Beats and battles: How Ratatan rose through community support

GAMING NEWS AlexP - 19-Sept-2025, 9:03 am

Ratatan, a vibrant rhythm-roguelike action game, emerged from a passionate vision brought to life through crowdfunding. Launched on Kickstarter in August 2024, the campaign shattered expectations, raising over ¥219 million (approximately $1.5 million USD) from nearly 15,000 backers in just one month. This overwhelming support, far exceeding its modest goal, enabled the creation of a unique title blending music-driven combat with strategic roguelike elements. The fundraising success unlocked ambitious features like online multiplayer, new characters, and an enriched soundtrack, reflecting the community's pivotal role in shaping the game's scope. Similarly, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, a spiritual successor to Castlevania, followed a parallel path, raising millions through Kickstarter to revive a beloved genre with fan-backed enthusiasm.

In Ratatan, players step into the role of conductors, wielding magical instruments called Melodium to lead armies of charming Ratatan adventurers and their Cobun minions. The gameplay fuses rhythm-based mechanics with side-scrolling battles, requiring precise button presses timed to the beat to execute commands. Perfect timing triggers ''Fever Mode,'' boosting performance in chaotic melees involving over 100 unique characters and enemies. The narrative follows the Ratatans' quest to reach ''The Everafter'' and meet ''The Goddess,'' while defending their island home, Rataport, from threats in the land of Redo. With procedurally generated levels, random power-ups, weapons, skills, and dynamic boss battles, each run offers fresh challenges. Online co-op for up to four players adds a collaborative layer, making strategic positioning and musical synergy key to victory.

Ratatan's roadmap to a refined adventure

The content roadmap, shared in a September 2025 livestream, outlines an evolving experience through Spring 2026. The Early Access launch in September 2025 introduced core rhythm-action gameplay, multiple playable characters, and progression systems up to World 5, with player feedback shaping updates via in-game forms and community hubs. Mid-Early Access patches will ease weapon crafting, expand Ratatan Dock upgrades, and introduce Dark Ratatans for deeper lore, alongside new skills and worlds. By early 2026, additional worlds, characters, and endgame content will pave the way for the full release, with refined multiplayer and new scenarios. A Goddess Games system, adjusting difficulty and rewards, and a Suspend Save feature enhance accessibility, ensuring Ratatan evolves into a polished, community-driven adventure. You can find the best prices for Ratatan using our price comparison tool.