designed foods. As the name suggests—”umami” being the fifth taste that enhances flavor—this game can brighten up a dull day.
With 15 different levels, the player must fit all the pieces together to complete various dishes, rotating and testing each one. Much like a physical puzzle, you can always check the full image as a guide, with the added twist of a 3D assembly that requires you to rotate the model itself to find the correct position. The calming music just adds to the tranquil atmosphere.
Simply Cute
The art direction does stand out, as all the food models are visually appealing and whimsical. They manage to create a visual identity that could easily be in a real menu for an anime-themed restaurant, even if it would be a little impossible to replicate in real life. The colours and the composition of the table around the main dish settle the player into the peaceful atmosphere of someone enjoying a cafe meal and admiring the most incredible and appetizing sandwiches, cakes, and desserts.
Besides the core gameplay, the player is also challenged to find all the hidden cards and pet all the animals across the 15 stages. Curiosity is rewarded with some delightful animations in the environment and adorable sound effects. All the artwork is made with great dedication and talent, making it worth collecting all the cards.
A Little More Than Trivial
One might look at the challenges and think they are very simple to solve. But there is nothing trivial about them. Sometimes you just can’t find the correct place and you must set a piece aside and try a different one. So although Umami is made to be low-stress, there is some genuine challenge in solving the dishes, and it’s not just simply assembling pieces together.
Something Good, Something Bad
I think one of the most appealing aspects of this title is that it is very easy to obtain all the achievements. The main story lasts about 4 hours, and as you play each level, all you need to do is click on the objects around the dish to find the hidden card and pet the animal at the end. It’s very straightforward, making it a perfect game for your Steam collection.
But I must mention that I did encounter one problem. Sometimes, when I navigated to other tabs on my computer, the mouse or keyboard would stop working completely in-game, forcing me to restart it a couple of times. Not a game-breaking issue, but mildly annoying.
Conclusion
Umami has great potential to be your companion for a quiet afternoon. Although I feel the game could be a little bigger, its visual style and overall experience are quite relaxing and very fitting for those moments when you just want to distract your mind. For a casual gamer or a puzzle lover, it will be a delightful diversion.
Final verdict: I like it
Do you like our content?
Subscribe to our daily news and never miss a review!