Bubsy 4D Preview from PAX East 2026

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It’s 2026, and I’m excited to share my experience playing Bubsy 4D at PAX East this year. It’s still pretty wild that this game exists!

It wasn’t really a shock, though, since a big trend at PAX this year was games making a successful return. Everyone was talking about Backyard Baseball, but the new Bubsy game was also a huge hit – people were constantly gathering around the Atari booth to play, surprised by how much fun it was!

“People always enjoy seeing something make a successful return,” says Jason Polansky, the lead producer of Bubsy 4D. And he’s right – we do! Bubsy is hoping to have its own comeback story later this year.

It’s good to see Bubsy bounce back after the mixed reception to Bubsy 3D. “Or, it wasn’t really divisive, was it?” jokes Polansky. “Divisive would imply at least some people enjoyed it!”

I Promise You that Bubsy 4D is Good

Polansky explained that Bubsy 4D isn’t actually an open-world game, even though many people think it is. It’s easy to see why – you’re dropped into a level with a lot of freedom and no clear instructions. But that’s by design! Bubsy 4D is meant to let players experience the game however they choose. You can rush to the end quickly, or take your time and explore everything – it’s up to you.

I understand why players might feel a certain way about the demo. The PAX East level is an open area with lots of wool and yarn objects. It doesn’t immediately tell you what to do, and the on-screen display is very simple. This allows you to explore at your own pace, climb things, collect items, and generally get familiar with the environment.

Everyone loves a good comeback story, and Bubsy is primed for one later this year.

Luckily, the game gives you plenty of tools to succeed. Bubsy handles beautifully – he’s a little floaty, but that seems intentional, given he’s a gliding cat! This allows for some really impressive platforming, whether you mean to do it or not. In fact, it’s some of the best 3D platforming I’ve seen since Super Mario Odyssey. It’s sure to surprise players when they first try Bubsy 4D, especially since they’re probably expecting something else entirely. The developer, Polanksy, knows this and seems to be counting on that reaction.

People often come to the game with preconceived notions, and they’re pleasantly surprised when it exceeds their expectations, saying things like, “Wow, this is actually really good!” The overwhelmingly positive feedback highlights how enjoyable and satisfying the game feels to play.

Bubsy 4D Leans Into What Makes Modern Platformers Great

I’ve felt a surprising amount of excitement for Bubsy 4D, both while playing it and at the Atari booth. It’s remarkable to see genuine buzz around a new Bubsy game in 2026! It seems like everyone – fans, developers, and even the game itself – is aware of Bubsy’s history and is in on the fun. Despite its past, Bubsy 4D looks like it’s ready to deliver a really enjoyable platforming experience.

I said Bubsy 4D feels like an open-world game, and that’s because the levels are designed to gently lead you forward without being too restrictive. You can rush to the end of each stage, but you’ll miss out on tons of fun platforming challenges that really let you use all of Bubsy’s abilities – like his triple jump, gliding, and rolling – to their fullest.

It’s honestly some of the most impressive 3D platforming I’ve seen since Super Mario Odyssey.

I eventually noticed the game gently guided me towards a specific route, which surprisingly led right to the finish. I didn’t find every collectible in the demo, but that didn’t bother me – I enjoyed playing how I wanted. The next person to try the game took a more thorough approach, exploring everything carefully. But that wasn’t a problem at all, because Bubsy provides all the tools you need to play the game your own way.

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I was really impressed with how many different moves Bubsy has and how much freedom those moves give you while playing. It often felt like playing Super Mario Odyssey. The only limit was my own creativity, which is what I’m most enthusiastic about with Bubsy 4D. I’m eager to see if Atari can deliver on this potential when the game releases later this year.

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2026-04-02 21:39