TGS 2025 | "SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide"
It’s kind of impressive seeing SpongeBob SquarePants having a video game resurgence. After the success of the Battle for Bikini Bottom remake and its (proper) follow-up, The Cosmic Shake, it seems like the Krusty Krab Employee of the Month couldn’t do any wrong in the video game sphere. The latest title on the Nickelodeon icon’s resume — Titans of the Tide — may continue that trend. So are you ready, kids?!
The Tokyo Gams Show demo starts on a semi-ordinary day for SpongeBob, as you need to clean up the Krusty Krab and prepare the ingredients for the Krabby Patty. This part helps to familiarize those who’ve played the last couple of games, as you learn how to smack, climb, and collect your way through a mission. But then, the tables suddenly turn with the appearance of the Flying Dutchman. Peeved at King Neptune for cutting the line, FD curses the Krusty Krab, turning SpongeBob and many others into ghosts! **cues spooky music**
That’s when the real hero of the story enters: Patrick Star. (WE’RE DOOMED!!!) Thankfully, the dumbest citizen of Bikini Bottom has more strength than brains, as you beat off ghosts and solve puzzles in order to reach Bikini Bottom. Patrick’s controls are fairly similar to SpongeBob’s, with one big difference: he can dig in the dirt and send himself flying via some bubbly mounds. And during the demo, I had a mission to complete with these skills: save Plankton.
Fighting off ghosts are fairly easy, as you avoid their goopy attacks and give them a good smacking. Learning how to use bombs and boxes to reach other areas is also pretty simple, a good thing considering Patrick’s IQ is in the negatives. However, it took me a while to remember how to glide, as I watched Patrick plummet to the bottom and…drown? Wait, how does that make any sense?!
Where Titans of the Tide shines is in its humor. The voice acting and script feels very much akin to the earliest seasons of SpongeBob SquarePants. Squidward complaining about a job he should’ve done in the first place, the Flying Dutchman going on a rant for hours, and even Plankton’s robot wife trying to explain to Patrick what to do has many moments that’ll make many gamers laugh heartily. (Seriously, why aren’t the current seasons as funny as this?!)
If you enjoyed the last two SpongeBob games, then odds are you will really enjoy this one. Titans of the Tide thus far has all the trademarks of a good platformer. Fun attacks, silly writing, and some very impressive visuals make for this return to Bikini Bottom one worth booking in advance for. But will it be as worthy to play as it is to eat a half-off Krabby Patty? We’ll know on November 18th when Titans of the Tide sets sail on PC and consoles everywhere!
