Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 81 | 166 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 86 | 830 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 7 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 21 reviews sampled · 20 total reviews in window · weighted 14.6 up / 1.5 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (91)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
- 90
“Once Upon a Katamari is a triumphant return and exactly the game fans have been waiting for for 14 years. It’s the best entry in the series since the PlayStation 2 era, lovingly preserving everything that makes Katamari unique: addictive gameplay, absurd humor, and phenomenal music. Clever new features in the form of abilities and creative levels, thanks to time travel, brilliantly refresh the established formula. Although the game stumbles with its frustrating coin-collection requirement for progression and its half-baked, stand-alone multiplayer mode, these are just minor blemishes on an otherwise vibrantly colorful, joyful, and immensely satisfying ball of junk. ROLLIN, ROLLIN, ROLLIN WHAT!”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Once Upon a Katamari proves its worth as a mainline sequel and differentiates itself from other action-puzzlers with its irresistible game feel.Rolling the katamari and sticking things to its surface with a satisfying pop is a continuous, sensory delight not dissimilar to vacuuming up gems in Vampire Survivors. Refined controls and the introduction of power-ups like the Magnet simply enhance this core experience, making for a deeply satisfying roll-'em-up.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Even though “Once Upon A Katamari” feels a bit too focused on collecting everything and filling the gaps with a lackluster multiplayer mode, it still is Katamari at its core. Its packed with good gags and its gameplay is just as good as it was over 20 years ago.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Once Upon A Katamari goes back to the good old days of PS2 weird-ass puzzle gaming where ideas were kept simple. With a fresh take on levels -now dished out in different eras- and a slew of new mechanics like power-ups and different ball types, this Katamari-type game is still a joy to play through from start to finish. Plus, there are multiplayer competitive modes that help lengthen the title's replay value if you're done with the many, many single player challenges.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Simply put, Once Upon a Katamari is exactly what fans of the franchise have been waiting for - pure, joyful fun wrapped in adorable design, catchy music, and an adventure that’ll keep a smile on your face the entire time.”
read full review ↗ - 83
“Mixing together a pretty simple concept, silly characters, plenty of variety from all through history, and some trademark quirk”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The base game is $40 and can take you anywhere from 5 to 15 hours to beat. If you’re a fan of the series, it will be a must-buy for you. If you want to get into the series, or just really love good music, you’re going to want to check it out as well. I just personally wasn’t a fan of the controls or the stress induced from the timer.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Once Upon a Katamari delivers a chaotic, joyful experience, proving that simple ideas in a vibrant, creative world can be incredibly fun. The game doesn’t aim for realism but celebrates the madness and chaos that have defined the series from the start, offering a unique experience that reminds us games can be simply fun, wild, and charming all at once.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Ultimately, Once Upon a Katamari is a new Katamari, with some very nice new features but without any choices that significantly alter the experience. Whether that's good or bad depends on your opinion of the previous games. For me, it's good. It's not a lazy sequel, but it might seem that way if you're not a fan of the series. The team's desire to create something special can be seen in the variety of stages, the attempts to create new gimmicks to accompany the classic levels, and the soundtrack. In fact, the new tracks in Once Upon a Katamari are beautiful and perfectly maintain the style I've become accustomed to from the old games. Once Upon a Katamari is another Katamari, for better or worse. New gimmicks enrich the experience for fans of the saga, and the new songs are delightful, but the experience is very faithful to Katamari Damacy. Personally, I've always been a fan of the saga, and Once Upon a Katamari was exactly what was needed after a fourteen-year hiatus.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you can get past Once Upon A Katamari's sticky controls and a general sense of deja vu, the many time periods, customizable cousins, unique challenges, and features make even a decades-old formula feel fresh again.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Much like the remasters before it, Once Upon a Katamari is a great reminder that there's still nothing quite like this series, and it feels as fresh today as it did with Keita Takahashi's original over two decades ago.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- Once Upon A KATAMARI – Ver.1.1.0 UpdatesMar 5, 2026