SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide

Developer: Purple Lamp
Release: Nov 18th 2025
Platforms:
Action
Adventure
Charming
Polished
Nostalgic
Short
Bugs
SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide Poster

" Vibrant action-adventure with seamless character swapping and engaging humor but short story length "

SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide Review

SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is widely praised as a fun, charming 3D platformer that captures the essence of the SpongeBob universe with its humor, original voice cast, and vibrant, spooky-themed levels. Players enjoy the smooth character swapping mechanic between SpongeBob and Patrick, which adds depth to platforming and puzzle-solving. The game features detailed environments inspired by iconic locations, creative level design, and engaging boss fights that, while somewhat simple, provide enjoyable challenges.

However, a common criticism is the game's short length, with the main story and full completion taking roughly 6-9 hours, which some feel is insufficient given the price. Some players also highlight minor bugs, occasional performance issues (notably on certain hardware), and a small hub world with limited activities. The story, while entertaining, is seen as less substantial compared to previous entries. Despite these issues, the overall polish, nostalgic references, and gameplay improvements make it a recommended title for SpongeBob and platformer fans.

Highlights

Gameplay mechanics shine with seamless swapping between SpongeBob and Patrick, each with unique abilities enhancing platforming and combat.

Graphics and presentation are praised as the best in a SpongeBob game to date, featuring expressive animations, vibrant and detailed environments, and a spooky, atmospheric soundtrack that remixes classic themes.

Storyline captures the spirit of a SpongeBob episode, delivering humor and charm with familiar characters and fresh scenarios, supported by the original voice cast.

Criticisms

The game is notably short, with only five main levels and roughly 6-9 hours of playtime, which many players find insufficient for the price.

Some players report minor bugs, unfinished animations, and occasional performance issues, especially on certain PC hardware and Steam Deck.

The hub world is considered small and lacks engaging content.

The story, while fun, is less developed and impactful compared to previous SpongeBob platformers.

Boss fights are somewhat repetitive in design, and enemy variety is limited.

Pros

  • Seamless character swapping adds depth to platforming and combat.
  • Vibrant, detailed environments with spooky, fresh twists on classic locations.
  • Expressive animations and original voice cast enhance immersion.
  • Engaging and humorous storyline true to SpongeBob's spirit.
  • Polished controls with tight, fluid character movement.
  • Creative level design with rewarding collectibles and secrets.
  • Dynamic soundtrack with remixed iconic SpongeBob themes.

Cons

  • Main story and overall content feel too short for the price.
  • Small, underwhelming hub world with limited activities.
  • Some minor bugs and occasional performance drops reported.
  • Boss fights lack variety and can feel repetitive.
  • Limited enemy variety reduces combat diversity.
  • Certain animations and sound effects feel unfinished or missing.
  • Side quests are simple and add little depth.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price
Capsule image

Prepare to be scared! A clash between the Flying Dutchman and King Neptune has unleashed ghostly mayhem all over Bikini Bottom. Switch seamlessly between SpongeBob and Patrick, combine their unique skills and save Bikini Bottom from total ghostification!

Release Date Nov 18th 2025
Publisher THQ Nordic
Developer Purple Lamp
Platforms

User Reviews

Very Positive (187)
96% Positive 4% Negative

Online Reviews

Metacritic logo
Metacritic
79