Once Upon a Katamari Preview First Look at the Quirky Relaxing Game

Rolling Into Chaos and Fun with Katamari’s Next Big Adventure

Katamari has always been seen as a cult classic, but the series has gained fresh popularity since the release of Katamari Damacy Reroll. With its revamped art style and the adorable redesign of The Prince, the franchise captured the hearts of new fans while sparking events like pop-up cafes and merchandise sales in Japan. Now, the quirky world of Katamari is back once again, and this time it feels bigger, brighter, and bolder.

After two rounds of Reroll remakes and a recent Apple Arcade special, Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia has unveiled a brand-new mainline entry: Once Upon a Katamari. We had the chance to get hands-on with this relaxing yet chaotic game, and it is already shaping up to be one of the most memorable releases in the series.

In Once Upon a Katamari, players once again step into the tiny shoes of The Prince, tasked with rolling the magical Katamari ball to collect objects, living creatures, and eventually entire celestial bodies. The quirky humor of The King of All Cosmos returns, and chaos unfolds in every mission.

During the preview, we experienced three distinct stages: As Fast as Possible, Philosopher Hunt, and Rev Your Fryers. The first stays true to the series’ roots, with The King demanding a Katamari of a specific size, pushing players to roll objects quickly. The second stage takes place in ancient Greece, requiring players to gather philosophers, while the third is a food-themed challenge where you must collect only edible items, avoid dropping them, and end with your Katamari landing in a frying pan.

One of the highlights of this installment is its diverse settings across different time periods, including Edo-era Japan, ancient Greece, and the modern world. The Hub World has also been expanded, now separated by eras and allowing players to explore each hub with different Cousin characters. Customization plays a larger role too, letting you alter character colors, faces, and accessories.

Multiplayer makes a long-awaited return through Katamariball, a competitive mode where players aim to roll the largest Katamari while bumping into rivals. It supports both offline AI matches and upcoming online play, and even the AI opponents put up a fierce fight.

Despite new mechanics and fresh designs, the relaxing core of Katamari remains intact. Every object you collect comes with that satisfying rumble in the controller, while the humor, playful details, and deliberate chaos make it clear why this series has remained beloved. With this being the first fully next-gen Katamari entry, performance feels smooth and polished, adding to the charm of rolling endlessly.

Once Upon a Katamari launches worldwide on October 24 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. It will also appear at Tokyo Game Show with hands-on demos. Fans of quirky, relaxing, and endlessly fun gameplay will not want to miss this one.