Fans of Patapon, the quirky rhythm-army game from the PSP days, have wanted a proper follow-up for years. Ratatan is it, and the best part is you can play it right now. Members of the original Patapon team made it. This rhythm roguelike is already in Early Access on Steam. Meanwhile, a full launch on consoles is planned for later this year.
What is Ratatan?
Ratatan is a rhythm roguelike action game from developer Ratata Arts, working with TVT Co. The publisher is Game Source Entertainment. It is a spiritual successor to Patapon, led by Patapon creator Hiroyuki Kotani. The game launched in Steam Early Access on September 19, 2025 for around $19.99. The team once planned its full 1.0 version for July 2026. However, the team pushed it back to October 15, 2026 to polish the online co-op. In the end, the finished game will arrive on PC, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Xbox Series X and S and Nintendo Switch 2 owners get it too. You can play the Early Access build now on Steam.
The story
You lead a tribe of little one-eyed creatures called Ratatans. They set out from their home island of Rataport on a long journey. The goal is to reach a goddess in a place known as The Everafter. It is light on plot and heavy on charm. Of course, that is exactly the tone Patapon fans remember and love.
Gameplay
Just like Patapon, you do not mash normal attack buttons. Instead, you issue timed, rhythm-based commands to your army. You attack, defend and unleash specials, all to the beat, through a seven-button rhythm system. String together a perfect run and you trigger a Fever mode. That mode supercharges both your squad and the music. Where Ratatan goes further is its structure. Because it is a roguelike, each run hands you fresh upgrades and items. Dying costs you that run’s loot, but permanent unlocks keep you growing stronger between attempts. On top of that, battles get genuinely huge, with well over a hundred characters on screen at once. Finally, up to four players can march together in online co-op.
Graphics and presentation
Ratatan keeps the colorful 2D cartoon spirit of Patapon, but it dresses that look up. The one-eyed critters are expressive and full of personality. Meanwhile, the backgrounds are far more detailed and animated than the minimalist older games. As a result, it reads as a natural, glowed-up evolution of that classic silhouette-and-color style.
Why Ratatan is worth watching
This is the Patapon revival fans literally paid for. It raised around $1.5 million on Kickstarter. Better still, it is already sitting on Very Positive reviews in Early Access. So you can jump in on Steam today. Alternatively, hold out for the fuller, more polished 1.0 version. It lands on PlayStation, Xbox and Switch 2 on October 15. Also, our Rhythm Heaven groove tips deliver more rhythm action.
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