In 2006, Matt Neff and Tony Solary released the first game that would define the lives of many Gen Z kids, myself included. However, Adobe only continued its support of Flash until the end of 2020, which led to the demise of many beloved games.

While the multitude of games became nostalgia for most, I never once forgot about how much they meant to me. I fell in love with the franchise when playing Freezeria for the first time.

Growing up on these games certainly taught me how to manage a handful of things yet still meet the deadline. 

The Papa Louie games were founded in 2004, along with the creation of Flipline Studios. Neff and Solary met at the Cleveland Institute of Art, it was then they realized they could make and program video games on their own.

Every player is left to run the establishment on their own, but gradually move up in rank. The total number of ranks can range anywhere from 44 to 65.

But with a whopping total of 14 games, everyone is bound to choose a favorite. 

Students at Dallastown have many opinions. However, most can agree that Papa’s Freezeria, Pizzeria, and Cupcakeria as their top three favorites. These were also the most played out of the 14.

When asking for their least favorite – whether it’s based on difficulty or sole contents of the game – Sushiria, Hot Doggeria, and Wingeria were the most upvoted in this category. 

While compiling all the data, that being playing every single one of these games, I had some conflicting opinions.

Majority of the older games, such as Papa’s Pizzeria and Freezeria, tended to be some of my least favorites. They were hard to maneuver and they weren’t as detail-oriented as the other ones.

Whereas the relatively newer ones, like Cupcakeria, I thoroughly enjoyed playing. Games released after Pancakeria, except Sushiria, gives the player full access to customize their own character.

Although these games hold a special place in my heart, I do have some deep-rooted hatred for the character Papa Louie. 

Papa Louie is depicted as an adored Italian chef who rewards his customers. However, this hatred comes from the fact he left me all alone to manage his own establishments. Normally a prize is beneficial, but indirectly forcing someone into a job they didn’t ask for is far from being a prize.

This isn’t just a game, but a culinary adventure that captures the hearts of players around the world. With addictive gameplay, it’s not a surprise that Papa Louie became such a beloved franchise.

Seeing as it certainly captured my heart, I will always go back to these games whenever I can. Whilst playing these games, it brings me back to my childhood – the days I wish I could so badly return to.