Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and indulging in way too much food. But if video games have taught us anything, it’s that food isn’t just for eating—it’s for launching, hurling, and starting all-out brawls. Over the years, gaming has embraced the chaotic joy of food fights, turning meals into mayhem and dinner tables into battlegrounds. So, in the spirit of the season, let’s rank the most iconic food fights in gaming and see which ones would truly spice up your Thanksgiving dinner.

1. Overcooked! Series – The Ultimate Culinary Chaos

No list of gaming food fights would be complete without Overcooked!. This co-op cooking game isn’t about intentional food fights, but it might as well be, considering the chaos it unleashes. Players frantically chop, cook, and serve dishes under absurd conditions—like moving platforms, fiery obstacles, and kitchens split across rivers.

Inevitably, the stress of preparing meals under a timer leads to shouting, flung ingredients, and accusations like, “Who set the soup on fire?!” It’s the closest thing to a Thanksgiving dinner gone wrong, and it’s all in good fun. If you’ve ever wanted to weaponize a tomato against your best friend, Overcooked! is your chance.

2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Food-Themed Tracks and Chaos

While not a traditional food fight, the Mario Kart series deserves a spot for its iconic food-themed tracks, like Sweet Sweet Canyon and Cheeseland. Driving through candy-coated landscapes or cheesy terrain while dodging banana peels and shells feels like the gaming equivalent of trying to navigate a crowded Thanksgiving buffet line.

The chaos peaks when players start using items like mushrooms and bombs to sabotage their opponents, creating a competitive frenzy that feels oddly reminiscent of fighting over the last slice of pie. Sure, it’s not technically a food fight, but it delivers the same level of delicious pandemonium.

3. Food Fight (1983) – The Original Culinary Clash

Food Fight may be one of the earliest examples of turning meals into weapons. In this classic arcade game, players control a chef named Charley Chuck, who hurls pies and other food items at enemies while trying to eat an ice cream cone before it melts.

The simplicity of the gameplay doesn’t diminish its charm. Chuck’s frantic pie-throwing is as satisfying today as it was in the ‘80s, and it’s easy to see how this game paved the way for more elaborate food-based chaos in modern gaming.

4. Fortnite – The Food Fight Event

Leave it to Fortnite to turn food fights into a full-blown battle royale. In its limited-time Food Fight mode, players are divided into teams representing either the Durr Burger or Tomatohead factions. The goal? Protect your mascot while attacking the opposing team’s base with all the zany weapons Fortnite is known for.

The mode’s over-the-top silliness, combined with the sheer joy of battling under a giant burger mascot, makes it a standout Thanksgiving-like brawl. It’s like watching two families argue over turkey leftovers, only with more RPGs and skybridges.

5. The Sims 4 – HarvestFest and Dinner Drama

The Sims 4 isn’t a game you’d associate with food fights, but if you’ve ever played during the HarvestFest event, you know how quickly things can spiral. Sims attempting to host Thanksgiving-like dinners often find themselves in hilariously chaotic situations: turkeys burning in the oven, gnomes demanding tribute, and guests flipping tables over bad etiquette.

While there isn’t a designated “throw food” option, the passive-aggressive drama that unfolds during these meals feels like the spiritual equivalent of a food fight. It’s not about the mess; it’s about the chaos—and The Sims 4 delivers.

6. Splatoon 2 – The Ketchup vs. Mayonnaise Splatfest

Technically, this Splatoon 2 event isn’t a food fight, but it captures the essence of one. During the Ketchup vs. Mayonnaise Splatfest, players chose a condiment allegiance and battled it out in ink-based turf wars.

The stakes were hilariously low (does anyone really care if ketchup is superior to mayo?), but the commitment to turning a culinary debate into a literal battleground earns Splatoon 2 a spot on this list. It’s messy, nonsensical, and exactly the kind of fun you’d expect from a Thanksgiving-inspired food throwdown.

7. Kirby’s Dream Buffet – A Sweet Brawl

Kirby’s Dream Buffet takes food fights to a whole new level by turning its protagonist into an adorable, rolling gourmand. Players compete to eat as much food as possible while racing through dessert-filled courses, all while shoving, bumping, and sabotaging their opponents.

The game is less about throwing food and more about consuming it, but the competitive spirit of trying to out-eat and outmaneuver your rivals feels right at home in this list. It’s the gaming equivalent of fighting over who gets the biggest slice of pumpkin pie.

8. Dead Rising 3 – Food as Weapons

The Dead Rising series is all about creative ways to fight zombies, and food often doubles as a weapon of opportunity. In Dead Rising 3, you can hurl everything from plates of spaghetti to frozen turkeys at the undead hordes.

While it’s less about food fights and more about survival, the absurdity of fending off zombies with a baguette or a pumpkin pie is too good to ignore. It’s not Thanksgiving dinner—it’s Thanksgiving defense.

9. Battle Chef Brigade – Culinary Combat

Battle Chef Brigade turns cooking into a competitive sport. Players hunt for ingredients, battle monsters, and create elaborate dishes to impress judges. The competitive nature of the game, combined with its focus on food, makes it feel like a gourmet food fight.

While you won’t be hurling mashed potatoes at your rivals, the game’s fast-paced blend of action and cooking challenges delivers a sense of culinary chaos that belongs on this list.

10. Pac-Man – The OG Food Enthusiast

Okay, so Pac-Man isn’t a food fight game, but hear me out: Pac-Man’s endless quest to gobble up dots and avoid ghosts is the original battle for sustenance. If you’ve ever wrestled with someone for the last dinner roll, you know the energy is the same.

Pac-Man’s determination to eat everything in sight makes him an honorary member of any Thanksgiving throwdown. Add a turkey leg to one of those power-ups, and you’ve got yourself a holiday classic.

Conclusion: A Feast of Fun

Video games have a knack for turning ordinary activities into absurd adventures, and food fights are no exception. Whether you’re flinging pies in Food Fight, sabotaging your friends in Overcooked!, or defending your ketchup-loving honor in Splatoon 2, gaming has found endless ways to turn meals into mayhem.

So this Thanksgiving, after you’ve had your fill of turkey and stuffing, consider diving into one of these culinary clashes. They’re messy, chaotic, and guaranteed to bring more laughs than your average family dinner. Just be careful—digital food fights might inspire some real-life ones over the dessert table.