The Worst Game Ever Is Officially Getting a Sequel on May 22, And I’m So Ready

People often call games the “worst ever” without much reason, but truly terrible games are rare. Bubsy 3D stands out as a genuine contender for that title. Despite many good PlayStation 1 games being forgotten, Bubsy 3D remains infamous, even inspiring a few attempts to revive the series in the 2010s. Now, on May 22, 2026, a proper sequel, Bubsy 4D, is finally being released.

The wait is over, the time is now, and redemption is near.

It’s understandable to immediately dismiss this project as just a joke, considering Bubsy 3D is now mostly known as a meme. I felt the same way at first. However, making a video game takes a lot of work, and developers don’t usually invest time and money into a project just to get a reaction. This new Bubsy 4D seems like a genuine attempt to improve on past mistakes, and after trying the demo, it actually might succeed.

In fact, I’m going to make a bold prediction: Bubsy 4D will be one of 2026’s best 3D platformers.

Bubsy 4D Is By Fabraz, And The Developer Has Pedigree

Swapping A Demon For A Bobcat

Fabraz previously worked on Demon Turf and Demon Tides

The Bubsy franchise has a history of struggling development cycles, often seeming to hinder the studios that work on it. Interestingly, the team behind the notoriously bad Bubsy 3D later became Bend Studio and went on to create successful games like Syphon Filter and Days Gone. Attempts to revive the series have also met with little success. Black Forest Games, known for the Giana Sisters games and their excellent 2D platformer Twisted Dreams, created Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back, while Choice Provisions, the developers of the Bit.Trip series, handled Bubsy: Paws on Fire! – neither game managed to recapture success.

Historically, a game’s quality isn’t tied to the developer’s past successes or failures, so why should Bubsy 4D be any different? One key reason is that Fabraz excels at creating 3D platformers, as demonstrated by their enjoyable indie game, Demon Turf. While none of their games have been massive blockbusters, they consistently receive positive feedback, with their latest release, Demon Tides, boasting a 96% average rating on Steam.

Bubsy 4D really reflects Fabraz’s style, both in how it plays and how it looks. It feels like Fabraz shaped Bubsy 4D to match their own established design, rather than the other way around.

The Bubsy 4D Demo Has Three Levels And Has Been Around Since October 2025

A Real Show Of Confidence

The demo also has a tutorial, along with three full stages.
After finishing the levels, my save file showed 16% complete.

A demo is essentially a preview of a game, and when developers share one, it shows they’re confident in what they’ve created. The demo for Bubsy 4D has been available on Steam since October 2025, and it’s still there if you want to try it—I highly recommend it! It came out about 8 months before the full game, and it’s even playable on consoles now. Just keep in mind that the demo will disappear on May 22nd, so be sure to check it out before then.

The demo lets you play through the first hour of the game, including the tutorial and the first three levels. The tutorial itself is really well done, teaching you the controls and movement, and its style is a nostalgic nod to Bubsy 3D. While the tutorial alone would have been a good introduction, including the first few levels was a smart move. They really show off Bubsy 4D‘s colorful environments, cleverly designed levels that aren’t too open or too restrictive, and how smoothly everything moves. Ultimately, it’s just a really enjoyable game to play.

Bubsy 4D Is Just Fun To Play

This Point Bears Repeating

The basic moves include hairball, double jump, floating, and homing attack.
Bubsy has quite a few unlockable advanced moves.

It might seem obvious, but the most important thing for a platformer is how it feels to play. Games like Super Mario Odyssey and A Hat in Time are so well-made that even just exploring their worlds is fun. Will Bubsy 4D reach that level of quality? Likely not, but it does get the basic gameplay right, and thankfully, it addresses the notoriously terrible controls of the original Bubsy 3D.

The original PlayStation game is famous for its overly floaty controls, which are surprisingly the most frustrating aspect – even more so than the graphics or level design. Bubsy 4D cleverly embraces this by adding a gliding ability, letting the bobcat travel huge distances if you build up enough speed. The demo levels feature islands separated by dangerous water, and getting across safely is a key part of the challenge.

Bubsy is known for running, but he has a unique ability: he can transform into a hairball! This lets him travel quickly across long distances and even roll along half-pipes. It takes practice to master, particularly learning when to switch back to his normal form. Once you get the hang of it – and unlock a few special moves from the in-game store – Bubsy can reach amazing speeds and perform some really cool tricks.

When it comes to attacking, Bubsy dashes directly at enemies, a bit like Sonic’s ability to automatically target and hit them. While fighting isn’t a huge focus of the game, it’s done well enough.

Yeah, But What About The Story? I Need That Bubsy Magioc

A Planet-Hopping Adventure That Should Be Purrfect (For The Genre)

Pretty decent cutscenes

The Bubsy games haven’t ever been praised for their stories, and the new one is unlikely to change that. However, I actually found the basic idea behind it to be pretty cute – it’s a fun twist on what Bubsy games are usually about. Traditionally, Bubsy fights the Woolies, aliens who steal sheep.

The story begins with Bubsy, but things quickly get strange when the sheep come back – now with superpowers! They steal Bubsy’s Golden Fleece, sending him and his friends on a journey across different planets to get it back. It’s definitely a goofy premise, but the game embraces the silliness, which actually makes the humor work. The demo features cutscenes that mostly use the game’s graphics and are generally well-animated.

Bubsy In The Fourth Dimension

Why Bubsy In The Fourth Dimension?

I mean, what else could you call a sequel to Bubsy 3D? Bubsy 3D 2? The New Bubsy 3D? Bubsy 3D Again?

Let’s talk about why the developers chose the name Bubsy 4D. Bubsy 3D is the most well-known game in the series, and acknowledging that notoriety is a good move. It’s the second attempt at a 3D platformer, and the title immediately tells players what to expect. Currently, Bubsy 4D benefits more from being linked to the infamous Bubsy 3D than the more recent, less memorable reboots from the 2010s.

Fabraz didn’t choose the name ‘Bubsy 4D’ just for its history; the ‘4D’ part also comes from the game playfully acknowledging itself. Bubsy and the other characters sometimes seem aware they’re in a video game, breaking the fourth wall. Thankfully, these moments aren’t overdone in the demo – they’re mostly charming references to the original, notoriously bad 1996 game. So far, the story doesn’t involve time travel, which could have been another ‘fourth dimension,’ but that might be added later on.

2026-05-11 20:39