Ratatan

About

Ratatan is a single player and multiplayer casual role playing game. It was developed by Ratata Arts and was released on September 18, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Ratatan is a rhythm-based roguelike RPG blending side-scrolling action with a catchy soundtrack and up to 4-player online co-op. Set on the lively island of Rataport, players control adorable creatures on an epic quest to reach The Everafter and meet The Goddess. Featuring perfect gameplay, masterful graphics, humor, and a heartfelt story, it offers intense, rhythmic battles and plenty of grinding.

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,010 reviews

music106 positive mentions

grinding36 negative mentions

Charming art style and vibrant visuals that evoke nostalgia for the Patapon series.
Catchy and engaging soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
Fun and unique gameplay that combines rhythm mechanics with roguelike elements, allowing for varied strategies.

Repetitive gameplay with limited variety in levels and enemies, leading to a lack of engagement over time.
Multiplayer functionality is buggy, with frequent disconnections and issues that disrupt the experience.
The game lacks a compelling story or deeper progression system, making it feel shallow compared to its predecessor.

music
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchiness and charm, often described as addictive and reminiscent of the beloved Patapon series. Players appreciate the whimsical and energetic soundtrack, which enhances the gameplay experience and evokes nostalgia, although some express a desire for more variety and depth in the music selection. Overall, the combination of delightful tunes and engaging rhythm mechanics contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The soundtrack is really catchy; I love how you can hear within every single stage track the little cobuns singing like a band of kids that slowly get overly excited while your character tries to keep them in rhythm. It feels adorably chaotic.”
- “The music is absolutely amazing, and the art is really pretty, though they both are fairly different than what you'd expect from Patapon, so they might not be to everyone's taste.”
- “The music is energetic and dynamic and doesn't get repetitive or annoying even during long runs.”
- “It's kinda like Patapon, but the music feels so off; the controls are so clunky, it's really disappointing that it's a roguelike too.”
- “The music restarting every time you go through a door is jarring and feels wrong.”
- “The music is overall very forgettable; while I know the Patapon OST is not something you could hear on repeat over and over, it did leave a mark on the player.”
gameplay
207 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
5%
The gameplay of Ratatan, a spiritual successor to the Patapon series, combines rhythm and strategy elements, offering a unique yet familiar experience. While many players appreciate the charming visuals and engaging music, there are concerns about the repetitiveness and simplicity of the gameplay mechanics, particularly regarding micromanagement and command inputs. Overall, the game shows potential for improvement as it continues through early access, with hopes for more depth and variety in future updates.
- “A 'spiritual successor' of the Patapon series, and as such, it offers a similarly unique gameplay experience, combining aspects of both a rhythm and a strategy game in a creative way.”
- “The unique gameplay of having to actually control the ratatans and also input the commands while doing so brings a fresh but also familiar end to how the gameplay works.”
- “The core gameplay is solid and genuinely fun, with that same (catchy) beat-based combat that made Patapon so special.”
- “A game that is beautiful in design, but horrible when it comes to gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is overly repetitive, lacking engaging combinations or variety across levels.”
- “My biggest complaint by far is manually controlling your character instead of having them automatically move in step with the ratatans - it actively detracts from the experience and forces you to divide your attention between your character, your ratatans, and maintaining rhythm.”
story
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
81%
6%
The game's story is widely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many players expressing disappointment over the absence of a compelling narrative or lore to drive the gameplay. While some appreciate the ship character and hope for future updates to introduce more story elements and a campaign mode, the current experience feels shallow and disconnected, leaving players yearning for a more structured and meaningful progression akin to the Patapon series. Overall, the consensus is that the game is enjoyable but significantly hindered by its underdeveloped story.
- “I really hope the future updates introduce us to different game modes, maybe a campaign-driven story of each Ratatan backstory and how they come to be your commander.”
- “I would like to see more of a story moving forward as there are so many interesting side characters that I really have no idea why they are there or what I am even doing.”
- “I really, really hope we get a proper plot to this game as the introduction sequence gives isekai vibes and could play out in many ways.”
- “The story is pretty shallow; I love the ship character, but I need to know more about him.”
- “My biggest gripe would be the story, which basically does not exist. I wish they would focus more on creating a story mode for this game as it feels a bit empty; we have literally no idea why we are fighting the 'zigoton' stand-ins, so it's a bit ambiguous what is going on.”
- “Currently, there is no overarching story.”
graphics
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
34%
5%
The graphics of Ratatan have received widespread praise for their vibrant and charming art style, which evokes nostalgia while offering a fresh aesthetic. Many players appreciate the smooth animations and cute character designs, noting that the visuals complement the engaging gameplay and catchy soundtrack. However, some reviewers feel that certain visual effects are overdone and that the game, while visually appealing, could benefit from further refinement.
- “The graphics were so good that I, as an artist, feel very satisfied with how the game looks.”
- “The visuals are amazing, and the cute little characters are adorable and really interesting.”
- “I love how vibrant the world is, and the character and world design are top-notch; this art style works very well with the concept.”
- “Additionally, many of the effects used (such as weapon impacts, magical attacks, and buffs) are very overdone and don't really fit with the character art style.”
- “Instead of motivating me to keep exploring, the visuals leave me disappointed.”
- “While the game and the art of it look pretty, it lacks a distinct art style even without being compared to Patapon.”
grinding
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it both satisfying and tedious. While some enjoy the repetitive nature of upgrading weapons and characters, others feel it becomes monotonous and lacks meaningful progression, especially given the limited content and RNG elements involved in farming. Overall, those who appreciate grind-heavy gameplay may find it enjoyable, but it risks alienating players who prefer a more varied experience.
- “Pretty fun grinding out the perks and weapons but gets pretty repetitive and kind of boring quickly.”
- “Another thing about grinding for legendary weapons, I do hope there is an option to change its decorum to a few selections tied to the weapon with materials; otherwise, in the long run, it does feel like materials would stack up later in the game and the fact that hunting for the right legendary weapons seems rather tedious.”
- “If you don't enjoy grinding levels for gear though, you might get bored once you've beaten the current worlds there are to offer.”
replayability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
70%
13%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while its roguelike elements and dynamic gameplay offer potential for varied experiences and progression, many players feel that the current content is limited and repetitive. Some users express a desire for more diverse challenges and alternate stages to enhance replay value, while others appreciate the fun and addictive nature of the game, especially when played with friends. Ultimately, the game's replayability could improve significantly with additional content and variety.
- “There are many things I love about Ratatan, but the most noteworthy are the amazing head-bopping music (even better than Patapon in my opinion) and its roguelike elements that vastly improve replayability.”
- “The fact that it’s a roguelike adds replayability and allows for changing strategies.”
- “Being able to build your own army as well as having rogue elements makes the replayability really high.”
- “Lacks a lot of replayability.”
- “However, I do worry about replayability since despite being a roguelite, the runs can be near identical to each other.”
- “That said, it definitely needs more content to give it long-term replayability.”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering and drops, particularly during crowded scenes. While a few users noted smooth performance even on weaker hardware, many expressed hope for future improvements, citing the game's recent release and developers' responsiveness to feedback. The general consensus indicates that while the game shows promise, it requires further polishing and optimization to enhance the overall experience.
- “Performance is mostly smooth, with brief stutters when the screen gets crowded with effects.”
- “This will greatly improve your damage output and overall performance to a noticeable degree.”
- “Almost no content, beta game overall, unpolished, poorly optimized.”
- “I am plagued with stuttering and performance issues (and my PC can handle many games well), which mess with my ability to hit the beats for a rhythm game.”
- “I can notice several performance drops and some balancing touches are in order, but given their reaction to feedback, I know that those are already being worked on.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as unique and charming, with players finding it both funny and relaxing. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter, especially in multiplayer settings, and appreciate its whimsical elements, such as the rhythm creatures and amusing sound effects. Overall, the humor resonates well with players, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience.
- “Goated game where the songs tickle my funny bone.”
- “I found myself enjoying and laughing while playing, and that's all a game should be.”
- “The funny noises tickle my brain in the right places.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance with minimal frame rate drops, others experience significant bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer mode. Many acknowledge that the game is still in early access, which contributes to its instability, but express optimism about ongoing developer efforts to address these issues. Overall, players find the core gameplay enjoyable despite the technical problems.
- “I've put in about 4 hours on my Steam Deck, and it runs great, rarely if ever dipping below 50-60 FPS.”
- “Multiplayer is extremely buggy, but the core gameplay is okay, if a bit lacking.”
- “This game is buggy and can glitch, but it's still in early access which makes sense.”
- “Extremely buggy, I softlocked 2 times in 2 hours.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
42%
29%
Reviewers consistently praise the character development for its unique and charming designs that exude personality, contributing to an overall immersive experience. The love and attention to detail from the developers are evident in both the character and environmental designs, enhancing the game's appeal. However, some players feel that the overall aesthetic can come off as cluttered, potentially detracting from the enjoyment.
- “The music, the character design, the set designs, even the UI... in every piece of the game, you can feel the love that the devs have for their creation, and it feels so incredible to play through and enjoy it.”
- “The character design and art are top notch and the music is just really fun.”
- “I don't know if it's the character design, the environmental design, or what, but it just feels cluttered.”
- “The primary character designs (as well as the cobun units) are very unique and each one is oozing with personality.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be heartwarming and wholesome, evoking strong emotional responses, including tears from the music. It has been compared to the nostalgic feelings experienced with Patapon on the PSP, highlighting its impactful emotional resonance.
- “This game is so heartwarming and wholesome.”
- “This track isn't perfect, but I still ironically shed a tear listening to the menu theme.”
- “Ratatan is the first game in years that’s made me feel the way Patapon did on the PSP.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users generally find the monetization strategy transparent, noting that most advertising clearly communicates the game's monetization practices.
- “I am surprised as most advertising was clear about this.”
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is vibrant and engaging, enhanced by catchy music and character singing that creates a fun and cheerful environment. Players appreciate the rich character and charm that contribute to an immersive experience.
- “You can feel yourself nodding along to the music, and hearing the characters sing and chant gives the whole game such a fun and happy atmosphere.”
- “It has so much atmosphere, character, and charm.”