SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Gameis the latest of many games based on the popular Nickelodeon show, but it presents many firsts for the series. In a franchise that has ranged in quality over the years,SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Gamehas an advantage by changing the formula in an unexpected way.
Fans were surprised by the announcement ofSpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game, which will, fittingly, see players taking control of Patrick Star. Over the years,SpongeBobgames have grown to share many elements, with the most popular ones taking the form of platformers and allowing players to take control of multiple members of the cast. However,The Patrick Star Gamethrows those ideas out the window to deliver a game sure to be vastly different from otherSpongeBoboutings. Developer PHL Collective has taken a new route, allowing fans to explore Bikini Bottom in an open-world sandbox game, with Patrick being the only playable character, leaving SpongeBob on the sidelines for the first time.
The Turbulent Past of SpongeBob Video Games
Since the show’s debut,SpongeBob has received dozens of video game adaptations, but as years have passed, their quality hasn’t always been top level. Early games, likeLegend of the Lost SpatulaandSuperSponge, received mixed reviews, but were generally considered good for younger audiences. As the show and its viewers grew, however, the effort and detail that went into the games became more sophisticated. Many fans have fond memories ofThe SpongeBob SquarePants Movie GameandBattle for Bikini Bottom, as these games hit the right mix of challenge and whimsy, offering the type of experience that fans of the show were looking for. This high quality would continue through several more iterations, but sadly it wouldn’t last. Eventually,SpongeBobtitles became an easy cash grab, with games likeSpongeBob SquarePants TypingandDrawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Editiondriving fans away until recent years.
Cosmic Shake Walked so The Patrick Star Game Could Run
After the series had gone dormant for several years, fans were treated to a remaster ofBattle for Bikini Bottom, often considered the best game of the franchise, in 2020.Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydratedbreathed new life into the series, reminding audiences and developers what a SpongeBob game should be. With the spark reignited,SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shakereleased in 2023 as the first new title in over 5 years.The Cosmic Shakehit just the right note with fans, offering well-crafted gameplay, references from the show’s now decades-long run, and the type of humor that the audience was looking for.
The Patrick Star Game Takes a Worthwhile Risk
WithThe Cosmic Shakeseen as a commercial success, it opened the door for more diverse and experimental SpongeBob games, likeThe Patrick Star Game, that branch out in a new direction for the franchise. In recent years, Nickelodeon has been trying new ideas with the SpongeBob IP, such as spin-off movies and TV shows. One of these shows,The Patrick Star Show, likely influenced the decision to give the character his own game, although the two don’t seem related beyond the starring character. So, with a successful revival,The Cosmic Shakepaved the way for new SpongeBob gamesthat break the mold.
Seeing such a popular franchise gain new life restores hope in an industry that some would say is afraid to take risks. Stepping in a new direction might not be the safest choice, butThe Patrick Star Gameproves that it can lead to new innovations.Open-world sandbox gamesare a genre that deserves more love, and this popular IP might open the door for more fans to recognize that. The choice to push SpongeBobout of the spotlight may seem strange, but in this type of game, Patrick is the best choice for the protagonist. His erratic, often destructive, energy would feel right at home in games likeGoat Simulator, which propelled the open world sandbox formula into the spotlight. So, whileSpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Gamemight cause some fans to feel a tonal whiplash, they are in good hands to ease the transition.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game
WHERE TO PLAY
This is Patrick!Create hilarious mayhem in the open world of Bikini Bottom.Patrick fans, your time has come - and Bikini Bottom is your open-world playground! So become the Star of the show, put your silliest ideas into action, and enjoy the physics-based chaos that unfolds all around you.Fun with PhysicsTake things and push them somewhere else. Physics!From The Krusty Krab to Glove World, the SpongeBob universe is yours to goof off in. Skydive with just a parasol (or nothing at all), search for buried treasure in the Dump, or release the rage in Mrs. Puff’s Rage Room. Use almost any item you can find, from the reef blower to a can of paint, to change the world into Patrick’s dream playground.Iconic StylesUnlock classic Patrick outfits with your crazy stunts and collectibles.Take on challenges only Patrick would attempt, set up by your best friends like SpongeBob, Sandy Cheeks, Mr. Krabs, and … Plankton. Or do absolutely nothing, for longer than anyone else can possibly manage - it’s your world to be as Patrick as possible.Everyone’s HereGet silly with SpongeBob, Squidward, Sandy, and more.So step inside one of Bikini Bottom’s most enigmatic minds, forget all the rules, and have the most hilariously unpredictable experience you can imagine!
