Every Katamari Game, Ranked

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Key Takeaways

  • Katamari games are known for humor, brilliant soundtrack, and visuals.
  • Mobile titles like Katamari Amore and Tap My Katamari offer unique experiences but don’t always measure up.
  • We Love Katamari stands out as the best game in the series with added elements and creativity.

As a seasoned gamer with memories of rolling Katamari balls through countless cosmic stages, I must say that these games have been a delightful part of my gaming journey. From the humble beginnings of Katamari Damacy on PlayStation 2 to the visually enhanced Katamari Forever on PlayStation 3, each game in this series has offered a unique blend of quirky charm and addictive gameplay.

In a unique fashion, not many video games reflect the concept of “be yourself” as vividly as the Katamari series. Initially designed by Keita Takahashi, these unconventional action-puzzle games started as an obscure entry in the Japanese PlayStation 2 game collection. However, after the first game was translated, it unexpectedly gained popularity. A follow-up game soon followed, and a franchise was established.

The premise of a tiny alien pushing a sticky ball that gets bigger the more objects stick to it is an unlikely but successful recipe for gaming greatness. Renowned for their offbeat humor, brilliant soundtrack, and off-the-wall visuals, the games emphasize joy, playfulness and cheerful absurdity. There has been a steady stream of titles since the series’ inception, so here is a rundown of every Katamari game, ranked.

This list includes only the original
Katamari
games and not the updated
Reroll
versions.

9 Tap My Katamari

This Mobile Title Might Not Click With Everyone

  • Release Date: January 4, 2016
  • Developer: Bandai Namco Entertainment
  • Platforms: iOS, Android

Keita Takahashi’s original “Katamari Damacy” designed the gameplay experience around the PlayStation controller. In a similar vein, creators of “Tap My Katamari” aimed to adapt this concept, but instead for a smartphone touchscreen and a player who is ready to tap repeatedly to advance through the game.

In this clicker game, The Prince moves a ball called Katamari ahead with every screen tap. As he collides with an object, it’s instantly gathered and points are earned. With an endless array of levels to explore, there’s a lot of continuous tapping involved. However, the game shares the same quirky appeal as its DSi companion, making it more of a novelty than a game that offers deep engagement.

8 Korogashi Puzzle Katamari Damacy

Blocks Fall From The Sky In This Obscure Spin-Off

  • Release Date: March 25, 2009
  • Developer: Namco Bandai Games
  • Platform: Nintendo DSi (DSiWare)

Originally launched for Nintendo DSi’s digital store back in 2009, “Korogashi Puzzle Katamari Damacy” can be found in the “Katamari” series due to its name, aesthetics, and not much else that directly links it. In essence, this game shares more similarities with a classic like Tetris, as there’s no sign of the iconic sticky ball or any objects to roll or collect.

The player needs to arrange items on top of each other, followed by rolling a katamari ball to gather them together at once. Once a line of six blocks has been formed, it vanishes automatically. If the Prince is unable to stack correctly, the King will instruct his children to retry and improve their performance. Despite being entertaining for killing time, the game appears more like a money-making attempt than an exceptional one.

7 Katamari Amore

This iOS Iteration Gets Things Rolling — At A Price

  • Release Date: September 29, 2011
  • Developer: Namco Bandai Games
  • Platform: iOS

Instead of typical mobile games, Katamari Amore offers a more authentic experience based on its source material. In this game, The Prince rolls a ball, collecting objects as per instructions from The King Of All Cosmos. Unique control methods are employed, allowing players to adjust the katamari’s direction using their iPhone’s accelerometer.

As an enthusiast, I must admit that while iPhone users can enjoy some aspects of the Katamari game, they’ll need to shell out extra cash for level packs to fully immerse themselves in the game. This means, right from the start, not everything is accessible. To add to this, the control scheme isn’t as snappy as the console Katamari games, making it more of a challenge for casual players. So, if you’re a die-hard completionist and don’t mind investing extra time and money, then this game could be worth a try.

6 Me and My Katamari

A Bespoke Experience For A Sony Handheld

  • Release Date: December 22, 2005 (Japan), March 21, 2006 (North America)
  • Developer: Namco
  • Platform: PlayStation Portable (PSP)

The PlayStation Portable, by Sony, housed “Me And My Katamari,” a miniature game endeavor that sought to deliver a genuine Katamari party right in the hands of players. It was also the initial installment not overseen by the original creator, Keita Takahashi.

Regrettably, there’s a noticeable void where he should be. The game retains many elements that made the earlier versions enjoyable, yet lacks the unique characteristics and intricate details that set the originals apart in this edition. It’s enjoyable, but it falls short of truly capturing the exceptional experience offered by its predecessors.

5 Touch My Katamari

A Touchy-Feely Spin On The Formula

  • Release Date: December 17, 2011 (Japan), February 22, 2012 (North America)
  • Developer: Namco Bandai Games
  • Platform: PlayStation Vita

One distinctive advantage of Touch My Katamari lies in its utilization of unique capabilities offered by Sony’s portable system, the Vita handheld. While traditional controls via analog controllers remain, players can innovatively interact with the Katamari using the Vita’s rear screen for various manipulations.

In this game, you have the ability to elongate or compact the katamari, which introduces more layers to the gameplay. Extending it will help gather more items, whereas squeezing it allows you to navigate through narrow spaces. The game is not poor by any means, and the new mechanics offer a refreshing twist, but they don’t quite reach the level of quality found in other games.

4 Beautiful Katamari

A Colorful Surprise For Xbox Owners

  • Release Date: October 17, 2007 (Japan), October 16, 2007 (North America)
  • Developer: Namco Bandai Games
  • Platform: Xbox 360

The unique Xbox 360 title, “Beautiful Katamari,” maintains its core gameplay largely unchanged and seems primarily designed to attract Xbox owners to the series who might otherwise be PlayStation users. It achieves this goal, for the most part, but mainly because it expands upon a formula that has already proven successful.

For the first time in the series, Xbox Live Marketplace offered exclusive levels, marking the introduction of downloadable content. Players were able to monitor their progress online. Regrettably, a PlayStation 3 version that was initially in development had been scrapped, with its content eventually integrated into a later PS3 game.

3 Katamari Forever

A Mixture Of Love Letter And Reboot

  • Release Date: July 23, 2009 (Japan), September 22, 2009 (North America)
  • Developer: Namco Bandai Games
  • Platform: PlayStation 3

The power of the PlayStation 3 allowed developers to enhance the visuals for the Katamari series, and the 2009 game, Katamari Forever, reflects on the series’ history while introducing fresh aspects. Out of the 34 stages in this game, most are borrowed from previous titles, and each stage is divided into distinct segments.

In this game, you can adjust various visual effects for each level, such as cel-shaded art or colored pencil filter. The music is a blend of familiar tracks from previous games. Overall, the entire game seems to be a loving homage to its origin.

2 Katamari Damacy

Where The Magic Started

Around 2004, the collection of games on PlayStation 2 primarily consisted of horror games, fast-paced racing titles, sports games, and shooters. However, unexpectedly, a game that no one anticipated emerged, seemingly out of nowhere. This game was a stark contrast to the usual PS2 atmosphere but was exceptionally well-received, drawing in a large number of players. Unfortunately, it also introduced one of the most questionable PlayStation father characters.

Two decades have passed, and the game “Katamari Damacy” remains exceptional. The vibrant blend of its gameplay, music, and enigmatic visuals continues to feel as invigorating today as it did back then. Significantly, the game’s appeal for repeated play has endured, and in 2018, it received a refurbishment with a modern polish in “Katamari Damacy Reroll.

1 We Love Katamari

The Best Game In The Series And A Creative Triumph

Among the most delightful games ever created, “We Love Katamari” serves as an outstanding sequel. It builds upon everything that made the original game a resounding success by introducing fresh levels, innovative gameplay features, and subtle improvements. The end product is a game worthy of being shelved alongside the greatest PlayStation 2 titles. The soundtrack, in particular, is exceptional, standing well on its own as an album.

The game introduced multiplayer features, varied level goals, and showcased an infectious creativity throughout its entirety. Notably, it marks the final installment in the series for creator Keita Takahashi, with subsequent games falling short of its brilliance. Consequently, it holds a revered position atop this list.

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2024-10-25 23:36