SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake review: a zany, platforming ride through the multiverse

The first month of 2023 has drawn to a close, which means that many of us are probably assessing whether we’ve been sticking to our New Year’s resolutions. There are the usual suspects - hit the gym, eat healthier - but there’s also a new kid on the block. If you’re following the latest trend, we should all be ‘embracing our cringe’ in 2023 and SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake may just be a perfect poster child for the movement.

If you’re not clued in on ‘embracing your cringe,’ it’s basically the idea that we should all stop worrying about how we’re perceived. Be silly. Welcome nonsense into your life, whether that be filming the TikTok dance you’ve always been too embarrassed to or launching into a dab after beating your friend on Fortnite. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake wholeheartedly embraces its cringe and is all the more fun because of it. Cursed imagery? Check. Jokes that are so bad they’re funny? Check. What else would you expect from perhaps the world’s most memeable franchise?

Check out the trailer for SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake below.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is the latest 3D platformer from Purple Lamp Studios. On a trip to Glove World, SpongeBob and Patrick acquire what they think is a tube of bubbles. As it turns out, they’re actually mermaid tears which should only be used in limited supply. Soon enough, the accident-prone duo have opened up dangerous rifts all over Bikini Bottom, and Patrick ends up turning himself into a balloon. Together, SpongeBob and balloon Patrick must visit seven ‘Wishworlds’ in a bid to restore Bikini Bottom back to its former glory.

While SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake may not do anything revolutionary - in fact, it doesn’t come close - it’s a well constructed platformer. The difficulty is certainly on the easier side of things, but I found that SpongeBob had enough abilities and skills to keep me interested. You’ll need to glide, swing, jump, roll, and karate kick your way across a number of varied landscapes, from the Wild West Jellyfish Fields to the Pirate Goo Lagoon.

While you’ll ultimately use the same skills in every Wishworld, each has its own unique identity and quirk. In Halloween Rock Bottom, I was forced to hide and sneak up on what I can only describe as spooky fish, while in the Wild West Jellyfish Fields, I raced through the frontier like a cowboy, sat atop a seahorse. The villains you encounter also predominantly remain the same throughout each world, but there are eight different varieties you’ll come up against - each requiring a different number of hits to see them off - so again, while the combat may not be difficult, it does provide an engaging and light-hearted dose of fun.

THQ Nordic

What I enjoyed most of all is SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake’s humour. Every now and then, extremely cursed images of various SpongeBob characters will pop up mid-conversation and I really couldn’t tell you why. One minute I’m talking to Larry Lobster, the next my screen is covered by an intricately detailed image of Larry grimacing due to having a bloodshot eye surrounded by a nasty yellow rippling infection. Why? I’ve been pondering this for a solid week. Larry does not have an infected eye in the story. At one stage, I was offered a very normal candy bar, but up pops yet another cursed image and this time, the candy bar honestly looked like it was infected with cordyceps.

These images will just linger on the screen until you choose to exit and carry on with the scene. It’s slightly unhinged, but I did find myself somewhat looking forward to them. A colleague caught a glimpse of one. “Thank you. I hate it,” they said, which pretty much sums it up nicely. You’ll be pleased to know, SpongeBob and Patrick are still cracking jokes. My personal favourite? SpongeBob approached a gravestone in Halloween Rock Bottom. “Carl. Not gone. Just forgotten,” it read. Poor Carl but I cannot lie, I did laugh.

THQ Nordic

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is a linear experience. Each Wishworld has its own unique boss fight. Complete the boss fight and you’ll be awarded the outfit you’ll need to enter the next world. You can also collect golden coins to unlock bonus outfits, plus there are collectables to be found around Bikini Bottom which acts as your main hub in between Wishworlds. The golden coins and various collectables are pretty well hidden. I really didn’t come across that many during my first playthrough and some I did see but I couldn’t work out how to get to, so even now having wrapped up the main game, I’m likely to dive back in to do a bit more exploring which is always a good sign.

Like I said, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake doesn’t do anything new. Its concept reminded me of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, although that game is far more advanced. I reviewed The Cosmic Shake’s PlayStation 4 version, as there is no PS5 edition, and it’s clear that this is a previous-gen experience. There’s no haptic feedback. The loading times are fairly slow but then again, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake isn’t demanding £70 nor is it claiming to be a AAA title.

THQ Nordic

Priced at £35, The Cosmic Shake is a seven to nine hour dose of pure, stake-free fun. It’s a platformer that won’t offer you anything you haven’t seen before, but it executes what it does well. The familiarity of the characters and world is always going to be its selling point, and fans won’t be disappointed by the quality of the humour. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is certainly never going to be a ‘Game of the Year’ contender, but not all games have to be. There’s room for a zany experience every now and then. When the credits rolled on The Cosmic Shake, I knew I was glad I’d picked up the game. Isn’t that all you can ask for?

Pros: considered level design, memeworthy humour, easy-to-grasp gameplay

Cons: lacks difficulty, fails to do anything new

For fans of: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

7/10: Very Good

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake releases for PlayStation 4 (version tested), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on 31 January. A review code was provided by the publisher, THQ Nordic. Read a guide to our review scores here.