The vast majority of SpongeBob Squarepants 3D platformers are actually much better than they have any right to be, but 2023’s The Cosmic Shake was one hell of a surprise to all of us. THQ Nordic and Purple Lamp went out of their way to deliver a perfect combination of great visuals, solid platforming, and hilarious fanservice, culminating in what was, at the time, the best SpongeBob game ever made. Yes, even better than Battle for Bikini Bottom. So when THQ announced a sequel to that game, basing its gameplay and presentation around it, there was no way I wouldn’t look forward to it. How does SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide fare when compared to the high standards set by its predecessor, and what does it feature to stand out from its peers?

A direct sequel to The Cosmic Shake, Titans of the Tide has the fact you play as SpongeBob and Patrick at the same time as its main selling point. Due to a bickering conflict between King Neptune and The Flying Dutchman (all because of a Krabby Patty, of course), a lot of inhabitants of Bikini Bottom have been transformed into ghosts. That applies to SpongeBob and Patrick as well, but thanks to the literal power of friendship (as in, the power of a friendship ring they both wear), only one of them becomes a ghost at a time. You can alternate between corporeal (playable) and ghostly (non-playable) SpongeBob and/or Patrick with the press of a button, each one with different skills and moveset.

SpongeBob retains the controls and moves he had in The Cosmic Shake. Of the two, he’s the faster, nimbler, lighter character. Patrick is a bit slower, but makes up for it with having access to a grappling hook, being able to pound the ground with more force, being able to dig, and so on. Each character has access to different powerups and accessories acquired throughout the game, in a simple but effective progression system that never feels too overwhelming, but never too condescending or shallow. It’s just enough to always keep you interested in the gameplay loop.

Switching between both characters on the fly is the game’s main difference from The Cosmic Shake, as, for the rest, the gameplay is actually pretty similar. I’d say it’s a tad bit less focused on collectathon aspects, and a bit more story-focused, however. In true “modern Nintendo” fashion, whenever you enter a new level, you’re sort of stimulated to complete its main story-based objective first. Once you beat the objective, the level opens up a bit more, and you can grab some extra sidequests from NPCs, with nearly all rewards being currency or a new costume. It’s all cosmetics or means to acquire more cosmetics, so there’s no issue if you just decide to play the game for the plot. It’s still worth it.

Even if it doesn’t feel that original when compared to The Cosmic Shake, Titans of the Tide still excels at what its predecessor did best as well: its presentation. Without a doubt, the overall presentation is sublime, but then again, so was The Cosmic Shake‘s. It now runs on Unreal Engine 5, which makes it look crisp and detailed, but I’ll be honest: it doesn’t look that different from its predecessor. But don’t worry, that is not a point of criticism. It was good looking in 2023, and it still looks good now.

But what really makes Titans of the Tide stand out is its voice acting. Once again, the entire cast from the show (including Clancy Brown returning as Mr. Krabs) shows up to deliver brand new voiced work, and as you can imagine, it’s hilarious. It might be the nostalgia, it might be the sheer appreciation I have for the franchise (just like anyone with a pulse), but man, even if SpongeBob is basically the precursor to brainrot, especially when he’s talking to Patrick, this stuff is pure comedic gold. Its sense of humor still holds up after… more than twenty five years?! Oh boy, thank you SpongeBob, for reminding me of the fact I’m getting old.

I don’t think that SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is as memorable and impactful as The Cosmic Shake, but that’s a borderline unfair comparison. That game was just a shocking breath of fresh air that caught everyone off guard. Titans of the Tide maintains the same core gameplay loop, adds just a few new elements here and there, and has a slightly more focused approach in its spooky (but not really) ambience. That being said, it’s still a fantastic platformer well worth your time, and much better than the majority of 3D platformers released over the past few years.

Graphics: 8.5 Not a lot of changes when compared to its predecessor. Some graphical glitches can be noticed when loading a level, but given how this only happens during cutscenes, it doesn’t affect gameplay at all.	Gameplay: 8.0 Good camera controls, pretty good level design, and an interesting character swap mechanic. Nothing too fancy, mind you, but it gets the job done for the kind of game it’s trying to be.
Sound: 10 Glorious SpongeBob music, and the entire cast of the show being present to deliver hilarious voicework. I truly have nothing bad to say about the sound design, it’s as fantastic as it can be.	Fun Factor: 8.0 Is it as good as The Cosmic Shake? I don’t think so. Is it better than the vast majority of 3D platformers released over the past few years? Yes, without a doubt. Titans of the Tide might not feel as creative and chaotic as its predecessor, but it’s still one hell of a good time.
Final Verdict: 8.5

SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide is available now on PS5, Xbox Series S/X, PC and Switch 2.

Reviewed on Intel i7-12700H, 16GB RAM, RTX 3060 6GB.

A copy of SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide was provided by the publisher.