The peak of the Coolmath empire: OG Papa’s games ranked
By Alivia Williams
Photo of Alexa Williams playing Papa’s Freezeria taken by Alivia Williams
Papa Louie games hold a special place in Gen Z’s memory; Elementary students of the 2010s share a collective experience of searching “CoolMathGames” near the end of computer class as part of their long-awaited free time. Amongst all the games available to play on “CoolMathGames,” the Papa franchise games were notoriously regarded as superior. The following is an opinionated ranking of the nostalgic Papa Louie games. With that being said, this list does not include releases past 2016.
Rank #1: “Papa’s Freezeria” (2011)
Without a doubt, “Papa’s Freezeria” is the most notable work of art produced by Flipline Studios. Papa Louie was in his bag with this one, as it has over 100 million plays. The novelty lies within the creative process of following customer orders, mixing sundaes and decorating them with toppings. There’s also great appeal in the number of flavors, toppings and items that players can unlock as they climb the ranks. Not only is this particular game nostalgic—it stands the test of time. Though it was one of the earliest Papa Louie games, it still holds up as a fun, interactive and colorful creation.
Rank #2: “Papa’s Burgeria” (2010)
A perfect hit, “Papa’s Burgeria” is placed in spot two due to a well-renowned balance between simplicity and intricacy. Burgeria has a large fanbase and a significant number of plays. Burgeria employees are challenged to sharpen their fry-cook skills, as well as follow customer topping orders exactly to their liking. While Burgeria can seem repetitive at times, the spark is kept alive through an array of classic burger toppings and sauces, as well as an in-game store where you may purchase novelty items and kitchen aids for your store.
Rank #3: “Papa’s Pizzeria” (2007)
“Papa’s Pizzeria” earns its rank three spot based purely on the nostalgia factor. The first official restaurant-themed game of the franchise, Pizzeria is arguably the most memorable Papa Louie game. Though, this game is lacking in terms of the interactive factor, as it does not include a store to buy items for your shop and only consists of seven unlockable toppings. Though this game isn’t as elaborate as later releases, it can still be appreciated for its simplicity and standing as the original Papa Louie game.
Rank #4: “Papa’s Cheeseria” (2015)
Cheeseria evokes a great sense of hominess that comes from the satisfying action of curating the perfect comfort food with the best ingredient one may find in their kitchen: cheese! With a whopping variety of eleven cheeses, eleven bread choices, nineteen topping options and ten sauces, the Cheeseria options are endless. Papa Louie fans will not find themselves quickly bored with this particular game, as it’s rich in diversity, dairy and fun! Another wonderful addition to “Papa’s Cheeseria” is the inclusion of fries as a side (five variants), which also receive their own toppings.
Rank #5: “Papa’s Pastaria” (2013)
An escape into Papa Louie’s Italian fantasy, players are transported to a town named Portallini, where it is expected to craft perfect pasta dishes with a side of garlic bread, that is, of course, tailored to the customer’s preference. Pastaria has an exciting and diverse element that other Papa games lack and strays from the typical pattern of American-themed restaurants. Pastaria accounts for an appetizing array of eight kinds of pasta, five sauces, twelve toppings, six seasoning shakers and six breads to choose from. This game also houses a shop where you may purchase tools to help you along in the pasta-making process.
Rank #6: “Papa’s Cupcakeria” (2013)
Similarly to Freezeria, the enjoyment evoked by this game is mostly derived from the customization aspect of the playing experience. As the worker, you take orders, follow the flavors allotted to the customer’s ticket, bake the cupcakes, frost them and place toppings. While Cupcakeria is enjoyable on the surface, it has one critical downfall: user interaction with movement. The physical workings of this game become annoying as the batter and frosting stage tend to be temperamental and may cause error in the creation process. Nevertheless, Cupcakeria is loved by many and is one of the more lighthearted and sweet Papa’s games.
Rank #7- “Papa’s Taco Mia” (2011)
Taco Mia is a colorful and flavorful game that is simple but enjoyable. “Papa Louie’s Taco Mia” is at rank seven mainly because of bland repetition regarding movement and order choices, although the game includes a fun variety of four types of meat, three shell types, eleven topping choices and six sauces. Additionally, the last step is a fun inclusion of tortilla chips and dip for the customer to enjoy with their taco. Above all else, Taco Mia holds popularity over the remaining nostalgic Papa Louie games. While I enjoy the features and flow of this game, it is one that tends to become less appealing as you play.
Honorable mentions
The following games are other nostalgic Papa Louie games that didn’t quite make the cut due to being significantly less popular. Keep in mind that there are four other games that don’t qualify for the nostalgia factor, as they were released post-2016. Although they typically have better graphics and a wide array of items—they are definitely worth checking out.
“Papa’s Pancakeria” (2012)
“Papa’s Wingeria” (2012)
“Papa’s Hot Doggeria” (2012)
“Papa’s Bakeria” (2016)
Post Papa OG Prime
“Papa’s Sushiria” (2017)
“Papa’s Scooperia” (2018)
“Papa’s Mocharia” (2021)
“Papa’s Cluckeria” (2022)