A Personal Loss
On the first day of the new year, my family suffered a sudden and tragic loss. My uncle, who had always been a kind and welcoming host on our visits to Ireland, was taken from us by a heart attack. I hadn’t seen him in some years, but had plenty of fond memories, and it was these that helped soften the blow somewhat in the days following his passing. I took comfort in the fact that he was well-liked in his community, and that even if I couldn’t be there myself to say goodbye, there would be plenty of people present to make the arrangements, watch over him, and care for his grave.
A few years ago I think this event would’ve hit me a lot harder, and I think in part my ability to take it mostly in stride (as much as you can with the death of a loved one, anyway) is because of the stories told in the Hungry Hearts Diner series of mobile games produced by GAGEX.
I know it might be a bit of a strange claim to say that a mobile game could help me come to terms with a death in the family. However, please rest assured that I’m being completely serious, and that this post is not sponsored by or in any way affiliated with GAGEX or their products.
What is Hungry Hearts Diner?
Hungry Hearts Diner is a series of mobile games in which you play as a Japanese Grandmother running a diner in the Showa era. Throughout the game, you will help her upgrade by learning new dishes and drinks, improving seating, and investing in other buff-giving furniture as the game progresses. At least one game also has you doing takeout orders. The ultimate goal of these games isn’t to earn the most money or score points; it’s to listen to your returning customers and, as you get to know them, help them understand and resolve significant problems they’re currently facing. These troubles range from academic and professional to romantic and domestic, depending on the character in question. For Grandma, the overarching issue is the quality and remaining length of her life. By the time the game is done, you will have made lifelong friends with a cast you’ll be sad to say goodbye to, and whom a part of you will likely be wishing luck with their endeavours, wherever they might lead.
The gameplay is quite simple: you start by learning to make a simple dish (I think the first one is onigiri, or rice balls) and by making that dish, you level it up and slowly unlock others. Customers will come and request certain dishes, and by making those, you strengthen your friendship with them and learn more of their story. Using your money, you can expand the diner with more tables, more serving space, and various furniture that boosts money made or experience gained. The higher your diner level grows, the more customers will come. It’s simple, hard to quit, and the art style is undeniably charming.
How Do Life Lessons Factor In?
You might be worried that the game’s a bit preachy because of the focus it puts on life, but that’s not the case. It’s just the story of a busybody Grandma dispensing advice, and always in a way that makes her think about her own lot in life.
Depending on which installment you play, Grandma is either running the diner by herself in the absence of her ill or late husband, running the diner with her husband, or behaving as a mentor figure to a young delivery girl named Sue. The games are varied in story and cast, but stay true to their gentle visuals, comforting feel, and their reminders that life mustn’t be taken for granted. There are plenty of characters to meet, but enough familiar faces to make you believe you’re part of a growing community. Meanwhile, Grandma works through her aches and pains to help every single one of them, all while pondering how long she has left to live now she’s grown old, how they will do when she’s no longer around, and even questioning her own mindset and memory when faced with the younger generation. Overall, it’s quite a transformative experience that makes you question a lot about your own life, whether you’re living it to the fullest or letting it pass you by, and reminds you to make the most of the people around you, because you never know how long you’ve got with them.
A Life Changing Game
In short, it’s a game that encourages you to think and to find ways to better yourself. When I heard the news about my uncle, this was the game I thought about, because he gave off much the same vibe as a person. He was kind, open-hearted if quiet, and always helpful wherever he could be. He was always ready with a joke and a good cup of tea, and the best fried breakfast I’ve ever had. For me, food is comforting, healing, and an act of care that becomes interwoven with the memories of the people and places I’ve known. It’s so unique to them, and it’s more than just a meal: it’s a part of them, their story, the way they lived, the people they’ve known in turn. In the case of my uncle, it’s no wonder his friends and family always knew they could drop by for a visit, because the hearth and heart were always warm.
I have no doubt he will be dearly missed by the people whose lives he touched, just like Grandma in these games when she passes on. With the player’s help, she becomes something of a cornerstone of her community: a place of comfort and healing through the joint vehicles of comfort food and conversation. I think these games, and my uncle’s influence, have made me want to be a better person too.
How You Can Play Hungry Hearts Diner
The Hungry Hearts Diner series is free via Google Play and the Apple App Store, so why not give it a try and see what you think? At the very least you’ll enjoy my very favourite diner simulator game, and you never know: Grandma and her customers might make you realise something about your life too. I hope you’ll have fun with it! As well as being a font of wisdom, Grandma’s got some sass up her sleeve and some really charming wit that I just know many of you will love. If you do, please let me know in the comments below! Not nearly enough people know about this game, so spread the word and help Grandma find some new hungry hearts to fill.
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