Once Upon A Katamari Brings Rolling Gameplay Back After 14 Years

The legendary Katamari franchise rolled back into action after 14 years. Bandai Namco released Once Upon a Katamari on October 24, 2025, the first mainline entry in the beloved series since 2011's Katamari Forever. Developed by RENGAME, the game launched on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam in Standard and Deluxe (King of All Sounds) Editions.

This marks the franchise's triumphant return to home consoles after years of mobile spin-offs and the remastered Katamari Damacy Reroll. The new installment delivers a full-fledged experience that honors the series' quirky legacy while introducing fresh elements and time-traveling gameplay.

Time-Traveling Katamari Gameplay

The game continues the franchise's signature gameplay loop where players roll adhesive balls across vibrant environments, collecting increasingly larger objects to grow their katamari. From paperclips and candy to cars and buildings, the escalating scale of collectibles remains the series' trademark appeal.

What sets Once Upon a Katamari apart is its time-travel narrative. The story follows a time-displaced Prince who must restore the starry sky by rolling through different historical eras. This framework showcases diverse environments including:

• The Jurassic Period
• The Ice Age
• Historic Japan
• And more era-appropriate settings

Each location features objects specific to its time period, adding variety to the collection gameplay.

New Mechanics and Power-Ups

Once Upon a Katamari introduces several new mechanics to enhance the rolling experience:

• Rocket: Propels the katamari to new speeds
• Magnet: Attracts surrounding objects automatically
• Timer: Allows the Prince to briefly stop time

These power-ups add strategic depth to the classic formula while maintaining the accessible gameplay the series is known for.

68 Playable Characters

Beyond the Prince, players can unlock, play as, and customize up to 68 quirky cousins through normal progression. All characters can be customized with different colors and facial features, offering substantial variety for collectors.

KatamariBall: 4-Player Multiplayer

A new four-player competitive mode called KatamariBall challenges players to roll the katamari as large as possible and exchange it for points within a limited time. The mode supports both online multiplayer and offline play against CPU opponents, bringing competitive chaos to the Katamari formula.

Reception

Once Upon a Katamari was officially announced during the Nintendo Direct on July 31, 2025, following a trademark filing in February 2025 that sparked industry speculation. With its distinctive art style, infectious soundtrack, and addictive gameplay loop intact, the game aims to reintroduce the franchise's magic to longtime fans while welcoming newcomers.

Game Information

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