RUBATO

I didn’t expect to fall so hard for a frog that got into space because someone missed a pool shot, but here we are. RUBATO is an experimental, 2D physics-heavy spin on the collect-a-thon that wears its oddness proudly: equal parts Super Mario Odyssey moon-hunting and Part Time UFO’s lovable chaos, with a narrative that can go from silly to deeply existential in a heartbeat. What hooks me instantly is the combination of tactile tongue mechanics, densely packed “secret” screens, and a soundtrack that insists on sticking in your head. If you enjoy platformers that surprise you (and don’t mind being gently unmoored), RUBATO is worth the ride.

Tongue Out, Hero Up

At its core RUBATO asks you to move, latch on, fling and collect. You control a frog whose primary interaction is using its tongue to lick enemies, grab objects and slingshot yourself into corners you didn’t think reachable. The physics feel delightfully tactile—sometimes gloriously wonky—and that unpredictability is part of the joy; combining tongue grabs with jumps, rockets and environmental props leads to emergent moments that made me laugh out loud. Exploration is non-linear: each of the five compact areas (from a sprawling bakery to the world’s most poorly planned city) hides shortcuts, tiny set-pieces and secret subareas that reward curiosity. The collectathon loop revolves around Planet Bits, scattered across hub-like regions and tucked into bizarre, often surreal micro-challenges. Expect to backtrack with new movement options and occasionally be stumped by a physics interaction that requires a bit of improvisation.

When the Game Decides to Get Weird

RUBATO leans hard into set pieces and tonal shifts; one moment you’re hunting a shiny Planet Bit, the next you’re in a fever-dream cutscene that plays like Undertale doing improv. The writing is proudly strange—funny, poignant, and sometimes alarmingly sincere—and it frequently reshapes gameplay to serve beats of story or comedy. Those secret subareas are the heart of the experience: short, dense, often experimental playgrounds that feel like tiny WarioWare levels stretched into platforming. The game isn’t afraid to break genre expectations, swapping platforming for weird puzzles, narrative vignettes or music-led sections, which keeps the pacing unpredictable in a good and occasionally frustrating way.

A Strange, Sticky Presentation

Visually RUBATO is a collage of hand-crafted oddities: colorful 2D sprites, surreal backgrounds and charming animation quirks that sell its fever-dream vibe. Performance on Windows (the released platform) is solid for me, though the physics can lead to frame-sensitive moments where a tiny hitch produces unexpected results. Sound is a major highlight—the soundtrack is repeatedly praised in the community and for good reason: it’s memorable, eclectic and elevates even the strangest scenes. On the downside, there are accessibility oversights worth noting: a few players (and I) missed a proper volume slider and found some control rebinding unintuitive, especially for gamepads. Also: flashing lights warning is real—this game isn’t for photosensitive players without caution.

RUBATO is a strange, lovable experiment: raw at times, joyous at others, and frequently surprising. It’s ideal for players who cherish exploration, music and games that dare to be weird—just be ready for occasional control quirks and tonal whiplash. Go in blind if you can, and enjoy the ride.