Patapon is a criminally overlooked franchise, one that I'm a little surprised hasn't seen more of a revival in the wake of popular rhythm games like Hi-Fi Rush. Perhaps this is due to the relatively simple nature of the Patapons rhythm-based gameplay, although fans would argue that this is precisely what makes the franchise special. Anyway, Pataponthe spirit is being revived this year, thanks to a Kickstarter-funded game called The ratatouille.
The ratatouille comes from the creators of the original Pataponalthough this shouldn't come as a surprise if you've taken a look at the game's artwork or trailers: it has Patapon written all over it. From the striking 2D art design to the mythology-inspired narrative premise, The ratatouille is clearly a love letter to the original Patapon game, fills a comfortable role as spiritual successor. But rather than just being a basic recovery of ideas from the original Patapon trilogy, The ratatouille begins to experiment and build outwards, seemingly drawing inspiration from the likes of Hades-style roguelikes.
The ratatouille launches on all platforms on July 16, 2025, but has been in early access on Steam since September 18, 2025.
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The Ratatan is a loud and proud Patapon successor
So much of Patapons charm comes down to its presentation. Using simple colors, flat 2D character models, exuberant cartoon animation, and of course, pulsating musical numbers, Patapon games never fail to delight. Thankfully, these strengths have not been lost The ratatouillewhose art style retains the same simple yet striking quality. However, The ratatouille is also a clear development of Patapons aesthetic, building on its foundation with more detailed backgrounds and slightly more complex character designs as well. In short, it's a great game, especially for those who appreciate 2D art design.
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The game is basically similar Pataponalso. IN The ratatouilleplayers command small armies of creatures called Cobuns during battles. Commands are issued in the form of musical beats, with different buttons on the gamepad correlating to different beats of a drum. It's an interesting mix of rhythm games and real-time strategy, and with an injection of roguelike mechanics, The ratatouille may be even more distinct than its predecessors were.
Is Ratatan just a Roguelike version of Patapon?
A lot of players are getting a little wary and jaded when it comes to the roguelike genre, and I can't say I blame them. Despite Hades 2 and Slay the Spire 2 being among my favorite releases of the last few years, I'm also feeling a little leery of roguelikes these days. For better or worse, roguelikes are a huge trend, one that's arguably more prevalent than the likes of battle royale and forced multiplayer, due to its appeal in the indie scene. It's natural to feel a little cynical when something is this ubiquitous.
But in The ratatouilleroguelike system actually makes some sense. The best roguelikes are those based on gameplay that is instantly addictive and satisfying, and The ratatouille really have it, courtesy of its Patapon roots. And besides The ratatouille actually has a number of other distinguishing features as well, such as four-player co-op and the Ratatans themselves, which are essentially different leader characters that the player controls in real-time. It really shakes things up Patapon the formula quite a bit, making the roguelike setting feel a lot less forced.
How does the Ratatan look so far?
The ratatouille might not be out until July, but we can check its temperature by looking at its Steam page, where early access participants have made their feelings known. Thankfully, this paints an optimistic picture of The ratatouilleas it sits at a comfortable 91% very positive (English reviews), according to Steam's review system. Some players have expressed concerns about the game's development and difficulty, among other things, so that might be worth keeping in mind. But all in all, The ratatouille looks promising, and will hopefully stick the landing when it arrives in 1.0 this summer.
- Released
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16 July 2026
- ESRB
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All 10+ / Fantasy violence, mild language, alcohol references, in-game purchases
- Developer
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Ratata Arts, TVT Co. Ltd.
- Publisher
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Game Source Entertainment
- Engine
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Theory engine
