Fabraz’s Bubsy 4D launched on May 22, 2026, for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, with Atari publishing the title.
The game marks the bobcat’s latest return to 3D platforming after earlier experiments in the format and follows Fabraz’s work on Demon Tides.
Bubsy 4D combines exploration-style collect-a-thon stages with time-trial challenges and leans on both series legacy and broader 3D platformer conventions.
Gameplay and structure
Bubsy 4D offers two complementary play styles.
Players can tackle levels as exploration-based collect-a-thons—each non-boss stage contains 150 wool collectibles, with a few Silver Wools valued at ten regular wools—or sprint through stages in time-trial runs reminiscent of Crash Bandicoot’s Time Relics.
Every non-boss stage also hides a scroll that can be exchanged for new abilities or upgrades, and wools are spendable on costumes and skins.
The campaign is organized across three worlds (the Woolies homeworld returns as the first, followed by a craft-themed world and a junk/tech world), each containing five stages with the fifth stage serving as a boss encounter.
Rather than a traditional lives system, Bubsy starts with three hit points; taking three hits causes a respawn at the most recent checkpoint.
Checkpoints are plentiful across levels to keep progression flowing.
Movement and abilities
Bubsy’s move set includes a flutter double jump, a returning glide, a pounce that functions like a homing attack, a new Hairball form that lets him roll rapidly across ground and half-pipes, and a triple jump that the game intentionally references.
Moves reset when Bubsy pounces on walls or enemies, enabling long combos and precision platforming.
The title also supports short wall runs and eliminates fall damage present in earlier entries.
Presentation and audio
Sean Chiplock provides Bubsy’s voice work, and the soundtrack is composed by FatBard, whose credits include Brawlhalla and Samurai Shodown (2019).
The audio and music consistently match stage atmospheres, while sound effects emphasize Bubsy’s athletic, bouncy movement.
Visually, worlds are distinct—favorites include the craft-based levels—but players should note occasional pop-in and some collision detection quirks, particularly on the Nintendo Switch version.
Tone, writing and reception
Reviewers have noted that Bubsy remains talkative, but this entry’s writing and performances add charm and effective humor rather than annoyance.
The writing team and voice cast have been credited for giving the character renewed personality.
A settings slider can reduce Bubsy’s frequency of quips for players who prefer a quieter experience.
Verdict
At a $20 price point, Bubsy 4D is presented as an enjoyable, compact 3D platformer that revitalizes the series for modern platforms.
While technical issues like draw-in and occasional collision problems temper a perfect score, Fabraz’s effort is widely credited for delivering the most fun Bubsy entry in years.
The game marks the bobcat’s latest return to 3D platforming after earlier experiments in the format and follows Fabraz’s work on Demon Tides.
Bubsy 4D combines exploration-style collect-a-thon stages with time-trial challenges and leans on both series legacy and broader 3D platformer conventions.
Gameplay and structure
Bubsy 4D offers two complementary play styles.
Players can tackle levels as exploration-based collect-a-thons—each non-boss stage contains 150 wool collectibles, with a few Silver Wools valued at ten regular wools—or sprint through stages in time-trial runs reminiscent of Crash Bandicoot’s Time Relics.
Every non-boss stage also hides a scroll that can be exchanged for new abilities or upgrades, and wools are spendable on costumes and skins.
The campaign is organized across three worlds (the Woolies homeworld returns as the first, followed by a craft-themed world and a junk/tech world), each containing five stages with the fifth stage serving as a boss encounter.
Rather than a traditional lives system, Bubsy starts with three hit points; taking three hits causes a respawn at the most recent checkpoint.
Checkpoints are plentiful across levels to keep progression flowing.
Movement and abilities
Bubsy’s move set includes a flutter double jump, a returning glide, a pounce that functions like a homing attack, a new Hairball form that lets him roll rapidly across ground and half-pipes, and a triple jump that the game intentionally references.
Moves reset when Bubsy pounces on walls or enemies, enabling long combos and precision platforming.
The title also supports short wall runs and eliminates fall damage present in earlier entries.
Presentation and audio
Sean Chiplock provides Bubsy’s voice work, and the soundtrack is composed by FatBard, whose credits include Brawlhalla and Samurai Shodown (2019).
The audio and music consistently match stage atmospheres, while sound effects emphasize Bubsy’s athletic, bouncy movement.
Visually, worlds are distinct—favorites include the craft-based levels—but players should note occasional pop-in and some collision detection quirks, particularly on the Nintendo Switch version.
Tone, writing and reception
Reviewers have noted that Bubsy remains talkative, but this entry’s writing and performances add charm and effective humor rather than annoyance.
The writing team and voice cast have been credited for giving the character renewed personality.
A settings slider can reduce Bubsy’s frequency of quips for players who prefer a quieter experience.
Verdict
At a $20 price point, Bubsy 4D is presented as an enjoyable, compact 3D platformer that revitalizes the series for modern platforms.
While technical issues like draw-in and occasional collision problems temper a perfect score, Fabraz’s effort is widely credited for delivering the most fun Bubsy entry in years.
