Bubsy 4D hands-on is actually pretty interesting! [Preview]

We got our paws on the next Bubsy game, and it arrives with some fun mechanics and a speedrunning backbone

Bubsy 4D is (surprise!) true sequel to Bubsy (in) 3D (for some reason!) and while it’s easy to brush off the furball this latest adventure actually takes a turn for the better.

The demo session we recently got to take on at PAX West focused on a tutorial area and a first level, and allowed us to try out a few different movesets for the character. The focus is on locomotion, and being able to make our way across platforms and around hazards. In 4D the developers have created a sort of combo-style jump that lets us leap, skip, flip (and flop) across greater distances depending on when we tap the buttons, so that level design becomes a crucial part of the experience.

The dev staff on hand unabashedly told us that they were influenced by some of the best 3D platformers of all time, like Super Mario 64, and wanted to make sure that the movement in the air here was much more modernized than what Bubsy has ever had.

And it showed! Though it’s not in the same exact vein as a Mario it’s definitely meant to keep us moving across a world. Slowing down here and planning are important, but sometimes just going forward at a fast pace is the right answer. It’s right in the alley for speedrunning, so I can imagine that could end up being where some of the biggest draw is for the game.

Bubsy 4D might end up being the best in the series, thanks to developer Fabraz having extensive history with the genre, when it releases in 2026.