- Publisher: Bandai Namco Games
- Release Date: Oct 24, 2025
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X
- Summary:
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- Developer: Bandai Namco Games, RENGAME
- Genre(s): Action, Action Adventure, General, Platformer, 3D
- # of players: Up to 4
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
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Positive: 7 out of 9
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Mixed: 2 out of 9
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Negative: 0 out of 9
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Nov 3, 2025Once Upon a Katamari is a worthy successor to the series. All the cheerful whimsy of the original games has been preserved. The abundance of levels and collectibles, the challenging yet excellent controls, the infectious music, colorful visuals, and humorous little stories can’t help but put a smile on your face.
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Oct 22, 2025I love that Katamari has not one but two new games in 2025 after more than a decade of remakes and little hope. It’s even better that the one on Nintendo Switch feels like the third game in a trilogy with the two original PS2 games (that are also available in HD remaster form on Switch). Once Upon a Katamari is a full-fledged fresh entry in a series that hasn’t had this kind of shot in the arm since HDTVs were a thing. Here’s hoping we get a more consistent drip of Katamari following this charming entry that largely understands why the first one was such a cult hit.
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Oct 28, 2025Once Upon a Katamari proves its worth as a mainline sequel and differentiates itself from other action-puzzlers with its irresistible game feel. Rolling the katamari and sticking things to its surface with a satisfying pop is a continuous, sensory delight not dissimilar to vacuuming up gems in Vampire Survivors. Refined controls and the introduction of power-ups like the Magnet simply enhance this core experience, making for a deeply satisfying roll-’em-up.
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Nov 4, 2025For what it’s worth, Once Upon a Katamari feels most similar in tone to Katamari Damacy and We Love Katamari. It doesn’t try to reinvent the formula, but it never needed to. The unadulterated joy of rolling a ball and collecting random stuff in a level never gets old. Being able to play it in both TV and handheld modes is a bonus, and the soundtrack slaps. Once Upon a Katamari is a perfect blend of humour, whimsy, silliness, and most importantly, fun.
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Nov 5, 2025Once Upon a Katamari does a marvelous job at delievering a modern Katamari experience, improving where it needed while keeping the beloved series' soul intact. The new levels are a wonder to explore, while the bulk of the gameplay remains fun and delightful at all times, and with the addition of new power-ups it feels even more rewarding. Everything is nicely wrapped up by the game's audiovisual component, that delivers us yet another gorgeous Katamari package of absurd chaos and fun.
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Nov 14, 2025Once Upon a Katamari is a love letter to all the other games, for a game that doesn't always love you back. If there's ever been a time you wanted to shut a king up, it's here. There's still a sprinkle of happiness to roll over any and everything, but my Katamari may be getting a little flat.
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Oct 22, 2025Once Upon a KATAMARI is still really fun, but it doesn’t quite live up to the dream of what I wanted a new Katamari game to be. The developers clearly put a lot of thought into how they could mix up the series’ formula, and they did a great job of putting players in new situations, but too often, I just found myself wishing for more of the old style of stages. Still, if you’ve already played the earlier games in the series and want more, you’ll have a good time with Once Upon a KATAMARI.