Unofficial fan guide · Day-1 build v0.1.48.17626

Japanese Ramen Simulator

Everything we know from the live Early Access build: how the first shift plays, what every shop level unlocks, how money actually flows, and the co-op fixes players are asking for. No pre-launch guesswork.

Start with the first shift Browse all guides

Early AccessLive since 9 Oct 2026

StudioWild Dog

Co-op1–6 players online

Launch price$12.74 (−15% to 23 Oct)

Launch build

Start with these6

Basics

Your first shift: getting started in Japanese Ramen Simulator

HUD decoded, then the full first-day walkthrough.

Progression

Shop levels and unlocks: the whole ladder

Expansion at Lv.10, Tantanmen at Lv.26 — the whole ladder.

Cooking

Cooking and menu: broth, noodles, toppings

Broth, noodle firmness, toppings, gyoza and beer service.

Money

Money: where it comes from and where it goes

Payments by difficulty, wages, restocks, expansion.

Co-op

Six-player co-op: setup, roles and connection fixes

Invite flow, roles, voice chat, timeout checklist.

Events

Boss customers, thieves and fires

Critics, thieves, fires and the four boss challenges.

Wild Dog's six-player ramen shop sim launched in Steam Early Access on 9 October 2026. This site covers the build that is playable right now: v0.1.48.17626, the Day-1 update — written from the live game, the official announcements and what players are hitting in their first shifts, not pre-launch hype.

The pitch: prepare ingredients, cook noodles, plate toppings, serve, clean up, and build the shop your way — solo with NPC staff or with up to five friends. What that becomes on hour one versus hour twenty is what the guides below are for.

The street outside your ramen shop, with lanterns lit for service.

The corner of town you are about to make famous.

Before your first shift

Pick your difficulty honestly. Easy, Normal or Hard, plus time-limit and customer-count dials. Solo first-timers: Easy and Normal just got a payment buff.
Prep before you open. Broth takes real time; start it, then prep toppings and baskets while it cooks.
Learn the four keys that matter. B is Build Mode, Q Emotes, R Throw, Esc opens the menu — everything else is contextual prompts.
Watch the "Today's Ramen" panel. It lists your recipe and toppings; orders get more complex as levels rise.
Close the register. An open register is an invitation; the game's thieves take the hint.
Follow the first objectives. The opening checklist walks you through ordering and installing a shelf, and shows you the delivery point.

Quick answers

How much is it? $12.74 during the launch offer — 15% off the $14.99 list price, through 23 October.

Is there co-op? Yes — up to six players, invite-based through Steam friends. Built-in spatial voice chat; no public matchmaking.

Does it work solo? Yes. Hire NPC staff per station and run the shop at your own pace; the Day-1 update added dish-clearing staff so solo cooks stop drowning in plates.

What about Early Access? The launch build shipped with a substantial Day-1 patch — new ramen, ingredients, balance passes, multiplayer fixes — and plays like a game that intends to keep updating.

How to read this site

Your first shift — the walkthrough we wish we had on day one.
Levels and unlocks — what every shop level actually gates, so you spend money and XP on purpose.
Co-op and fixes — invite flow, role split and the timeout checklist for playing with friends tonight.

Beyond those: money, cooking, boss customers, achievements and the Day-1 patch notes.

Systems & updates