Once Upon a Katamari
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About Once Upon a Katamari
Once Upon a Katamari is a puzzle adventure game developed by Rengame and published by Bandai Namco. It drops you into a Katamari that rolls through time, collecting objects to rebuild the starry sky. Set across four distinct eras, Jurassic Period, Ice Age, historic Japan, and more, the game blends quick reflexes with whimsical world-building. Released on October 24, 2025, it’s available on PC, Xbox, PS5, and Switch. Single-player and co-op modes let you tackle levels solo or with a friend. The core loop of gathering items to grow your Katamari remains intact, but new mechanics like time-specific physics add variety. Think of it as the Katamari series’ latest twist: a chaotic, nostalgic romp through history with a focus on speed and scale.
Gameplay
You control a Katamari that rolls, jumps, and spins to collect objects. Each era has unique physics: dinosaurs bounce unpredictably, Ice Age items slide, and feudal Japan’s terrain is littered with samurai gear. The controls are tight, with a sticky feel to the roll-and-gather mechanic. You start tiny, absorbing pebbles, then grow to swallow cars or castles. Multiplayer adds a second Katamari, but collisions can derail progress. Levels have time limits, so strategy matters, prioritize big pickups over small ones to grow faster. The camera zooms out during rapid growth, creating a surreal, cinematic effect. Mini-games like dodging obstacles or racing against another Katamari keep things varied. The challenge ramps up as objects become harder to reach, but the physics-based chaos is satisfying in its own way.
What Players Think
PlayPile community ratings give it 8.2/10, matching Metacritic’s 85. Average playtime is 12 hours, with 72% completing the main story. Players praise the colorful environments but note the campaign’s brevity. Achievement completion stands at 84% for 30 total, mostly tied to size thresholds and co-op challenges. Moods are split: 65% “joyful,” 25% “whimsical,” and 10% “frustrated” over physics glitches. One user wrote, “The Ice Age level is a masterpiece of slippery absurdity.” Critics highlight the game’s “nostalgic charm” but question its $39.99 price for a short campaign. Despite mixed reactions, 82% of players would return for DLC eras.
PlayPile's Take
Once Upon a Katamari is a solid entry for fans of the series but won’t convert newcomers. The $39.99 price feels steep for 12 hours of gameplay, though the multiplayer mode adds replay value. If you enjoyed the original Katamari Damacy’s blend of absurdity and precision, this sequel’s era-specific twists and tight controls make it worth a purchase. Skip it if you prefer deeper narratives or longer campaigns. The achievement list is generous but not essential for most players. This is a pick-up-and-play title best experienced in short bursts, perfect for a rainy afternoon, but not a long-term commitment.
Game Modes
Single player, Multiplayer
IGDB Rating
79.0
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Buzzing on Bluesky
Miss Jackie ☕✨Coffee Cat Vtuber
@missjackiecr.bsky.social
It's time for "miss jackie yaps about something no one cares about" Once Upon a Katamari is a....frustrating game but not in the way you'd expect, possibly. I love it, but I have so many GRIPES about it.
frey 🏳️⚧️ 🔜AnimeCon, DoKomi
@freydraws.bsky.social
still criminal that one of the best songs in once upon a katamari plays on the easiest and shortest stage in the game so you dont even get to hear it in full wth anyway ice cube soul ily
Ash
@santanaelchan.bsky.social
16. Once Upon a Katamari One of the best games in the series since the PS2 era. I do agree with the common criticism that the amount of Feudal Japan levels heavily outweighs the levels of other eras, but I found the game as a whole very endearing and fun throughout. The music is incredible as usual
Gaj
@gajknight.bsky.social
Finished RE9 and got the plat. Capcom is on a generational run. Also beat or cleaned up trophies for the following: Dragons in Space Dark Souls Remastered Just Cause 3 Venba A game about digging a hole Mystic pillars Currently playing Once upon a Katamari. Also ✌️ your mum
StellarGwynn
@gwynnstellar.bsky.social
Been in the mood to play some Katamari Damacy, but the new category game was on sale so I got it and I’m gonna play that instead. Once upon a katamari. Might play something else too!! Come chat!! Twitch.tv/stellargwynn #streamer #green #tgirl #trans
Ryan (Monsterdust)
@monsterdust.bsky.social
If you could only play 10 games for the rest of your life, which 10? Fallout TTW (I'm counting it as 1 game because I would never play vanilla FO3) Resident Evil 4 Remake Digimon World Dusk Digimon Story Time Stranger Once Upon a Katamari Balatro DeckTamer Elden Ring 7 Days To Die Kingdom Hearts 2
Bancha 🍂🆚
@bancha.positivt.space
Twas the night before the night before Christmas, and all trough the land, not a creature was stirring, minus the Prince and his little hand! Bandai has given me a code to give to YOU, so lets check out Once Upon a Katamari!!! LIVE NOW! Twitch.tv/BanchaVT #bandainamcocreator #ad
Null convention
@nullconvention.bsky.social
I feel like Once Upon a Katamari is a game I'll keep installed a while and just sort of play intermittently, pecking away at grabbing crowns and it'll make its way onto stream occasionally as a break. Once I finish the Invasion campaign on FG 2 I'll probably chill on it for quite a while.