Bubsy 4D review: The hairball is a feature this time

The big picture

Bubsy 4D gives its bobcat a rolling hairball form, which is an unusually productive response to something most cats simply leave on the carpet. Fabraz's platformer sends him across craft-themed alien planets using jumps, glides, climbs and pounces. Robotic sheep have stolen the Golden Fleece, so the trip has a suitably woolly explanation without requiring anyone to study the political situation before touching the controller.

Published by Atari, this new adventure fully launched on May 22, 2026, for Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch and Switch 2. Earlier PC and console demos were separate previews. It is also distinct from the old Bubsy 3D and The Purrfect Collection. The title may sound familiar, but make sure the bobcat in your basket is the one whose adventure you actually intended to buy. Official game listing

Yarn, blueprints and questionable outfits

Hidden blueprints unlock additional moves, while outfits provide cosmetic customisation. Those rewards serve different motivations. One changes what Bubsy can do; the other changes how he looks while doing it. Both can give a player a reason to explore, including the very respectable ambition of making a silly character look even less appropriately dressed for the situation.

A collectible becomes more interesting when it contributes to something you want. A new movement option may encourage revisiting a route, while an outfit can be its own goal. Players happy to reach the next boss do not need to adopt every missing item as a personal failure. The course is not marking your moral character because a collection remains incomplete.

That caveat matters if you tend to turn optional searching into a requirement. Investigating every corner can be satisfying when you enjoy the process. It can also drain the pace from an adventure you otherwise like. Decide whether you want to search because it sounds fun, rather than because an unfinished total has somehow acquired the authority to organise your evening.

Someone else's run is available to annoy you

Online leaderboards and recorded ghost runs add competition to the single-player adventure. You can chase another player's time without needing them present. This is useful for a movement game because the comparison concerns a route you can actually study, rather than a number sitting at the top of a list looking smug. Atari and Fabraz announcements

A ghost gives repetition a clear question: where could your next attempt improve? The answer may involve movement choices, route knowledge or less time spent hesitating at something you now understand. That suits players who finish a course and immediately want another go. Those satisfied with arriving can leave the stopwatch alone.

These features do not turn the campaign into live multiplayer or co-op. Friends can compare separate efforts; they are not accompanying one another through the adventure. Check that distinction before inviting somebody to play and then explaining that their main role is to admire your evolving relationship with a ramp.

The extra challenges have already arrived

The free Black Hole update released in August, adding fifteen challenge levels, five outfits, extra time medals and leaderboards. That is available content for players who want more demanding return trips. It expands the reasons to practise without requiring everybody to treat the main adventure as training for a permanent competitive career. Current patch and content status

As of October 18, the developer lists Black Hole version 1.2 as live across PC and the console families, while maintenance patch 1.2.1 is live on PC but not yet on consoles. The distinction matters: consoles have the Black Hole content even though the latest fixes have different timing. Shared features do not guarantee identical patch state.

Bubsy 4D is worth investigating if collecting, expressive movement and improving familiar runs sound appealing. Its hairball form gives the character a practical trick, while optional challenges support a longer relationship with the levels. Bring an interest in platforming and a realistic tolerance for bobcat humour. The ability to roll away is useful, but it is not a substitute for liking the company.