The announcement that the Swedish Chef from The Muppets would be joining Overcooked! All You Can Eat came as a surprise during this year's Game Awards. The iconic character is available now as a free download for anyone who owns the next-gen version of the chaotic co-op game.
This isn't even the first time that Muppets and The Game Awards have crossed over, as last year's show featured an appearance from Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker that involved a mishap with VR goggles and an appearance by one horrible goose. With that in mind, this year's Overcooked! announcement seems like a logical next step, and it begs the question: what other video games need to add Muppets?
Untitled Goose Game
This one may be the most obvious since it, in a way, already happened. The Game Awards 2019 featured a fake crossover called Untitled Beaker Game in which the eponymous accident-prone Muppet joins the quirky indie game and is chased by the shopkeeper and The Goose. This culminated in a puppet version of the horrible goose showing up and stealing the envelope before Dr. Bunsen could announce who won the Games for Impact award (of all categories).
While this was clearly just The Game Awards having some fun rather than an actual tease of new content coming to the game, an Untitled Goose Game crossover with The Muppets should definitely involve poor Beaker running away from the horrible goose. It could also expand upon the game's newly added co-op mode by adding asymmetrical multiplayer in which several players team up as horrible geese and thwart Beaker's plans of having a calm, peaceful day in a village.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
While the game's director Masahiro Sakurai has already shut down the idea of characters who originated outside of video games joining Super Smash Bros., Miss Piggy would make a great fighter should he ever choose to make an exception to the rule. Piggy is known for her short temper and aggression, and her moveset would definitely include her signature karate chops. Her Final Smash could even incorporate Kermit the Frog -- and one of his famous freak outs.
Civilization
Over the course of the Civilization games, the United States of America has been led by the likes of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. But why not put a new face in charge? The most patriotic Muppet, self-appointed moral guardian Sam the Eagle, would be the perfect candidate for this role. Of all the Muppets, Sam has the discipline to guide the U.S. from the Ancient Era to the Information Era -- and even into Gathering Storm's Future Era.
DOOM
The DOOM games are known for their epic metal soundtracks that keep players pumped up and ready to rip and tear their ways through Hell and its demons, so why not include Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem as the musicians behind it all? Sure, there are plenty of music games like Guitar Hero and Fuser that may be more obvious fits, but this would be a good chance for the band to show their range.
While the Muppet's house band may used to playing more family-friendly venues than a first-person shooter, this wouldn't even be the first time DOOM fans (or the game's social media team for that matter) have embraced an infinitely more wholesome franchise. Speaking of which...
Animal Crossing
Adding Animal of Electric Mayhem fame to Animal Crossing seems like a no-brainer. Really, most of the Muppets would fit into the relaxing life simulator, but Animal in particular could benefit from an island getaway. The drummer is known for his wild and aggressive energy, so life in one of Animal Crossing's peaceful towns could help him slow down and smell the roses. Animal is also known for repeating words and phrases that he hears, so he'd fit in with the other villagers, who love using their personal greetings and catchphrases over and over and over again.
Persona
For years, the Muppets have been heckled by Statler and Waldorf, two curmudgeonly old men who seem only to get enjoyment out of their own witty commentary. While the two would probably make good narrators for any game à la Immortals Fenyx Rising, maybe the Phantom Thieves of Hearts from Persona 5 could be of some assistance.
It's never really been clear why the two hate the Muppets so much -- or why they keep going to see the Muppets perform if they're only going to complain -- but there's a good chance there's some deep-seated reason for it. Perhaps by infiltrating their Palaces, the Phantom Thieves can answer this question once and for all. They'll never see it coming.