FAQ
How do I play?
Each round shows a five-point taste shape: sweet, sour, salty, umami and bitter. Type a food you think has that taste, and press Enter. There are seven rounds. The first four have one loud taste; the last three are subtler.
How is my answer scored?
Out of 100 per round, in three parts:
- Shape, up to 60. Are the tastes in the same proportions as the target?
- Strength, up to 20. Is your food about as intense as the target?
- Rarity, up to 20. A bonus for a less obvious food. It only counts when the shape is close, so an obscure food that misses the shape earns very little.
The tiers are Mud, Leftovers, Hot Plate, Chef's Kiss and Golden Truffle.
Where do the taste numbers come from?
They are our own estimates. We wrote a taste profile and a rarity score for each food, using published sensory-panel research as reference points (see Credits). They are not laboratory measurements, they have not been verified by a professional taster, and reasonable people will disagree with some of them. If one looks wrong to you, tell us.
Why wasn't my food accepted?
The game only knows the foods on its list, around 1,300 so far. If it says "Buddy has never eaten that," the food isn't on the list yet. Small spelling mistakes are corrected: you'll see the suggested spelling and can press Enter again to accept it.
Why did a good answer score low?
Usually because one taste was off. After the reveal, "Taste by taste" shows each of the five tastes for the target and for your answer, side by side.
Is everyone playing the same shapes?
Not yet. At the moment each visit deals a fresh set of seven shapes.
Who is the pig?
That's Buddy. He starts in the pen. Every point you score moves him closer to the fancy kitchen, and 700 points gets him to the stove.
Is it free? Are there ads?
The game is free to play and currently shows no ads.
What do you do with my data?
The game runs in your browser. It has no accounts, sets no cookies, and does not send what you type to us. The details are on the Privacy page.
Should I use this to decide what to eat?
No. TasteBuddy is a game. It is not dietary, nutritional, allergy or medical advice, and some items on the list are ingredients or flavourings that are not meant to be eaten on their own.
How do I contact you?
Email hello@tastebuddy.dev.