For those unfortunate gamers who’ve never rolled a katamari ball in their life, first of all, I’m sorry for your loss, but here’s a brief overview what you’re missing out on. You begin as a tiny ball in a sandbox stage filled to the brim with wacky objects and civilians, all suited to the particular theme of course. The goal is to roll over as much stuff as possible, gradually growing large enough to overcome towering trees, buildings, and even perhaps reaching the very heavens. This same simple concept is alive and well in Once Upon a Katamari, practically unchanged from Katamari Damacy. No matter how wacky the games get, the gameplay loop has stayed true to its origins, and that’s one thing I continue to appreciate with the latest entry.

"If there’s one thing the game refuses to innovate or iterate on, it’s the storytelling."

The story and presentation is also practically 1 for 1 from the first game, with some small differences. One stellar misfire, and everything goes sideways. It’s up to the pint-sized Prince to restore the fabric of time by going through a bunch of different eras and, you guessed it, rolling up everything in sight. A set of simple cutscenes highlight the Queen’s journey through time. It’s all wonderfully zany and charming in that classic Katamari fashion. If there’s one thing the game refuses to innovate or iterate on, it’s the storytelling.

The main distinction setting this entry apart from the rest is the level variety and sheer wealth of content. This might be one of the most jam-packed games in the series, but it also spreads itself evenly with great variety. While previous games took place in various locations within a vaguely 1990s Japan, this one explores nine different time periods across various continents. I’ve always wondered what shenanigans a Katamari game set in America’s wild west or ancient Greece could bring and, well, now I know.

One stage put me aboard a pirate ship at sea, moments before a rival ghostly ship appeared and boarded us. I eventually rolled up enough sabres and barrels to collect both crews, but I almost didn’t want to interrupt their fighting. Set-piece moments like this spice up the traditional gameplay and make levels feel more dynamic and unpredictable. The game’s theming even ties into objectives, giving each stage its own mini-narrative. Rolling up a boy until he was large enough to wear samurai armor had me laughing the whole way through. Instead of a katamari ball, you roll as the boy, picking up katanas and sweets as he bulks up. It’s such a unique level idea only a Katamari game could deliver, and this game has plenty like this.

Another thing I adore is how each of the nine eras has its own distinct overworld that contains the stages. Seeing how all the different objects, animals, and people begin to populate each overworld as you complete levels gives a fun sense of progression, even if it’s mostly cosmetic. Your space ship contains all your collectables and customization content, acting as the actual hub of the game. You can even decorate the ship’s upper floor with themes from the eras you’ve visited.

"While previous games took place in various locations within a vaguely 1990s Japan, this one explores nine different time periods across various continents."

It’s also aboard your spaceship abode where the online multiplayer component of the game gets unlocked. Unfortunately, this is a disappointing area—not just because it takes quite a while to access (well into three eras of levels), but because there are no real local multiplayer options. A second player can control the same katamari as Player 1, but that’s about it. KatamariBall is the lone multiplayer mode and it’s actually fun despite the limitations: four players compete to build the biggest katamari, with larger players knocking objects off opponents before tallying their haul under a moving spaceship. Rewards include special katamari patterns, but they can only be used in this mode. It’s a hectic, competitive mode that rewards map knowledge and mechanical skill, but the lack of local multiplayer and the long wait to even access it is a misstep.

Speaking of missteps, KatamariBall is the only place I noticed framerate stutter. There are noticeable drops during matches, presumably from all four players rolling up objects at once. The game isn’t a big graphical leap from past entries, so the performance hiccups are inexcusable, especially on powerful consoles. I’m not knocking the graphics, by the way.

"KatamariBall is a hectic, competitive mode that rewards map knowledge and mechanical skill, but it’s the only time I experienced lag and takes a while to unlock."

The art style remains the same polygonal, blocky, charming Katamari aesthetic that fans loved about the first game. This is a great boon for the game since it allows the chaos to be easily visible and understood at a glance. The rigid sharp lines on objects make it easy to know you’re looking at a Cousin, a Crown, or just another goofy object ready for rolling. I also find it easier than ever to discern whether an object is ‘rollable’ or not based on its relative size. And with this game’s nine distinct eras chalk-full of themed objects across time and space, that traditional art style is put to excellent use. There’s more unique objects to roll up than ever before, whether they be Egyptian-themed or from the wild west.

The music is pure Katamari goodness as well. I’ve been hooked on the series’ soundtracks since Lonely Rolling Star, and this game delivers another stellar set. With 30+ new tracks across wildly different genres, it’s one of the strongest musical lineups yet. “Skyscraper” is a wildly creative track using dance-pop as its base to jump between glitch-like instrumentation and fun vocals. Other tracks are more jazzy or rock-based, but there’s some that channel that optimistic Lonely Rolling Star energy without feeling too derivative. Each of the overworlds has its own theme, though these are much more laid back instrumental tracks. As a music nut and Katamari fan, I couldn’t be happier. It might be my soundtrack of the year, and more importantly, it’s unmistakably Katamari.

Even after trying the new game, I struggle to name the entry with the best levels. If I had a katamari ball rolling straight for my head, I’d say We Love Katamari or Katamari Forever. But in terms of sheer quantity and variety, Once Upon a Katamari beats them all. And unlike Katamari Forever, near-flawless though it is, there isn’t a single recycled classic level—not even an homage. It’s all brand-new material (aside from returning Cousins and the King’s constant snark). That alone makes this entry feel substantial. Fans get everything from cramped bedrooms to massive open areas where skyscrapers and entire islands are yours to roll up. The difficulty curve feels more approachable, too, without sacrificing challenge. Like recent remasters, you can use traditional tank-style controls or a modern control scheme. I stick with the classic controls due to habit, but newcomers will find the updated setup intuitive.

Unfortunately, getting interrupted by NPC dialogues while rolling can be quite counter-intuitive. When you open a new room or collect a cousin, the text appears right in the middle of the screen, blocking your visibility. You can skip through it, but only with the advance button, which is annoying during fast, time-sensitive runs. You also can’t change text speed, and auto-progression makes it easy to miss entire paragraphs if you’re trying to speed text up. Ugh, two steps forward, one step back I suppose.

By contrast, the level design is more intuitive than past entries. There are still no objective markers (thankfully), but strong theming and gameplay-linked objectives make navigation organic in a way older entries didn’t. A certain ability item actually does kind of function as an POI marker. The sonar item pings the general direction of Crowns and other objects of interest, while the new magnet ability item gravitates all nearby objects that are small enough to be glued to your katamari ball.

"Seeing how all the different objects, animals, and people begin to populate each overworld as you complete levels gives a fun sense of progression."

There’s also more to collect than any other game in the series: three crowns per stage, cousins, presents, S-ranks, and optional challenges. Going for those targets adds a satisfying difficulty spike. The intuitive design and helpful items don’t make things cupcake easy though—they just make them more fair and fun.

But the game is missing one thing I really appreciated in earlier entries: endless mode (or eternal mode as it’s called in some titles). There’s something cathartic about mastering a stage and then freely rolling through it with no timer stressing you out. Most games limited this feature to a few levels, but Beautiful Katamari on Xbox 360 let players unlock endless mode for every stage. Considering how many objectives and crowns there are here, it’s a missed opportunity not to include any endless stages. Costume rewards are fun, but being able to roll my favorite stages with no timer would make for a more gameplay-oriented prize.

Once Upon a Katamari really impressed me. I didn’t expect to get so much brand new content across such varied stages. And with that classic Katamari charm worn on its sleave in such an unapologetic way, it’s just an irresistible package (and it’s half the price of Nintendo’s premium titles too). Despite some performance issues in multiplayer and the surprising absence of endless mode, it captures everything that makes Katamari special and delivers it with a fresh, inventive twist. For longtime fans, it’s a triumphant comeback well worth the 14 year wait. And for newcomers, it’s the most intuitive and welcome experience yet .

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Ghost of Yōtei

Easily the biggest game of the month, and certainly a contender for Game of the Year, but that’s to be expected. Sucker Punch Productions’ skill for creating engaging open worlds is on full display once more as Atsu scours Ezo for revenge against the Yōtei Six. There’s more variety and less repetition, while the combat system has been expanded to include more weapons, fresh mechanics like disarming enemies (and throwing weapons into their imminent carcasses), and a wolf that occasionally helps out. In a year where Sony desperately needs some PS5 exclusives, Ghost of Yōtei looks to be an incredible showcase for the console when it launches on October 2nd.

Battlefield 6

About four years ago, the Battlefield franchise suffered a slump that few thought it could ever recover from. But here we are with Battlefield 6, a combined effort between DICE, Ripple Effect, Criterion and Motive Studio, which could take the series to new heights of success. The return of an epic globe-hopping campaign is already fantastic, but even the multiplayer with its Classes, weapon feel, and grounded atmosphere has us excited. Even Portal and the new Battle Royale don’t look too shabby. Launching on October 10th, Battlefield 6 will be available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Game Freak’s latest Pokémon title also marks the series’ debut on Nintendo Switch 2 alongside the original Switch, but it goes even further by taking place in a single city. As a new trainer in Lumiose City, it’s your job to investigate the strange outbreak of Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon while having their wish granted in the Z-A Royale. Between new Pokémon and Mega Evolutions, a free-for-all competitive mode called Battle Club, and much more, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is certainly shaping up well. It’s out on October 16th for Switch 1 and 2.

The Outer Worlds 2

For a game that goes “bigger and deeper” than the original, with an overhaul to Skills and Flaws alongside much larger planets and a third-person perspective, The Outer Worlds 2 certainly feels like the underdog heading into October. Maybe it’s the sheer range of other big-name sequels to look forward to, but the new, more-serious story (which still packs moments of dark levity) looks intriguing, and there’s plenty of room for more niche playstyles. Whether you’re a team player or a solo operative intent on killing all NPCs, The Outer Worlds 2 could satisfy that role-playing fix when it launches on October 29th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger

Seven years after Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory, a new entry in the Digimon Story is finally upon us with Time Stranger. Launching on October 3rd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, it was actually announced way back in December 2017 and offers a brand new story with time travel elements. Following an incident that would change the world, the player, as part of a mysterious organization, ventures back in time to try to prevent it. On top of over 450 Digimon to collect, players travel to Illiad in the Digimon World and attempt to unravel what’s going on. Will it end up overshadowed by Pokémon Legends: Z-A or stand out all the more? We’ll find out in the coming days.

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy has returned, and thankfully, it isn’t part of a compilation that’s available only for a limited time. This time, Nintendo Switch players can experience each title in the series for $39.99 separately or for $69.99 in a bundle. Switch 2 owners can play both games at 4K courtesy of a free update, and there are new features like more Storybook Chapters, amiibo support and Assist Mode. These are more like re-releases than remasters, but if you’ve ever wanted to play two of the best 3D platformers ever made, they may be worth checking out on October 2nd.

ARC Raiders

As if it isn’t competing for time with all the other big releases, Embark Studios’ ARC Raiders is sandwiched between two triple-A shooters (with Battlefield this month and Call of Duty in the next). Nevertheless, if the response has proven anything, it’s that it may very well hold its own. Launching with four maps with different conditions and challenging foes, the extraction shooter packs Embark’s sleek shooting with a distinct post-apocalyptic atmosphere. Between mastering different skills, competing quests, taking a shot at the leaderboards, or trying to understand the world as a whole, ARC Raiders promises a lot, and we can’t wait to dive in when it launches on October 30th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Little Nightmares 3

The heavyweight survival horror titles are already out, but there’s still Little Nightmares 3 to look forward to ahead of Halloween. Set in The Spiral, the story follows Low and Alone as they attempt to escape its hellish landscape. Between towering monsters, sentient puppets, and other horrors, it’s a tall task, but each packs unique tools like arrows and a wrench for puzzle-solving and self defense. And while couch co-op isn’t supported, there is a Friends Pass, meaning another player can join in without owning the game. All the better to spread the terror when Little Nightmares 3 launches on October 10th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

Keeper

You never truly guess what Double Fine Productions will pump out next, and Keeper, out on October 17th for Xbox Series X/S and PC, is truly unique. You control, of all things, a sentient lighthouse that ventures across the world to learn more about its purpose. Between encountering other strange entities in a wordless narrative and the trippy visuals, it’s certainly shaping up to be an adventure unlike any other.

Jurassic World Evolution 3

You kind of know what you’re getting with any Frontier Developments management sim, and Jurassic Park Evolution 3 is no exception. The usual campaign, sandbox and challenge modes return, but there are over 80 species, each with variants (including juvenile dinosaurs), and more complex creation tools to embrace alongside new attractions. Couple this with new locations, and there’s plenty to look forward to when it launches on October 21st for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Ninja Gaiden 4

One of the gold standards for incredible hack and slash action-adventures, Ninja Gaiden, is finally getting a new mainline title on October 21st for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC. Ninja Gaiden 4 follows Yakumo of the Raven Clan as he ventures to the remains of Tokyo to slay the Dark Dragon. The Order isn’t having it, though, and neither is series mainstay, Ryu Hayabusa (who’s also playable), leading to some bloody battles. While possessing an array of armaments, Yakumo also has Bloodraven Form to modify his attacks and even unleash Bloodbath Kills to maim several foes at once. Promising accessibility via Hero Mode and hardcore challenge courtesy of Master Ninja difficulty, Ninja Gaiden 4 could be the most epic title in the series yet.

Kingmakers

What happens when modern soldiers are sent back in time to fight medieval battles containing hundreds of units? You get Kingmakers, with its unique mix of third-person shooting, extensive military equipment and base-building, launching on October 8th for PC. When you’re not engaging in the battle, you can take an overhead view and command units. All this and co-op for up to four players? If nothing else, it looks like a fun bit of controlled chaos.

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault

Nothing can stop a good merchant, especially one like Will, who ventures into dungeons to collect the wares himself. Moonlighter 2 directly follows the first game’s events, as you venture into The Endless Vault, collect valuable artifacts, and sell them in your store. The profits can be used to upgrade the town of Tresna, your own shop and even equipment to delve deeper into the dungeons for more profitable finds. With a jump to full 3D and new mechanics – like using your own backpack as a weapon – there’s plenty to look forward to when Moonlighter 2 launches in Steam Early Access on October 23rd.

Double Dragon Revive

The classic side-scrolling beat ’em up franchise returns courtesy of Arc System Works and Yuke’s when Double Dragon Revive launches on October 23rd for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC. Alongside Story Mode with support for up to four playable characters, there’s Extra Mode with more than 50 mission types and a uniquely separate story across multiple unlockable episodes. Between this and Absolum, it’s a great month for beat ’em up fans.

Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted

After botching Battle for Neighborville and Plants vs. Zombies 3, PopCap Games is going back to the drawing board. Or more specifically, to the first garden in Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, an HD version of the tower defense that started it all. Fortunately, there’s a lot to justify that $20 purchase, from a new hardcore mode to the more forgiving but still challenging Cloudy Day Mode. You can even compete in local PvP as the zombies or defend together in co-op. Replanted launches on October 23rd for Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 1 and 2.

Tormented Souls 2

The original Tormented Souls didn’t push any boundaries, but for a title inspired by old-school Resident Evil, it wasn’t half-bad. Tormented Souls 2, out on October 23rd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, continues the story of Caroline as she ventures to a mysterious yet sinister new location. While you’ll be shifting between realities, solving puzzles and fighting off new enemies, tank controls are still in effect, and you won’t have unlimited saves, just like the survival horror games of yesteryears, but you can enable assist mode.

Once Upon A Katamari

A new Katamari title that isn’t a remaster? Somehow, it’s true as Once Upon A Katamari launches on October 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. The Prince is once again tasked with fixing the sky after The King of All Cosmos destroys it yet again, and this time, you’re venturing through time, rolling up the Ice Age and other notable eras. With character customization, new tools and KatamariBall, a new four-player competitive mode, the good times may indeed be ready to roll.

Dispatch

What happens when Mecha Man no longer has his mech suit to fight crime? He does the next best thing, taking on a job as a superhero dispatcher. That’s only the start of Robert Robertson’s ordeals, however, as he works with ex-supervillains, dispatching them to different locations with unique consequences. Between unlocking new abilities and managing their various personality quirks, Dispatch is a unique mix of narrative adventure and hero strategy with a strong cast. The first two episodes debut on October 22nd, followed by the next two on October 29th for PS5 and PC, with the final four out in November.

Wreckreation

I’ll admit to being somewhat disappointed with Bugbear’s Wreckfest 2 (which has seen several updates after launching in early access), but Wreckreation, developed by the team behind Dangerous Driving, could fill that void. It’s out on October 28th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and introduces the 400 square kilometer sandbox that is MixWorld, which you’re free to build up and wreck alone or with others. With extensive customization tools and plenty to discover, it’s an interesting proposition, and hopefully one with a lot of staying power.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection

Have you ever wanted a definitive collection of all classic Mortal Kombat titles? Yes, even Mythologies: Sub Zero and Special Forces? Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection could be the answer as it contains Mortal Kombat 1, 2, 3, 4, Trilogy and much more with multiple versions, online play with rollback netcode and instant access to all secret characters. You can explore the lore of the series and its characters, and learn more about the franchise’s development courtesy of new creator interviews. Launching on October 30th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, it could very well be a must-buy for any fighting game fan.

The trailer gives us a good glimpse at the kind of insanity that players can expect from Once Upon a Katamari, complete with its classic-styled gameplay that involves rolling up all objects in a level in order to re-populate the stars in the sky after the King of the Cosmos ended up destroying them once again. Gameplay will be quite similar to previous Katamari games, making use of both analogue sticks with a unique control scheme.

Once Upon a Katamari will also feature 69 cousins that players can take control of, as well as a multiplayer mode with support for up to four players online. The game also features new songs as part of its soundtrack that players will get to enjoy throughout their time with it.

Once Upon a Katamari is out on October 24, and while only a Nintendo Switch version has been currently confirmed, it might also eventually make its way to other platforms.