There’s something deeply surreal about seeing Bubsy attempt another leap into 3D platforming in 2026. For decades, the wisecracking bobcat has existed more as a punchline than a beloved gaming mascot, with Bubsy 3D still haunting conversations about disastrous platformers nearly thirty years later, even though the 2D originals were decent enough. Rather than pretending that history never happened, Fabraz embraces it completely with Bubsy 4D, crafting a self-aware comeback that constantly pokes fun at the character’s reputation while simultaneously trying to redeem him. The result is surprisingly charming. Bubsy is portrayed as a tired, reluctant mascot dragged into yet another ridiculous adventure involving rebellious sheep, stolen Golden Fleece fragments and robotic BaaBots taking over Woolie technology, all while the supporting cast spends most of the game mocking him relentlessly. The humor is intentionally goofy and packed with cringe-inducing puns, but unlike earlier Bubsy outings, it often feels fitting rather than forced.
The premise itself is little more than an excuse to bounce across colorful alien worlds, though the supporting characters inject enough personality to keep the story sequences entertaining. Terry, Terri, Virgil and Oblivia all play off Bubsy’s exhausted sarcasm in amusing ways, helping the game lean into a sitcom-style dynamic where everyone seems aware that Bubsy is a washed-up mascot trying to stay relevant. Some jokes absolutely land, especially when the game openly acknowledges its own absurdity, while others drift into eye-rolling territory depending on one’s tolerance for “dad jokes.” Still, there’s an undeniable sense of sincerity behind the writing that keeps the tone light rather than cynical.
What truly elevates Bubsy 4D above expectations is its movement system. Fabraz clearly brought lessons learned from Demon Turf into the project, delivering a momentum-focused platformer where chaining jumps, glides, air dashes and hairball rolls together becomes the core of the experience. Bubsy controls with a surprising amount of precision once players learn how his momentum works, and the game constantly encourages experimentation with routes and traversal techniques. Levels are filled with alternate paths, hidden collectibles, unlockable upgrades and time trial medals, making replayability a central part of the design instead of an afterthought. The inclusion of online ghost data and leaderboards reinforces that speedrunning mentality even further, rewarding players willing to master movement mechanics and shave seconds off their runs.
At the same time, Bubsy 4D occasionally struggles to fully support its own ambitions. Camera issues can become frustrating during climbing sequences or tighter platforming sections, sometimes obscuring the action or awkwardly focusing on scenery instead of Bubsy himself. The hairball form, while satisfying once mastered, also takes time to get used to due to its slippery handling and momentum-heavy physics. Some later stages lean too heavily on verticality or awkward platform placement, briefly interrupting the otherwise smooth flow that the game works so hard to establish. Casual players can still enjoy simply reaching the end of stages, but those chasing faster times may find certain sections more frustrating than exhilarating.
Visually, the game embraces a handcrafted aesthetic filled with cardboard structures, wool textures, junkyard machinery and exaggerated cartoon animation. It frequently evokes the feel of late-90s collectathon platformers, not just mechanically but also through its surreal environmental design philosophy that prioritizes exploration and platforming challenges over realism or cohesion. That old-school identity becomes part of the game’s charm, though it also means some environments appear sparse or rough around the edges compared to modern genre standouts. Even so, Bubsy himself is wonderfully expressive, and the colorful presentation helps sell the game’s intentionally chaotic energy. Certain worlds fare better than others – the electronic junkyard areas in particular can disrupt the pacing with overly vertical layouts – but overall the visual style gives the adventure a distinct personality.
The soundtrack complements that personality nicely with energetic swing-inspired tracks and jazzy rhythms that keep the adventure upbeat throughout its relatively short runtime. Voice acting is another pleasant surprise, capturing the exaggerated personalities of the cast effectively, although voiced scenes are less frequent than they perhaps should have been. Bubsy’s constant chatter can either become part of the game’s appeal or one of its biggest irritations depending on the player, but the developers smartly include options to adjust how often he comments during gameplay. Even the inclusion of an optional tank-control mode serves as another tongue-in-cheek nod toward Bubsy 3D’s infamous legacy.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Bubsy 4D is that it never feels embarrassed to exist. Instead of distancing itself from the franchise’s reputation, it openly celebrates the weirdness, awkwardness and cultural baggage surrounding Bubsy while still trying to deliver a legitimately enjoyable platformer underneath the jokes. The campaign is fairly short, but the emphasis on replayability, collectibles and speedrunning gives dedicated players plenty of reasons to revisit stages. That shorter runtime arguably works in the game’s favor as well, since the formula might have started to wear thin had the adventure stretched much longer.
For today’s platformer fans, Bubsy 4D ultimately succeeds by understanding exactly what kind of game it wants to be. It’s not trying to compete with the genre’s biggest modern platformers in scope or polish, but it does deliver responsive movement, clever replay-focused level design and enough self-aware humor to transform one of gaming’s most ridiculed mascots into something oddly endearing again. Against all odds, Fabraz has managed to make a genuinely good Bubsy game – and perhaps even one of the year’s more memorable platformers.
Score: 7.5/10