"Spongebob Squarepants: Giants of the Tides": I'm finally playing a new adventure in Bikini Bottom
17.11.2025
Translation: machine translated
Spongebob Squarepants is back and does nothing less than save Bikini Bottom. At his side: his best friend Patrick Star. This can only be a good thing...
An ordinary day in Bikini Bottom? There is no such thing when the two biggest titans of the sea come to blows and burn down the Krusty Krab in the process. King Neptune and the Flying Dutchman are responsible for the misery and turn half the population into angry ghosts in the process.
The beginning of the story of «Spongebob Squarepants: Giants of the Tides» is quickly told and mixes typical Spongebob humour with creative game elements. After the two Titans ghostly curse Bikini Bottom, it's up to me to put things right. And by «me» I mean a spooky mix of Spongebob and Patrick.
Spongebob and Patrick as an inseparable duo
The yellow sponge has also been transformed into a ghost. Thanks to the friendship ring with Patrick, I can bring him back to the living, but the starfish is then a ghost. This means I can switch back and forth as often as I like throughout the game. One character is always an accompanying ghost and the other is my fully-fledged character.
Sponge and Star each have their own strengths that I can use in the levels. As Spongebob, for example, I kick red balloons to fly further over ravines. As Patrick, on the other hand, I dig through the sand and hurl wooden barrels or enemies around.
So I set off to save the world. To do this, I need the right vehicle under my spongy bum: a flying crab burger. From this overworld, I navigate to the individual chapters in the game. I can see where I am on a map that opens when I select the steering wheel. Then I click on the new, unknown location - so it's more like spurring than flying. This takes me first to the infamous Goldfish Island. A great treasure is said to be hidden here, which Mr Krabs naturally wants to get hold of.
Some levels drive me to despair
At the beginning, the tasks are easy and collecting coins is a side effect. I learn in an entertaining way how to fight angry ghosts with Patrick or cross ravines without drowning - yes, you can drown under water too, it's logical. The levels quickly pick up speed. Although they all work in a similar way, I am constantly being given new tools, abilities or enemies. The basic principle of getting from A to B and finding something or rescuing someone becomes increasingly complex and challenging.
One additional game element reminds me a lot of «The Legend of Zelda» dungeons: the puzzles. Sometimes I can't get through at certain points and have to stack crates or place stony totem heads in the right places. Once I've done everything right, gates and chasms open up. The puzzles are sometimes tricky because the order has to be right and the crates and totems are hidden.
The mixture of tricky passages and time pressure drives me to despair. Sometimes I don't know what to do, so I'm too slow and die. Once I've finally made it, the next time-critical challenge is already waiting. Once I've used up my meagre life reserve of four pairs of pants, the section starts all over again.
This is particularly nasty when a horde of ghosts attacks me. Despite (or perhaps because of) the frustration and the nasty attacks, I love this kind of game. After a short break of swearing and getting upset, I'm always motivated enough to try again. And again.
Many of the levels are fast-paced and require multitasking: while I'm racing down a slide across a ravine, I have to switch from Spongebob to Patrick in flight to operate a bridge. Or I can switch a ghost lamp at the same time as crossing ghost stairs: green stairs need a green ghost light, blue stairs need a blue one. As lamps and stairs move at the same time, I have to react and switch as quickly as possible. Only on the tenth attempt, close to despair, do I stop falling into the infinite depths.
Famous characters from the series to take a deep breath
On my way to Neptune and the Flying Dutchman, I keep coming across familiar characters. Sandy, for example, is romping around on the first island. The boating instructor Mrs Puff also needs Spongebob's help. The German dubbing voices of Spongebob and Sandy are familiar to me from the series. But I also feel entertained by the unfamiliar voices.
The cutscenes that tell the main story are sometimes a little lengthy, but can also be fast-forwarded or skipped. After a fast-paced level, however, I can suitably take a deep breath.
While I walk through the landscapes and explore everything, I can hear the characters talking in the background. Sometimes it's funny, but sometimes it annoys me. Probably because I'm stuck somewhere again and don't want to hear any stupid comments. I don't want to switch off the sound, after all, I feel comfortable with Spongebob's squeaky shoes and the typical soundtrack from the series.
If I want even more nostalgia, I can buy funny outfits from the series in the shop with the coins I collect. Not all of them are unlocked from the start. I first have to find them in treasure chests. I like this and keep looking for them while playing. Sometimes the chests are pretty nasty and I lose a pair of pants when I reach them.
Beautiful, open game world
I quickly feel at home in the open 3D world. Everything is lovingly detailed and I'm always happy to see familiar elements from the series. For example, I can fish for jellyfish or talk to lively fish from time to time. The view is also always worth a break.
However, I occasionally get lost in a labyrinth and lose my bearings. Fortunately, this isn't a problem with a flying friend at my side: at the touch of a button, I send Spongebob or Patrick ahead in ghost form and let him show me the way. Of course, this doesn't necessarily help with solving puzzles - but it's not supposed to.
«Spongebob Squarepants: Giants of the Tides» was provided to me by THQ Nordic for the Switch 2. It will be available from 18 November 2025 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Switch 2
In a nutshell
Desperately good
My stress level during "Spongebob Squarepants: Giants of the Tides" is often at its absolute peak. I'm annoyed and desperate - and I love it! The game is challenging in a creative and good way. It skilfully mixes fast-paced levels and tricky boss battles with cosy storytelling and familiar characters from Bikini Bottom. The world is lovingly, wittily and richly detailed. I always stop and look at the world with fascination. Whether it's romantic sunsets on the beach or the mighty palace of Neptune with its colourful murals: The developers have really gone the extra mile.
Even when I want to throw the game console against the wall from time to time, I keep getting stuck in. "Spongebob Squarepants: Giants of the Tides" is not a game for the faint-hearted, but more like a toxic relationship: It drives you to white heat, but because everything is so familiar and entertaining, you can't keep your hands off it.
Pro
- Familiar characters and worlds
- Creative, detailed level design
- Good mix of challenging, fast-paced and cosy
Contra
- Sayings from the off can be annoying
Header image: THQ Nordic
In my world, Super Mario chases Stormtroopers with a unicorn and Harley Quinn mixes cocktails for Eddie and Peter at the beach bar. Wherever I can live out my creativity, my fingers tingle. Or maybe it's because nothing flows through my veins but chocolate, glitter and coffee.
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