SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,501 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake Game Cover
When the issues of a game are rolled and stomped by its greatness, then it’s something to invest on if you have some spare.
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In SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake, SpongeBob and Patrick's wish-granting tears have torn apart the fabric of the universe, creating portals to Wishworlds filled with various themes and characters. As you explore these worlds, unlock classic and new platforming skills, and don over 30 costumes to bring order back to Bikini Bottom. Our favorite sponge is accompanied by Balloon-Patrick, and you'll encounter familiar voices from the series along the way. Embrace the chaos and experience the Cosmic Shake!

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,501 reviews
story123 positive mentions
stability44 negative mentions
  • story439 mentions

    The story of the game is generally perceived as entertaining yet predictable, often described as a simple and linear narrative typical of a Spongebob adventure. While some players appreciated the humor and nostalgic references, many found the plot lacking depth and engagement, with a completion time of around 6-10 hours for the main story. Overall, it serves as a fun homage to the series but may not satisfy those seeking a more intricate storyline.

    • “The story is amusing; foremost, it is both interesting and humorous, leaving nods to the show all over its fantastically built levels.”
    • “I particularly loved the story, which is well-crafted and kept me hooked until the end.”
    • “The story is just like a modern Spongebob episode and it sets the game up well enough.”
    • “The story is pretty short and simple; the twist will probably not come as a big surprise to you if you pay attention and can be completed in about 6-8 hours.”
    • “The climax of the story, and the boss fights in particular, are lacking extremely.”
    • “Karate kick is broken, many level elements feel unfinished, cutscenes lack impact and spirit, and the story is incredibly predictable and underwhelming.”
  • gameplay352 mentions

    The gameplay of "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake" is generally engaging and accessible, featuring a mix of familiar mechanics from previous titles and new elements that enhance the experience. While many players appreciate the vibrant graphics, humor, and variety in level design, some criticize the linearity, repetitiveness, and occasional technical issues that detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, it offers a fun, nostalgic experience for fans of the franchise, though it may feel lacking in depth and innovation compared to its predecessors.

    • “While the gameplay is accessible, there are plenty of optional challenges to keep everyone engaged.”
    • “The costumes are a ton of fun, the writing is brilliant, the music's great, and the gameplay is tight.”
    • “With the incredible references, accurate voice acting, beautiful art style, and addicting gameplay, you will not regret your experience playing this game.”
    • “Gameplay is probably the biggest issue, despite glitches and cutscenes randomly cutting off at weird points.”
    • “The gameplay, on the other hand, is an absolute slog.”
    • “Although this may be intentional so they can continue to cater to younger audiences, I still feel with how many Spongebob titles they've released, they should at least be trying to introduce more newer mechanics rather than reusing the same ones in different ways.”
  • graphics220 mentions

    The graphics of "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake" have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant and colorful art style, which effectively captures the essence of the beloved TV show. Many reviewers noted the stunning visuals and fluid animations, highlighting the game's beautifully designed environments and character models as standout features. However, some players expressed disappointment over the lack of graphics options and occasional technical issues, particularly on lower-end hardware.

    • “The graphics are stunning, with beautifully designed environments and characters.”
    • “The graphics are colorful and vibrant, just like the TV show.”
    • “The art style is awesome (in my opinion) and vibrant, may not be everyone's cup of tea but I thought it was a big highlight of the game.”
    • “The only thing good about this game is that the visuals are good... not great, not amazing... it's good.”
    • “Graphically, I think it is better than BFBB – Rehydrated, but there are no graphics settings except for resolution, and ultrawide doesn’t work properly (it cuts parts of the screen off to make it fit on an ultrawide screen so you lose part of the image as opposed to getting more).”
    • “I love the story from what I could play, but if your computer isn't good enough, there aren't any graphic settings for you to adjust.”
  • humor172 mentions

    The humor in "SpongeBob Schwammkopf: The Cosmic Shake" is a mix of nostalgic references and modern quips, appealing to both long-time fans and newcomers. While many players found the writing and dialogue to be genuinely funny and reminiscent of the show's earlier seasons, some felt that the humor occasionally fell flat or relied too heavily on callbacks. Overall, the game delivers a colorful and humorous experience, though opinions vary on its effectiveness compared to previous titles like "Battle for Bikini Bottom."

    • “Full of jokes and memes from the cartoon while having a colorful visual and the funny dialogue you'd expect from SpongeBob and Patrick.”
    • “This game is a hilarious and colorful game that brings the beloved characters to life in a cosmic adventure.”
    • “The humor is great and captures the vibe of classic SpongeBob better than the TV show does currently.”
    • “Is the new SpongeBob always this disgusting and unfunny?”
    • “The game relies on nostalgia for likeness and character; it's not funny and even sometimes ruins jokes that have potential.”
    • “[Unrewarding optional collectibles, uninspired and slow combat, an unfunny prehistoric level turns into a long slog.]”
  • music126 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy tunes and thematic fit for each level, while others feel it lacks the memorable quality of the soundtrack from "Battle for Bikini Bottom." Some players enjoyed the inclusion of classic SpongeBob songs and the variety of music across levels, but noted issues with repetition and occasional audio glitches. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally considered solid and enjoyable, it doesn't quite reach the iconic status of its predecessor.

    • “The music is also great, with catchy tunes that will get stuck in your head long after you've turned off the game.”
    • “Additionally, the soundtrack perfectly complements the themes and atmosphere of the game, making it even more immersive.”
    • “Fantastic music, level design, friendly to younger and older audiences alike, and has a lot of the funny humor that the show currently lacks today.”
    • “The biggest critique I have of this game is that the soundtrack is definitely missing the iconic touch of the soundtrack BFBB had.”
    • “They play it disappointingly safe with the OST for this one and mostly just include music from the show and rather generic thematically-appropriate music.”
    • “The music doesn't feel like it's from SpongeBob and half the time is rather empty feeling.”
  • stability52 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting various glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as combat issues, character model reuse, and visual anomalies. While some users noted that the game runs well on lower-end hardware and is largely bug-free, others experienced significant gameplay interruptions, including softlocks and unresponsive controls. Overall, while the game is enjoyable for fans, its stability issues detract from the experience for some players.

    • “Even if it wasn't a great game (it is, a must-have for SpongeBob fans), any major release these days that runs great on a low-end GPU and is bug-free should be celebrated.”
    • “The game runs great, with little to no loading screens within the levels themselves.”
    • “It runs great on my Steam Deck at 720p, but falls under 60fps at 1080p.”
    • “Gameplay is probably the biggest issue, despite glitches and cutscenes randomly cutting off at weird points.”
    • “I can't say I'd recommend this game due to its irritating glitches with fighting commands and being unable to change said keys for keyboard commands. It's extremely irritating when the attack command with click and right click just outright refuse to work.”
    • “However, this game has tons of glitches.”
  • grinding32 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often unenjoyable, with many side quests and achievements feeling repetitive and lacking clear direction. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements and colorful costumes, the overall enemy design and combat mechanics contribute to a sense of monotony. Although the game is less grindy than some previous titles, it still requires significant time investment for completion, leading to frustration among players.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I will say there are a couple of grindy achievements which were not enjoyable as even after free playing for a few hours I was nowhere close to completing them.”
    • “You don't really have a reason to do any side stuff or collect things other than for completion, so it feels tedious to go back for things to levels you have completed already.”
    • “Yes, I like the style of side-quests and how much they reference, but the quests themselves were so dull and tedious, because they were well hidden, but the game never tells in which part of the level you need to explore, which kind of defeats a whole point of exploration, because you’re empty-handed without any hints.”
  • replayability24 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find enjoyment in pursuing 100% completion and uncovering collectibles, others feel that the linear design and lack of engaging initial playthroughs diminish its overall replay value. Although there are challenges and side quests that can enhance replayability, many reviewers note that it falls short compared to previous titles in the franchise. Overall, it offers some replay potential, particularly for dedicated fans, but may not satisfy those seeking a more robust experience.

    • “Overall, it's a fun little game if you love SpongeBob; linear as hell, but there's still replayability in it for what it is (especially if you're going for 100% completion).”
    • “Moreover, the game's replay value is astronomical, with a plethora of collectibles, side quests, and hidden secrets scattered throughout the cosmos.”
    • “Decent amount of play time and replayability, challenging at some parts but never too difficult.”
    • “It spends so much time trying to sell you on the replayability of its levels that it forgets to make your initial playthrough fun to begin with.”
    • “I am glad to have played this game, and will likely play it again after some time as it does lack in replayability.”
    • “It's a big step up from the mess that was rehydrated... but it has barely any replay value at all, unlike the original Battle for Bikini Bottom or the movie game.”
  • optimization19 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance on high-end PCs, particularly with last-gen consoles in mind. However, some users noted occasional performance dips, minor bugs, and stuttering, which can detract from the experience. Despite these issues, the game's visuals and enjoyable gameplay largely compensate for the optimization shortcomings.

    • “Your optimization is top notch and let those of us that have top tier PCs enjoy the pretty pictures.”
    • “Runs like butter on my 6700 XT + Ryzen 5 5600X (at a mostly locked 175 FPS and at 3440x1440), so they clearly optimized the game with last-gen consoles in mind (which is a good thing; nowadays you'll see cases like Halo Infinite where it runs with weird performance issues that straight-up didn't exist on even the Xbox One).”
    • “Game has no performance issues.”
    • “Idk how that performance is acceptable lol.”
    • “Only a few bugs, stuck in a wall here, some stuttering there.”
    • “It's too bad the performance takes a minor hit, but thankfully overall it's a small distraction from an otherwise excellent game.”
  • emotional18 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt narrative that explores themes of friendship, courage, and imagination, resonating deeply with players. Many reviewers express a sense of nostalgia and joy, with some even moved to tears during the end credits, emphasizing the game's ability to evoke strong feelings and engage players throughout. Overall, it is described as a wholesome and comforting experience that captures the essence of childhood wonder.

    • “I cried with joy when I heard the end credits roll.”
    • “What truly sets The Cosmic Shake apart, however, is its narrative depth and emotional resonance.”
    • “Beneath the zany humor and whimsical charm lies a heartfelt story of friendship, courage, and the power of imagination.”
  • monetization18 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the genuine effort and passion behind it, while others criticize it as a potential cash grab, especially in light of its release following the success of "Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated." Despite some concerns about unfinished elements and DLC charges, many fans feel that the game serves as a heartfelt tribute to the franchise rather than a mere corporate exploitation. Overall, opinions vary on whether the game's monetization strategy aligns with its quality and intent.

    • “Honestly feels like a cash grab.”
    • “Cosmic Shake is a lazy cash grab by comparison, and they have the audacity to charge for DLC like costume packs.”
    • “I wish that this felt more like a game than a cash grab.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive aesthetic, particularly in levels that capture the essence of characters like the Flying Dutchman. While the soundtrack enhances the overall experience and aligns well with the game's themes, some players find it somewhat forgettable due to the sheer volume of tracks, though they still contribute effectively to the atmosphere.

    • “That level perfectly captured the atmosphere and aesthetic of who the Flying Dutchman was.”
    • “Additionally, the soundtrack perfectly complements the themes and atmosphere of the game, making it even more immersive.”
    • “The soundtrack is good, but I have seen a couple of other people say it's 'forgettable,' and that's probably true for the most part. However, these songs fit all of the atmospheres really well, and it definitely is sad. You also have to remember there are almost 50 songs—46 for the main game and 2 (Sweet Victory and Jellyfish Jam) in the credits—so it is understandable why most of the songs might escape your mind.”
    • “The soundtrack is good, but I've seen a couple of other people say it's 'forgettable,' and that's probably true for the most part. These songs do fit all of the atmospheres really well, and it definitely is sad. However, you also have to remember there are almost 50 songs—46 for the main game and 2 (Sweet Victory and Jellyfish Jam) in the credits—so it is understandable why most of the songs are going to escape your mind.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

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Play time

7hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
5-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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