Game Settings
Overcooked! 2 - Game Settings Guide
Configuring your settings correctly in Overcooked! 2 can mean the difference between smooth chaos and frustrating lag or control issues. This guide covers every settings category – Graphics, Audio, Controls, Accessibility, Language, Network, and Gameplay – and provides recommendations for performance and quality across different hardware levels. We also highlight common misconfigurations and special attention points.
Graphics Settings
Graphics options affect visual quality and performance. Overcooked! 2 is not demanding, but on low-end PCs or docked Switch, tuning can prevent stutters.
| Setting | Low-End PC / Switch (Docked) | Mid-Range PC / PS4 / Xbox One | High-End PC / PS4 Pro / Xbox One X / Switch (Handheld) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 720p (or native if possible) | 1080p | 1440p or 4K (if supported) |
| Display Mode | Fullscreen (exclusive) | Fullscreen | Fullscreen or Windowed Borderless |
| VSync | Off (if screen tearing bothers you, On) | On | On (or Off with G-Sync/FreeSync) |
| Shadow Quality | Low | Medium | High |
| Texture Quality | Low | Medium | High |
| Anti-Aliasing | Off or FXAA | FXAA | TAA or SMAA |
| Post-Processing | Off | Low | Medium or High |
| Effects Quality | Low | Medium | High |
| View Distance | Low | Medium | High |
- Resolution: 1280x720 (if available) or 50% scale
- VSync: Off
- Shadows: Low
- Textures: Low
- Anti-Aliasing: Off
- Effects: Low
- View Distance: Low
- Turn off all post-processing.
- Max out all options, enable high-quality anti-aliasing and shadows.
- If using 4K, consider turning down shadows to medium to maintain 60 FPS.
- VSync can cause input lag in local multiplayer; try disabling if you notice slight delays.
- Fullscreen exclusive mode gives best performance; windowed mode may cap framerate.
- On Nintendo Switch, handheld mode uses lower internal resolution by default; no manual graphics adjustments exist there (console version runs at fixed quality).
- The PC version allows tweaking .ini files (Overcooked2\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor\Engine.ini) for advanced options like FOV, but not officially supported.
Recommended Quality Settings (high-end):
Special Attention Points:
Audio Settings
Audio is crucial for communication and hearing timers/orders.
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Master Volume | 70-80% (adjust per environment) |
| Music Volume | 50% (keeps pace but not overwhelming) |
| SFX Volume | 80% (clearly hear chopping, boil, fire alarms) |
| Voice Chat Volume | 100% (if used) |
| UI Sound Effects | 80% (menu navigations) |
| Audio Output | Stereo (headphones or TV) or Surround (5.1/7.1 if supported) |
| Subtitles | On (especially for voice lines) |
- Music Volume is often too loud by default; many players reduce it to 30-40% to better hear in-game cues.
- Voice Chat may cause echo if both in-game and platform voice (e.g., Discord) are active. Mute one.
- On Switch, there is no Voice Chat setting; use the platform's party system.
- Movement: WASD or Arrow Keys
- Interact/Use: E or Space
- Dash: Left Shift
- Throw: Q
- Change Chef: R (single-player only)
- Pause: Escape
- Switch Camera (if multiple screens): Tab
- Emote: 1-4
Controls Settings
Controls are the most personal settings. Overcooked! 2 supports keyboard, controller, and even single Joy-Con (Switch).
Key Bindings Customization (PC):
Recommended Controller Layout (Xbox/PS/Switch):
| Action | Xbox | PlayStation | Switch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movement | Left Stick | Left Stick | Left Stick |
| Interact | A | Cross (X) | B (right) |
| Dash | B | Circle (O) | A (bottom) |
| Throw | X | Square ([]) | Y (top) |
| Change Chef (single) | RB | R1 | R (right bumper) |
| Pause | Start | Options | + |
| Emote | Y (hold) | Triangle (hold) | X (left) hold |
| Switch Camera (split-screen) | LB | L1 | L (left bumper) |
- Dash and Throw are easy to mix up if you’re used to other games; consider swapping if you frequently dash when you mean to throw.
- On Switch, using a Pro Controller or single Joy-Con requires the controller pairing before opening the game.
- Keyboard only can be challenging for precise throws; a controller is strongly recommended.
- Sensitivity is not adjustable (movement is binary/digital).
Accessibility Settings
Overcooked! 2 includes several options to make the game more playable for everyone.
| Setting | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Colourblind Mode | Changes fire/water/etc. colours for Protanopia, Deuteranopia, Tritanopia | Enable if needed; affects all in-game elements |
| Subtitles | Display spoken dialogue and order callouts | On (text is clear) |
| Screen Shake | Reduces camera shake from explosions/fire | Off for comfort or motion sensitivity |
| Vibration | Controller rumble for feedback | On (adds immersion) or Off (battery saving) |
| Camera Shake | Separate from screen shake? Not present; only Screen Shake setting | Same as above |
| User Interface Scale | Adjust HUD size (PC only) | Increase if playing on 4K TV or small screen |
| Text To Speech (Voice Chat) | Not available in-game | Use platform features if needed |
- Colourblind Mode affects walls, floors, and hazards – it can be useful even for non-colourblind players to differentiate elements more clearly.
- Screen Shake can be disorienting in chaotic kitchens; turning it off is recommended for all players.
- There is no difficulty slider – the only accessibility is these toggles.
Language Settings
Language options for in-game text and audio.
| Setting | Options |
|---|---|
| Language | Interface and subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese-BR, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional) |
| Audio Language | Only English audio (no dubbing) |
- Changing language requires restarting the game (on PC, via Steam properties; on console, via system language).
- The game does not have separate text and voice language options because voice is only English.
Network Settings (Online Multiplayer)
For playing with friends over the internet.
| Setting | Options | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Online Matchmaking | Quick Join, Friend Lobby | Use Friend Lobby for controlled chaos |
| Region | Automatic or manual (e.g., US East, EU West) | Set to your nearest region for lower ping |
| Cross-Play | Enable/Disable (PC, Xbox, Switch, PS – Partial) | Enable to play with friends on all platforms (requires Epic/Steam account linking on Xbox/PS) |
| Voice Chat | In-game voice on/off; push-to-talk (PC) | On with push-to-talk (default V) |
| Connection Type | Wired vs Wi-Fi | Use wired for stable latency |
| NAT Type | Not shown in-game; check platform | Open NAT recommended |
- Disable Cross-Play if you only play within one platform to avoid longer matchmaking.
- Push-to-talk is essential to avoid background noise chaos.
- If you experience lag, reducing the number of players (4 is most demanding) helps.
- The game is peer-to-peer; no dedicated servers. Host player’s connection matters most.
Gameplay Settings
These affect how the game plays, not visuals or audio.
| Setting | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Join Lobby (On/Off) | Automatically join the game when opening the lobby | On for quick play; Off if you want to configure first |
| Timer Display (Countdown/Up) | Show remaining time or elapsed time | Countdown (default) – better for urgency |
| Order Overlay (Show all / Only active) | Display pending orders on screen or only the current one | Show all (to plan ahead) |
| Recipe Hints (On/Off) | Display recipe steps at the top of the screen | On for beginners; Off for challenge |
| Score Multiplier (Not adjustable in-game) | Difficulty modifier – only available in Arcade mode before starting | Select ‘Endless’ or ‘Score’ mode accordingly |
| Special Orders (On/Off) | Enable special event orders (e.g., bombs) | On for full game experience; Off if too chaotic |
| Kitchen Hazard Frequency (Not adjustable in arcade) | Controlled by level design | Not a setting |
- Recipe Hints are extremely helpful for learning; turn them off only after you’ve memorized recipes.
- Timer Display in countdown creates pressure; some players prefer elapsed time to stay calm.
- Auto-Join Lobby can accidentally start a public game; set to Off if you want private sessions.
Summary of Optimal Settings
For Best Performance (Low-End PC): Use the Low-End Graphics table, disable screen shake, reduce music volume to 40%, enable low-latency fullscreen, and use controller.
For Best Experience (Smooth & Fun): Medium graphics, enable subtitles, keep music at 50%, use push-to-talk, and leave recipe hints on until comfortable.
For Competitive/Max Quality (High-End PC): Max graphics, 4K resolution, enable all effects, use TAA, keep screen shake off, use wired network, and adjust key bindings to preference.
Common Misconfigurations to Avoid
1. Leaving VSync On for Local Multiplayer: Causes input lag in 4-player split-screen on PC. Turn it off if you notice delays.
2. High Music Volume Overwhelming Voice Chat: Many new players miss orders because music drowns out caller voices.
3. Forgetting to Change Language Before Starting: Restart required; check before first launch.
4. Cross-Play Disabled When Playing with Friends on Different Platforms: Always enable if you have mixed-platform friends group.
5. Not Adjusting Key Bindings for Throw/Dash: Default throw (Q) on keyboard can be awkward; remap to Mouse side button or F.
6. Auto-Join Lobby On: Useful for quick join but can invite strangers; toggle off for private games.
By following this guide, you can tailor Overcooked! 2 to your hardware and preferences, ensuring a smoother, more enjoyable chaotic cooking experience.