Command your Kobuns to the beat! We play “Ratatan” from the creator of “Patapon”—a hectic, roguelike-infused adventure [Play Report]

"Ratatan," the new game from Hiroyuki Kotani, the creator of the classic rhythm action game "Patapon." Three years have passed since the project began on Kickstarter, and it is finally set for official release.

We had the opportunity to play the official version ahead of its release and explore its appeal. For this article, the publisher provided us with a download key.

The game is set on a bustling island called “Rataport,” where mysterious creatures known as “Ratatans” and their friends lived together in a lively community.

However, they had a dream: to go to a place called Heaven and meet the goddess who lives there.

So, accompanied by their followers, the Ratatans set out on an endless journey to Heaven.

True to its genre name, “rhythm roguelike action game,” this title masterfully blends rhythm gameplay with roguelike elements.

Set to a constant, cheerful “Zun-chaka” soundtrack, the gameplay involves marching your chosen protagonist—Ratatan, selected from a pool of eight characters—and his Kobun to defeat the enemies that stand in your way.

Ratatat can move left and right, jump, and issue commands to her minions. Commanding is done through a rhythm game mechanic, requiring you to input commands in time with the beat just as the seek bar reaches the target point.

(Based on the default controls and Xbox controller layout) The X, X, X buttons are used to line up; B, B, B to attack; Y, Y, Y for a special “Hustle” move; B, B to guard; and X, X to perform a big jump simultaneously with your minions.

As is typical of rhythm games, if you’re significantly off-beat, the command won’t register, and the Kobun won’t take any action for a while.

Above all, the real challenge of this game lies in having to perform both these rhythm-based actions and the standard controls of a 2D side-scroller simultaneously.

Admittedly, compared to typical 2D games, enemy attacks are straightforward and come at a slow, predictable pace—but if you keep your eyes glued to the bar at the bottom, you’ll get hit constantly.

Furthermore, while the Kobun move with some inertia in response to attacks and movement, they won’t move very far unless you issue a command to line up.

This is especially noticeable during boss battles. You have to get your minions to take cover in anticipation of the boss’s big moves (though they’ll return over time, your firepower drops in the meantime, and if they’re all defeated, you’ll be in serious trouble).

Between your own position, your minions’ positions, enemy attacks, and the rhythm game mechanics, there’s no doubt this game is many times more hectic than a typical game!

That said, it’s not constantly overwhelming—true to the roguelike genre, the design is strong in how it lets you overcome challenges through synergy.

By combining “Ratacarta” cards obtained between stages to enhance specific actions, you can even plow through enemies with absurdly high damage output.

Each of the eight Ratatans has a different elemental specialty, and if you build your team around that, you’ll naturally get stronger.

Plus, at your base—Rataport—you can change the weapons your minions carry and switch up your party composition, so it’s great that you don’t have to play the same way every time.

Of course, in line with the recent roguelike trend, weapons and items drop with every run, and the fact that you can use them for permanent upgrades is a huge plus!

For those who find the gameplay too challenging and struggle to make progress, there’s also a “Welcome Mode” option. This mode reduces the damage you take every time you’re knocked out, so it’s designed so that anyone can clear the game while still getting a taste of its core mechanics.

It’s also great for when you just want to watch the Ratatans march by while getting lost in the background music, or when you want to do a few runs to collect weapons.

It’s a rhythm game, an action game, and a roguelike all at once… You could say it’s a rare gem where all these elements mesh together beautifully.

Before you know it, you’ll definitely find yourself singing along out loud: “Ho-i-ho-i-ho-i♪”!

"Ratatan" is currently available in Early Access on PC (Steam), PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The official release is scheduled for October 15, 2026.