[Review] Once Upon a Katamari: A Time-Rolling Triumph
Note: The game is reviewed for the PlayStation 5 version.
The Royal Mess That Rolls Into History
The iconic ball-rolling action-adventure series is officially back! Once Upon a Katamari launches over a decade since the last new mainline console entry. The quirky charm, frantic gameplay, and unique sense of humor that fans adore all remain intact. This newest installment, developed by RENGAME and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, officially rolled out on October 24, 2025. It is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch. The premise is as delightfully absurd as ever. The mighty King of All Cosmos accidentally destroys the Earth’s starry sky while playing with a historical scroll. It falls to the diminutive Prince and his sticky Katamari ball to fix the mess. This time, the fix involves a trip through time itself.
A Wacky Trip Through Time
The core of the game remains the same: roll your Katamari ball to collect everything it touches. Starting with small objects like candies and pushpins, you must grow large enough to eventually collect buildings and even planets. This new entry is framed as a time-traveling adventure. The prince boards his spacecraft, the S.S. Prince, to visit diverse eras. Players will explore over 50 levels spread across nine distinct time periods. Destinations include historic Japan’s Edo period, the Ice Age, the American Wild West, and Ancient Greece. This chronological setting provides a wealth of fresh, period-appropriate items and detailed environments to roll through. The time travel theme gives the loose narrative a tighter framework.
Classic Formula, Modern Twists
Once Upon a Katamari maintains the signature rolling mechanics. It also introduces new elements to keep the experience fresh. Levels still focus on getting the largest ball possible within a time limit. However, there is a good variety of unique objectives. Some missions task you with collecting only specific item types, like drinks or dinosaurs. Others require you to quickly reach a certain size.
The game also introduces new Items that augment the rolling. When you roll over one of these, you can activate it. For instance, the Magnet attracts nearby objects. The Rocket gives you a temporary speed boost. The Timer briefly freezes the world. These power-ups are active for a short period, adding a layer of tactical planning to the chaotic rolling. Furthermore, a simplified one-stick control option is now available alongside the traditional, deliberately unconventional twin-stick controls.
Content, Customization, and Cosmic Sounds
The game is packed with content. In addition to the six-plus hour story mode, players can tackle multiple alternative objectives within each stage. There are also new collectibles: Crowns and King Tokens. Crowns unlock new stages. King Tokens can be used to purchase customization options.
A fun new feature is the character customization. You can now adjust the colors and faces of The Prince or any of the numerous silly cousins. You can even create and name custom cousins. The game also features a KatamariBall mode, a competitive four-player online multiplayer mode where players race to create the biggest Katamari.
Finally, the soundtrack stands as a powerful highlight. It offers a fresh blend of energetic J-pop and funk-jazz-fusion jams. The music perfectly captures the game’s unique vibe. The diverse soundscape instantly joins the ranks of the franchise’s musical giants.
The janky yet polished presentation, the witty writing, and the sheer joy of mass collection make Once Upon a Katamari a stellar new entry. It successfully threads the needle between honoring the original games and introducing meaningful novelties for players across the globe.
Final Verdict: An Essential Roll
Once Upon a Katamari is an easy recommendation. It is an essential purchase for both long-time fans and newcomers looking for a genuinely unique puzzle experience. This title is a joyous, frantic, and meditative chaos that fully recaptures the magic of the series’ PlayStation 2 originals.
The time-traveling theme is not merely a gimmick. It successfully fuels 50-plus levels with inventive objectives and highly memorable, period-specific environments. The new power-up Items, like the Magnet and Rocket, provide a fresh layer of tactical depth to the classic twin-stick rolling formula. Furthermore, the option of a simplified one-stick control scheme is a welcome addition, ensuring accessibility for a wider audience.
While a few stages may feel slightly restrictive, the overall experience is one of pure, unadulterated fun. The sheer volume of content, from character customization to the engaging KatamariBall multiplayer mode, makes this package an incredible value. Coupled with a characteristically excellent J-pop-inspired soundtrack, Once Upon a Katamari stands as a definitive modern entry. It manages to push the franchise forward without sacrificing any of its signature charm and absurdity across the globe.
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