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The closest games to Katamari Damacy are the other Katamari releases. Start with Once Upon a KATAMARI if you want the newest entry and multiplayer competition, We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie if you want a remastered sequel with extra challenges, or Katamari Damacy REROLL if you want the original experience on modern systems. The best non-Katamari substitute is Donut County, which keeps the silly escalation and object-collecting fantasy but replaces rolling with a growing hole that swallows things.
This is a deliberately focused list. The evidence strongly supports these four recommendations; it does not support padding the ranking with unrelated physics games that merely look whimsical. Use the comparison below to match the game’s core interaction, structure, edition and platform to what you actually want.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Katamari Damacy REROLL - PlayStation 4 | $17.68 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Once Upon A Katamari - PlayStation 5 | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Katamari Damacy REROLL - Xbox One | $11.24 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
【Katamari Damacy】 Katamari Damacy 005 T-Shirt | $18.55 | Buy on Amazon |
Quick comparison
| Game | Core mechanic | How closely it matches Katamari | Structure and notable content | Supported platforms listed by the publisher or cited source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Once Upon a KATAMARI | Roll a Katamari to attach nearby objects; a magnet tool pulls in objects, and KatamariBall adds competitive play. | Closest current follow-up; same fundamental rolling-and-collecting premise. | Puzzle action/adventure levels plus KatamariBall, a four-player mode with timed size competition. | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. Regional storefront listings can change. |
| We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie | Roll and collect objects as in the sequel, presented in a remaster. | Direct sequel/remaster option with the familiar control idea and tone. | Enhanced visuals, additional challenges and collectibles, plus Royal Reverie starring the young King of All Cosmos. | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC. |
| Katamari Damacy REROLL | Roll a ball through environments and collect objects until it grows. | The most direct way to return to the original game, with updated presentation. | Original game structure, updated graphics and recreated cutscenes. | Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. |
| Donut County | Move a hole under objects, swallow them and grow large enough to take bigger objects. | Adjacent rather than direct: the escalation fantasy is similar, but there is no rolling Katamari. | Physics-puzzler stages built around positioning the hole and deciding what to swallow. | PC, PlayStation 4 and App Store availability was listed by the cited feature; check the store in your region before buying. |
How to choose a game like Katamari Damacy
“Like Katamari” can mean several different things. Separating those qualities prevents a disappointing recommendation.
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Choose Once Upon a KATAMARI, We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie or Katamari Damacy REROLL. All three retain the central idea of moving a growing ball through a space and attaching objects to it. That makes them substantially closer than a game that only shares Katamari’s colorful absurdity.
#1 Best Overall
- When the King of All Cosmos accidentally destroys all the stars in the sky, he orders you, his pint-sized princely son, to put the twinkle back in the heavens above.
- Join the King and Prince of Cosmos on their wacky adventure to restore the stars at home or on the go – now in full HD!
- No buttons to press. No combos to cause distress. Featuring ball-rolling and object-collecting gameplay mechanics of mesmerizing fluidity, reduced to Pac-Man simplicity, through pure absurdity.
- Enjoy quirky, infectious humor throughout - from the insanely cosmic animations, to the wacky and wonderful musical stylings, to the royally contagious storyline that’s undoubtedly like no other.
- Go head-to head with local multiplayer! Roll up the biggest katamari (and even your opponent!) to win the King of Cosmos’ praise!
If you want the newest series release
Once Upon a KATAMARI is the current follow-up in this list. Bandai Namco announced it for October 24, 2025, so that date is now historical rather than an upcoming launch. Its listed platforms are Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam.
If you want a sequel with extra material
We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie is the appropriate choice. It remasters the sequel and adds challenges and collectibles. Its Royal Reverie mode places the young King of All Cosmos at the center of additional content.
If you want the original game in an updated edition
Katamari Damacy REROLL is the straightforward answer. It brings back the original game with updated graphics and recreated cutscenes while preserving ball-rolling and object-collecting gameplay.
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Pick Donut County. It is a physics puzzler in which the player controls a hole that swallows objects and grows. A PC Gamer recommendation feature described the concept as “Katamari in reverse”: the shared pleasure is watching the range of collectible objects expand, but the movement and puzzles are different.
1. Once Upon a KATAMARI: the closest current follow-up
Once Upon a KATAMARI should be your first stop if you want a modern Katamari rather than an imitation. Bandai Namco classifies it as a puzzle action/adventure game and describes the familiar rolling premise alongside two additions that change how you approach a stage: a magnet tool and KatamariBall.
Why it is the strongest match
The defining interaction remains intact: maneuver the Katamari so objects attach to it, then use the increasing size to reach objects that were previously out of range. That loop is the reason this game ranks above the adjacent recommendation below. You are not simply collecting items in a menu or solving abstract physics problems; the collection happens through the rolling object itself.
Rank #2
- REROLL BONUS: Roll as COUSIN: YOUNG KING, the King of All Cosmos in his childhood form, who also appeared in past games! Freely customize him with the character customization feature. Bonus available for users who have save data from either Katamari Damacy REROLL or We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie on the same platform.
- A Shiny New Katamari Damacy Adventure Awaits - Experience new stages and a fabulous new original soundtrack! Behold a fresh rolling experience, with never-before-seen power tools like the magnet that draws in nearby objects! How...attractive!
- Roll Through the Ages - The King was so well-behaved but one day, he mistakenly crushed the Earth, the Moon, and numerous other planets while fiddling with a peculiar scroll. Fix the King’s blunder by rolling your katamari through the Jurassic Era, Ice Age, historic Japan, and more eras to rebuild the sky’s dazzling field of stars.
- Keep the Family Close With Cousin Customization - Play as The Prince, or choose among his 68 cousins and kin to play as. Customize your character in different colors and faces to create as many original Cousin designs as there are stars in the sky.
- Compete in Celestial 4-Player KatamariBall - Conquer the game of KatamariBall, the galactic sport of choice across the Cosmos! Compete in online multiplayer against cousins around the world, or hone your skills with scintillating offline play against CPU opponents.
The magnet is a separate tool in the official description. Because it pulls nearby objects, it gives the game an additional way to gather items beyond lining up a roll. The precise behavior, limits and control mapping can depend on the version you play, so consult the in-game instructions for your platform rather than assuming the same button layout across systems.
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KatamariBall and multiplayer
The launch announcement describes KatamariBall as a four-player competitive mode. Players roll to become as large as possible, then exchange size for points within a time limit. That creates a different objective from a conventional stage: maximizing your own final size is not the only consideration, because the mode also uses a score exchange and a clock.
Choose this entry if local or online group competition is a major reason you are looking for a Katamari-like game. The available source establishes the four-player format and timed size-for-points concept, but not every matchmaking or multiplayer configuration. Check the current platform listing and the game’s mode details before buying for a specific group setup.
Save-data unlock
The launch announcement also described a Young King unlock tied to save data from Katamari Damacy REROLL or We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie. Treat this as a cross-game bonus rather than a requirement: the core game is still the same recommendation if you do not own either earlier release.
Platforms and edition checks
The official game page lists Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. The publisher’s store also lists a Switch edition. Availability, packaging and digital storefront pages can vary by country and can change after publication, so search your local store by the exact title before assuming that a physical or digital edition is available.
2. We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie: a remastered sequel with extras
This release is the best fit when you want more than a return to the first game. Bandai Namco describes it as a remaster of the sequel, with enhanced visuals, additional challenges and collectibles. It also includes Royal Reverie, a mode starring a young King of All Cosmos.
Rank #3
- When the King of All Cosmos accidentally destroys all the stars in the sky, he orders you, his pint-sized princely son, to put the twinkle back in the heavens above.
- Join the King and Prince of Cosmos on their wacky adventure to restore the stars at home or on the go – now in full HD!
- No buttons to press. No combos to cause distress. Featuring ball-rolling and object-collecting gameplay mechanics of mesmerizing fluidity, reduced to Pac-Man simplicity, through pure absurdity.
- Enjoy quirky, infectious humor throughout - from the insanely cosmic animations, to the wacky and wonderful musical stylings, to the royally contagious storyline that’s undoubtedly like no other.
- Go head-to head with local multiplayer! Roll up the biggest katamari (and even your opponent!) to win the King of Cosmos’ praise!
What makes it different from Katamari Damacy REROLL
Katamari Damacy REROLL is the updated edition of the original. We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie is built from the sequel and therefore belongs to a different point in the series’ progression. Both use the rolling-and-collecting foundation, but they are not interchangeable editions of one game.
Choose the sequel remaster when extra challenges and collectibles are more important than preserving the exact first-game starting point. Choose Katamari Damacy REROLL when your priority is the original campaign and its recreated cutscenes.
Royal Reverie and additional content
Royal Reverie gives the remaster a distinct reason to exist beyond higher-fidelity presentation. The mode focuses on the young King of All Cosmos, while the main product description also calls out added challenges and collectibles. The available information does not establish a total stage count, completion time or difficulty curve, so those should not be inferred from the word “additional.”
Platforms
The listed platforms are Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC. This is the broadest console-generation coverage among the three Katamari recommendations. If you own an older PlayStation or Xbox, check the store page for the exact edition; a platform being listed does not guarantee that every regional storefront offers the same purchase format.
3. Katamari Damacy REROLL: return to the original
Katamari Damacy REROLL is the cleanest recommendation for someone who has never played the original or wants that specific game on a current platform. The publisher describes updated graphics and recreated cutscenes while retaining the original ball-rolling and object-collecting gameplay.
Why start with the original
The original establishes the central escalation most people mean when they ask for a Katamari-like game: begin with a small rolling ball, attach suitable objects and gradually become large enough to collect objects that once blocked your progress. The remaster changes presentation, not that basic premise.
Rank #4
- Video Game design. Officially licensed Katamari Damacy item.
- Various Katamari Damacy designs available.
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
This makes it a useful baseline for judging the other recommendations. If the act of steering a ball through a stage and building it from everyday objects is what you want, this game answers the question directly. If you mainly want a new mode, extra challenges or multiplayer competition, one of the other entries may be a better purchase.
Platforms and historical pricing note
The official page lists Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. An older launch announcement mentioned an initial digital price of $29.99 in the Americas. That was a historical announcement price, not a current price; do not use it as a present-day cost. Check the live store listing for your country and platform instead.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.4. Donut County: an adjacent physics-puzzler
Donut County belongs on this list for a specific reason: it captures the pleasure of escalating collection while changing the tool completely. You control a hole, move it beneath objects, swallow them and grow until larger objects fit. The cited PC Gamer feature called it “Katamari in reverse,” a useful shorthand for the relationship but not a claim that the games play identically.
What carries over from Katamari
- A playful, absurd premise rather than a realistic simulation.
- A visible sense of escalation as the range of collectible objects increases.
- Physics-driven interaction with objects in an environment.
- A satisfying transition from small targets to larger ones.
What does not carry over
- You do not roll a ball or attach objects to a growing Katamari.
- The hole’s position, rather than the Katamari’s surface and momentum, is the main tool for solving a stage.
- Its structure is a sequence of physics-puzzler situations, not a direct Katamari campaign.
Recommend it to someone who says, “I want the silly act of swallowing or collecting increasingly large things.” Do not recommend it as a one-for-one control substitute for someone specifically asking for Katamari’s rolling feel.
Availability qualification
The cited feature lists PC, PlayStation 4 and App Store availability. Store catalogs change, and mobile availability can differ by country, operating-system version and device. Verify the current listing in the storefront you intend to use.
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Which recommendation fits your priority?
| Your priority | Best match | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| The newest Katamari entry | Once Upon a KATAMARI | It is the latest follow-up covered here and adds the magnet tool and KatamariBall. |
| Four-player timed competition | Once Upon a KATAMARI | KatamariBall is described as a four-player mode with size competition and a time limit. |
| A remastered sequel with added content | We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie | It adds challenges, collectibles and Royal Reverie to the sequel remaster. |
| The original game on a modern system | Katamari Damacy REROLL | It updates graphics and cutscenes while preserving the original gameplay. |
| A non-Katamari physics puzzler | Donut County | It offers escalating object collection through a growing hole rather than a rolling ball. |
| Maximum platform flexibility across console generations | We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie | Its listed platforms include Switch, both PlayStation 4 and 5, both Xbox One and Series X|S, and PC. |
Platform and edition checklist before you buy
- Identify your exact hardware. Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC are not interchangeable storefront targets. Match the game’s listed platform to the device you own.
- Check the regional store. Publisher pages provide a useful platform baseline, but release status, language options, physical stock and digital pricing can vary by geography and date.
- Distinguish remaster from sequel. Katamari Damacy REROLL is the original returned with updated presentation; We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie is a remastered sequel; Once Upon a KATAMARI is a later follow-up.
- Confirm multiplayer expectations. KatamariBall is described as four-player competitive play, but the available description does not specify every online, local or cross-platform arrangement. Read the current product page if that feature determines your purchase.
- Do not rely on old prices. The $29.99 figure associated with Katamari Damacy REROLL was an initial Americas digital price announcement, not a current universal price.
- Check save-data requirements for bonuses. The Young King unlock in Once Upon a KATAMARI was announced for save data from Katamari Damacy REROLL or We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie. If you are buying on a different platform or account, confirm how that entitlement works.
What this list does—and does not—claim
These recommendations are ranked by mechanical and structural similarity, not by an unsupported score for quality, difficulty or personal enjoyment. The three Katamari titles are direct matches because their documented premise centers on rolling and collecting. Donut County is included as an adjacent choice because its hole-based growth loop shares the escalation fantasy while deliberately changing movement.
No reliable evidence here establishes a broad cross-franchise ranking of every physics-based game, current performance comparisons, control responsiveness, completion times or a universal “best” platform. Those details can vary by edition and should be checked on the live store page or in the game’s documentation.
Final recommendation
Buy Once Upon a KATAMARI for the closest current continuation, especially if KatamariBall’s four-player competition appeals to you. Choose We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie for a remastered sequel with added challenges and collectibles, or Katamari Damacy REROLL for the original. Choose Donut County only when you are happy to trade rolling for a growing hole and want the same broad joy of absurd, physics-driven escalation.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
