Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection Review – Every Bubsy Game Returns on Nintendo Switch

Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection marks the full return of the infamous bobcat to the Nintendo Switch, gathering every major Bubsy title into one comprehensive set.

Developed and published by Atari in partnership with Limited Run Games, this compilation offers long-time fans—and perhaps a few curious newcomers—the chance to revisit one of gaming's most notorious mascot franchises.

As a franchise that began during the 16-bit era and has weathered decades of memes and critique, Bubsy’s enduring pop-culture status makes The Purrfect Collection a fascinating piece of gaming history. This anthology includes every commercially released Bubsy game from the original Accolade era, except for the PC-exclusive Super Bubsy.

Players get access to Bubsy’s debut—Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind—in both Super NES and Mega Drive formats, along with the Japanese Super Famicom version.

Bubsy II also appears in both Western 16-bit flavors, as well as the rare and challenging Game Boy iteration.

The collection goes further with Bubsy in: Fractured Furry Tales from the Atari Jaguar and the seminal Bubsy 3D for PlayStation, widely regarded as the entry that defined the character’s internet reputation. A standout addition is Bubsy 3D: Refurbished Edition, which modernizes the original PlayStation title by adding widescreen support, analog controls, and improved camera functionality, aiming to make the experience more accessible to contemporary audiences.

Although the game’s core remains unchanged, these refinements attempt to address some of the notorious frustrations from the original release.

As stated by the development team, these updates were designed to make the platforming more intuitive, with the hope that “players will find it a better way to experience Bubsy 3D.” The compilation doesn't just stop at the games themselves.

Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection features a robust set of bonus content, including video interviews with the character’s original designer and the Jaguar game’s producer, a full music player with tracks from across the series, and a wealth of archival materials like vintage advertisements, manuals, and design documents.

Even the unaired pilot episode of Bubsy’s planned animated series is available, offering insight into the bobcat’s ill-fated multimedia ambitions. On the technical side, all titles in this collection are presented through Limited Run Games’ Carbon Engine, with BigPEmu specifically powering the Atari Jaguar emulation.

Each game comes with modern convenience features such as save states, aspect ratio options, graphical filters, and gameplay rewind.

Cheats are included for players who want a less punishing experience; for example, enabling Infinite Time in Fractured Furry Tales can make the later stages more manageable. Despite the notoriety of the series—right down to Bubsy’s famous catchphrase "What could possibly go wrong?"—the emulation quality is solid throughout, preserving the original quirks and challenges that defined the franchise.

The games themselves range in quality.

The original Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind represents the franchise at its height, presenting enjoyable if unremarkable platforming typical of its time.

Bubsy II, especially in the Game Boy version, suffers from poor design and lackluster gameplay.

Fractured Furry Tales—formerly a Jaguar exclusive—emerges as a surprisingly solid entry.

Bubsy 3D, while historically significant for its early 3D ambitions, remains a challenging play, even in its refurbished form. Ultimately, Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection is a well-executed tribute to a polarizing yet memorable chapter in gaming history.

For collectors, nostalgia seekers, or anyone curious about video game mascot lore, this release provides a comprehensive, faithfully emulated, and context-rich package—one that captures both the highs and lows of Bubsy’s journey across platforms.

Available now for Nintendo Switch through the eShop, it’s a must-see artifact for retro enthusiasts and completionists alike.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch Bubsy Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection Limited Run Games Atari Carbon Engine BigPEmu Bubsy 3D Fractured Furry Tales Bubsy II Super NES Mega Drive