It’s been a week now since I was in Los Angeles atSummer Game Fest, trying out a myriad of titles slated for release later this year and beyond. There were a lot ofgames I enjoyed at SGF, but there’s one I simply can’t stop thinking about even now. The demo forDosa Divas: One Last Meal, an upcoming turn-based RPG from Outerloop Games, was a colorful, delicious, mech-filled joyride that has stuck with me ever since I sat down with it last week, and I can’t wait to learn more about the title as it gets closer to release.
Dosa Divasmarks the second release for developer Outerloop Games after 2023’sThirsty Suitors, and though there are clear distinctions between the two,the underlying DNA is still very much intact. I was a huge fan of Outerloop’s last title, so I was delighted to see the same colorful palette, fusion of gameplay mechanics, and sense of humor I’d come tolove inThirsty Suitors. It’s the kind of game that can appeal to a wide array of players, from turn-based fans to lovers of strong storytelling, and I can’t wait for its release next year.
Dosa Divas Is A Delicious Fusion
Blending Flavors Of Turn-Based Fighting, Cooking, & Mech Exploration
Dosa Divasis about three sisters, Amani, Samara, and Lina, who previously owned a restaurant with their parents. Ten years later, the restaurant is closed following a big fight, Lina has gone on to start an evil instant meal corporation, and Amani is running a food truck business out of her sentient mech, Goddess. Because of Lina’s influence, real cooking has become a rarity in the world, and her corporate goons are overrunning towns. It’s up to the player to take down LinaMeals, cook up delicious dosas, and repair relationships.
Turn-based fighting is a big part ofDosa Divasjust as it was inSuitors, but things have become even more interactive.Game director Chandana Ekanayake told me how the team wanted to include more quick-time events this time around, citinggames likePaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Dooras stylistic influences. This definitely stood out during the demo’s various fights - players can partially or fully block attacks with a well-timed press, do extra damage, and there are even weapons like a wok that use multiple well-timed button presses to do damage.
Both the enemies and the fighters have lots of silly flair to them. Some of the goons' attacks, like one that had a suited businessman slithering across the ground like a snake, made me laugh out loud, and my team’s food-themed attacks were always fun to perform. Attacks have different flavor profiles -salty, sweet, savory, spicy, or sour- that enemies may be weak to, and exploiting these weaknesses alongside successful quicktime events can lead to them becoming “stuffed,” thus knocking them out for a round.
However,Dosa Divasisn’t just a game about fighting- it’s also a game about nourishing a community. Players will forage and fish for ingredients before heading to the otherworldly Preparation Realm to cook. Here there’s a whole other set of minigames players will go through, striving to make the highest quality food possible. As the sisters continue to feed and help the townsfolk, their reputation within the village will rise and, in turn, unlock new perks.
Dosa Divas Left Me Hungry For More
Immediately Engaging Mechanics & Story Have Me Hooked
TheDosa Divasdemo was only 30 minutes, and I immediately found myself wanting to play more as soon as time was up. Even ignoring the incredibly engaging gameplay, the aesthetics alone were enough to make me want to stay. SGF had a many games set in spooky or dystopian locales that made for a weekend filled with lots of dark, shadowy worlds that felt largely devoid of color; this isn’t a bad thing in itself, but after so much gray, to come across a bright color palette and such avisually-appealing art style in the gamefelt so inviting.
Dosa Divasalsooffers numerous engaging ways to progress, including character leveling, skill improvement, reputation building, andunlocking new recipes. In the demo, my team consisted of Amani, Samara, and Goddess - I’m not sure if new fighters can join the team later or not, but regardless, the prospect of discovering new moves for the trio had me wanting to stick with the game. Each fighter has both regular and special moves centered around fun food themes I’m interested in seeing more of, especially when it comes to the team’s mech.
One of the strongest facets ofThirsty Suitorswas its strong storytelling and exploration of complicated familial relationships, and that has very clearly continued inDosa Divas. Just like its predecessor, much of the dialogue was absolutely hilarious, while also carrying an undercurrent of emotion and a deeper narrative, and it set up what seems like a compelling story between the sisters and their parents. It won’t be out until next year, but I can’t wait until I can get another taste ofDosa Divas: One Last Meal.
Dosa Divas: One Last Mealis planned for release sometime in early 2026.
