Mintrocket has officially announced Bancho the Chef, a new cooking-focused RPG set in the world of Dave the Diver. Revealed by the studio behind the acclaimed underwater adventure, the game shifts the spotlight to one of the series’ most popular characters, exploring Bancho’s journey long before he became the legendary chef fans know today.
The upcoming title follows Bancho during his formative years as an aspiring cook traveling across Asia in search of culinary knowledge. Along the way, players will visit locations inspired by Japan, Korea, and China, studying regional cuisines, learning new cooking techniques, and building their reputation as a rising chef.
Described as a blend of cooking simulation and role-playing game mechanics, Bancho the Chef combines restaurant management, ingredient collection, story-driven progression, and culinary challenges into a single experience. Players will prepare dishes, serve customers, discover new ingredients, and unlock recipes while advancing through a narrative that chronicles Bancho’s path toward culinary mastery.
Mintrocket says progression is tied directly to learning and experimentation. As players complete regional challenges, satisfy customer requests, and earn the approval of local culinary experts, they will gain access to new techniques, recipes, and destinations. Each region introduces its own specialties and opportunities for growth, encouraging players to continually expand their skills.
Beyond cooking, the game includes a variety of side activities. Players can take part in fishing, tackle VIP missions, and engage in other optional content designed to add variety to Bancho’s travels. These activities also contribute to the broader progression system and help flesh out the game’s world.
According to Mintrocket head Jaeho Hwang, Bancho’s popularity within Dave the Diver made him a natural candidate for a standalone adventure. The studio says the project will delve into the character’s history while further expanding the broader universe established in Dave the Diver.
Among the game’s key features are a combination of cooking mechanics and RPG progression systems, a culinary journey across multiple Asian countries, region-based reputation systems, restaurant management gameplay, and a narrative-focused story that takes place years before the events of Dave the Diver.
Bancho the Chef is currently in development for PC and consoles. While Mintrocket has not yet announced a release date or a complete list of supported platforms, wishlist pages are already available on Steam and the PlayStation Store. Additional details regarding launch timing and platform availability will be revealed at a later date.
