Bubsy 4D

I didn’t expect to write a glowing review for a Bubsy game in 2026, but here we are. Fabraz took the notorious mascot and turned him into a nimble 3D platformer that wears its past as nostalgia rather than a leash. Bubsy 4D is playful, swift and filled with wink-wink references, but it’s also refreshingly focused on one thing: fun movement. If you like collectathons with a speedrunning twist, this little space romp will likely charm you.

Schmovement in Zero-G

Controlling Bubsy feels like rediscovering a familiar toy that suddenly has more buttons: jump, glide, claw up walls, pounce and a new hairball roll that turns him into a blur. Levels are crafted around chaining those abilities — I spent a worrying amount of time just stringing glides into pounces and hairball launches because it genuinely feels good. The platforming leans into momentum, so you can burst through sections at high speed or play cautiously and hunt every yarn ball and blueprint. Checkpoints are generous, which softens the sting of mistakes when the physics get a bit wild; I appreciated that because the game invites experimentation rather than punishes trial-and-error death. Each planet has its own theme and movement puzzles, and the boss arenas use your full toolkit rather than shoehorning in awkward combat. The day-to-day loop is simple: explore, collect, master a trick, then shave seconds off your best run.

From Yarn to Golden Fleece — What Makes It Bubsy

What sets Bubsy 4D apart is how many little systems connect: yarn as currency for outfits, hidden blueprints that unlock new moves, and leaderboard ghost data that makes time trials feel alive. The hairball mechanic is a standout — it’s essentially a dedicated speed form that bounces, launches and can be steered into creative shortcuts once you master the physics. Blueprints change playstyles: a single unlock can turn a cautious platform into a high-risk speed-line, which is great for both completionists and runners. The game also winks at its own legacy with skins (including an Old 3D Bubsy) and a cheeky script, but it never leans so hard into self-deprecation that it feels mean. Multiplayer isn’t here, but the ghost races and uploaded runs create a low-effort community pressure that pushed me to try weird routes and learn tech tricks.

A Soundtrack and Visuals That Purr

Fabraz leaned into a colorful, slightly cartoony style that sells each planet’s identity without trying to out-photoreal the other big studios — it’s readable and charming, which suits speedy platforming. Fat Bard’s soundtrack (jazz, big band and electro-swing touches) is a delight and helps scenes stick; I found myself humming tracks after quitting the game. Voice acting is lively and sells the cast, though the joke density can become a drip of self-aware schadenfreude if you let it. Performance on PC is generally solid; I hit a few odd collisions and rare crashes others mentioned, but they didn’t ruin my run. Accessibility options are sensible, and the controls map cleanly to both controller and keyboard, though I’d still recommend a pad for tighter platforming sessions.

Bubsy 4D is a modest miracle: a proper, fun 3D platformer built around delightful movement and replayable time trials. It’s imperfect — too short for some and a bit rough at the edges — but its heart, soundtrack and techy speed options make it easy to recommend to platform fans and speedrunners. Buy on sale if price vs. content matters to you, otherwise sink in and enjoy the schmovement.