A royal mess, a cosmic cleanup, and just enough chaos: Katamari’s long-awaited return is finally ready to roll through time.

Bandai Namco has announced Once Upon a Katamari, the first brand-new mainline entry in the Katamari Damacy series since 2011. The title was revealed during the July 2025 Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, alongside a full gameplay trailer confirming the return of the King of All Cosmos, the Prince, and the familiar object-collecting gameplay that defines the franchise. This time, however, players will be rolling across different eras of history to piece the universe back together.

Once Upon a Katamari will release on 24 October, 2025.

Time-travelling clean-up with some modern upgrades

According to an official description, the story sees the King of All Cosmos and his family once again cause widespread destruction, this time erasing not only the Earth and the Moon, but stars throughout the cosmos. In the aftermath, players must travel across historical periods such as the Jurassic era, the Ice Age, and ancient Japan, collecting objects using Katamari to rebuild the sky.

While the core mechanics of the cult classic remain intact, Once Upon a Katamari introduces several new features. These include expanded character customisation for the Prince and all 68 of his Cousins, as well as a newly-added multiplayer mode that allows up to four players to compete locally or online. A fresh soundtrack will accompany players throughout their clean-up journey.

It’s a significant expansion for a series known for its offbeat tone and simple mechanics, but even with the added features, the spirit of Katamari appears unchanged. The familiar loop of rolling up increasingly larger items into a growing mass returns, as does the series’ distinctive visual style.

Once Upon a Katamari will be available for pre-order via the Nintendo eShop starting 1 August. Players with save data from Katamari Damacy REROLL or We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie will receive a special in-game bonus: a playable version of the Young King at launch.

With its long-awaited return, Once Upon a Katamari aims to rekindle the series’ charm while rolling in new ideas for returning and new players alike. After more than a decade away, the stage is set for Katamari to take up space once again, one object at a time.

Once Upon a Katamari will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.