Official Website Launch - Once Upon a KATAMARI
Once Upon A KATAMARI
Ultimate Player Hub & WIKI Database
Welcome to the world of Once Upon A KATAMARI! Travel through time, roll everything, and rebuild the cosmos.
Game Introduction
Game Overview
Once Upon A KATAMARI is the beloved Katamari series' first mainline console release in nearly fifteen years, developed by RENGAME and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Officially launched on October 24, 2025, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms. The game preserves the series' signature absurd humor and addictive core gameplay while injecting numerous fresh elements, earning praise from IGN and other major media outlets as "the best Katamari since the PS2 era."
In this installment, the flamboyant, tight-pants-wearing King of All Cosmos has once again accidentally destroyed the entire starry sky. To make amends, he dispatches his ever-dutiful son, the Prince, aboard a cosmic ship to travel through time. Players control the Prince, rolling the magical "katamari" through multiple historical periods from the Jurassic era and Ice Age to Japan's Edo period, sticking everything from small to large to ultimately roll up a massive ball and relight the night sky.
The core gameplay remains "rolling everything," perfectly preserving and elevating the satisfying sensation of rolling up nearby objects, animals, humans, and even buildings into a sphere. This title builds upon that foundation by introducing a new item system, such as the "Magnet" that attracts surrounding objects and the "Rocket" providing instant acceleration, adding more strategy and fun to level challenges. Additionally, the game features a new four-player online battle mode "KatamariBall," where players can compete with opponents worldwide for the glory of rolling the biggest ball. With its unique art style, wildly imaginative storyline, and irresistible J-POP/jazz/funk soundtrack, this game offers a delightful and surprising psychedelic journey for both series veterans and newcomers.
Game Information
| Developer | RENGAME |
| Publisher | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| Genre | Action, Puzzle |
| Release Date | October 24, 2025 |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC (Steam) |
| Game Modes | Single Player, Multiplayer |
| Official Website | Bandai Namco Official Website |
| Store Pages | Xbox Store|PlayStation Store|Nintendo eShop|Steam |
| Main Community | Reddit r/katamari |
| PC Requirements | Please refer to Steam store page for latest information |
| Supported Languages | English, French, Spanish, etc. (Check platform store pages for specifics) |
Media Resources
Game Screenshots
The Prince pushing a massive katamari composed of countless city buildings and objects.
On streets full of Japanese Edo-period charm, the katamari rolls up samurai, lanterns, and houses together.
Massive dinosaurs run through prehistoric jungles while the tiny Prince starts rolling from a dinosaur egg.
The katamari activates the magnet item, attracting coins, candies, and other small objects with an invisible force.
Four differently dressed cousins compete intensely on the same map, each with katamari of different sizes.
The King of All Cosmos strikes his iconic exaggerated pose, humorously commenting on the Prince's performance.
In the icy landscape, the katamari picks up mammoths, ice blocks, and penguins, full of cool fun.
Showcasing multiple customized cousin characters with different colors and facial expressions.
Game Videos
Official Announcement Trailer
Experience the shocking debut of Once Upon A KATAMARI! The video quickly showcases the game's time-traveling core concept, classic rolling gameplay, and brand-new visuals, accompanied by an exciting theme song that instantly ignites veteran players' passion.
Gameplay Walkthrough
This video shows a complete level playthrough. Starting from a tiny object, watch how the katamari grows into something enormous, experiencing firsthand the unique satisfaction of the game's size transformation.
IGN Review
IGN gave this game a high score of 9. Through this review video, you can learn about professional editors' in-depth analysis of the game's innovations, music, humor, and overall experience, and why it's hailed as the series' best return.
Beginner's Guide Video
New to the Katamari series? This video will teach you basic controls, game objectives, and techniques for quickly growing your katamari early on, helping you smoothly begin this wonderful cosmic repair journey.
Strategy & Guides
Beginner's Guide
Welcome to the wonderful world of Once Upon A KATAMARI! Don't be intimidated by the King's nagging - this game is very simple to pick up:
๐ฏCore Objective:
Roll your katamari to the specified size within each level's time limit.
๐ฎBasic Controls:
Classic Twin-Stick:
Push both sticks forward to move forward, pull back to reverse. Like driving a tank, change direction by adjusting the two sticks differently. This is the most precise control method.
Simple Single-Stick:
This game introduces single-stick movement mode, more suitable for new players to quickly get started.
๐Rolling Rules:
Your katamari can only stick objects smaller than itself. Always watch the on-screen size indicators, start with small items, gradually accumulate to challenge larger targets.
๐ฐInitial Goals:
At the start, focus on small things on the ground like thumbtacks, coins, and food. Don't try to hit objects bigger than you - this will make you drop stuck items and waste time.
๐บ๏ธObservation & Planning:
Quickly scan the map and plan a route where you can continuously pick up objects. As you grow larger, previously inaccessible areas will unlock.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- I keep bumping into things and dropping items. What should I do?
- Slow down, especially in tight spaces. Prioritize open areas to build initial volume.
- I always run out of time. What should I do?
- Keep moving, don't circle the same spot repeatedly. Find item-dense areas to "harvest."
- What are "Cousins" and "Presents"?
- These are collectibles in levels. Cousins are unlockable playable characters, while Presents are customization decorations.
Advanced Strategies
Efficient Use of New Item System
๐งฒ Magnet:
Use before entering item-dense areas to instantly increase size, especially when needing to quickly break through size bottlenecks.
๐ Rocket:
For quickly traversing empty spaces, or when you need to rush from one end of the map to another to collect specific items.
โฑ๏ธ Stopwatch:
Use when facing many moving objects (like crowds, traffic) to calmly catch them all in one sweep.
๐ก Radar:
Mainly for finding hidden crowns and cousins. After clearing a level, use radar to complete collections.
๐ Crown Collection Tips
Crowns are important new collectibles in this game, usually hidden in tricky level corners.
- Phased Search: On first playthrough, focus on achieving size goals. After familiarizing with the map, do a second run specifically targeting crowns.
- Use Camera Angles: Frequently adjust camera angles to check high places, depressions, or behind large objects.
- Community Power: Check video guides or community discussions to learn about hidden locations other players have discovered.
โ๏ธ KatamariBall Battle Mode Tips
This isn't just about who rolls faster - it's a strategic competition.
- Early Avoidance: At game start, avoid conflicts with other players and focus on quickly building initial volume.
- "Saving" & "Delivery": Maps have ships as collection points. You need to deliver your rolled katamari to ships to exchange for points. Note that ships move positions.
- Disrupt Opponents: When you're big enough, you can ram smaller opponents to make them drop items. Time it right - harass opponents when they're about to "deliver" for maximum benefit.
๐ Strategy Links
- Katamaripedia WIKI: The most comprehensive English WIKI with detailed data on levels, items, and cousins - essential for hardcore players.
- IGN Reviews & Guides: IGN not only provides detailed reviews but usually also publishes key collectibles guides and gameplay tips.
- GameSpot Strategy Section: Well-known gaming media providing high-quality text guides and video walkthroughs.
- YouTube Full Playthrough (No Commentary): Great for reference when stuck, watch expert complete playthroughs directly.
- Reddit r/katamari Community: Player gathering place where you can find many discussions about hidden elements and high-score techniques.
WIKI / Database
๐ WIKI Framework Design
๐ Homepage
- โข Latest News
- โข Game Overview
- โข Beginner's Guide Entry
โ๏ธ Game Systems
- โข Basic Controls
- โข Items List
- โข KatamariBall Mode Details
๐บ๏ธ Level Guides
- โข Main Levels (By Era)
- - Jurassic Era
- - Ice Age
- - Edo Period
- โข Each level includes: Objectives, Time, Collectible Locations (Crowns/Cousins/Presents)
๐ Collectibles Encyclopedia
- โข Cousins
- โข Presents
- โข Crowns
- โข Item Collection
๐ฅ Characters
- โข The Prince
- โข The King of All Cosmos
- โข The Queen of All Cosmos
๐ต Music Soundtrack
- โข Track List
- โข Listen Links
๐ Example Content
Category: Cousins
| Avatar | Name | Description | How to Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
L | Lalala | Has what looks like a yellow pudding on her head, always smiling. She's one of the Prince's cousins and loves singing. | Found in the "Edo Period - Tidy It Up" level, roll her up. |
M | Marcy | Slender body wearing a rainbow-colored hat, moves very nimbly. | On top of a large tree in the "Jurassic Era - Dino-Roll" level. |
S | Miso | Body shaped like a red soup bowl, seemingly filled with miso soup, very cute. | Reward after completing all Edo Period main levels. |
Category: Items
| Icon | Name | Effect | Usage Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
๐งฒ | Magnet | When activated, automatically attracts nearby objects smaller than the katamari for 10 seconds. | Use in narrow but item-rich alleys to avoid missing items due to awkward controls. |
๐ | Rocket | When activated, the katamari performs a long-distance sprint forward. | Used to jump over obstacles or quickly travel from one end of the map to another. |
โฑ๏ธ | Stopwatch | When activated, all movable objects in the level (including time) pause for a few seconds. | Extremely effective against groups of moving targets (like athletes, schools of fish). |