Rubato

Rubato is a running, jumping and collecting game where you play a frog on a quest to save the world. It's a familiar concept for a game, but Rubato leans into the wacky end of things as you drive clown cars around a track, use your tongue to attach yourself to balloons and float away, and even use cannons to travel huge distances. It combines the silly fun of Wario Ware with the physics-based platforming of a Chariot.

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Set in the distant future, a tyrannical corporation threatens the solar system. You play a small frog who, armed with nothing but your wits and your tongue, sets out on a journey to save the system. You explore vast, labyrinthine cities, office blocks and bakeries, defeat enemies and collect Planet Bits.

Play is a mix of classic platforming (running, jumping and exploring stages) and more novel physics-based interactions. You use your tongue, which you can aim and extend, to latch onto and move items to unlock new areas. Other times it's a useful grappling hook to swing across large gaps. You can even attach yourself to balloons and zip lines, or use cannons, to get around, all in service of finding enough Planet Bits to save the solar system (or use them to buy new costumes, upgrades and items to help you on your way).

In addition to exploration and collection, you fight enemies by picking things up with your tongue and throwing them - be it a rabbit in a hard hat or a dumpling with legs. Dexterity and precise movement are essential to avoid attacks, and closely studying both the enemy and the surroundings, as well as experimentation, is crucial in coming up with ambitious strategies to take down the biggest foes.

The result is a wacky mix of tough, physics-based platforming, exploration, and combat that work to create a unique game that celebrates the strange and offers an enjoyable yet still challenging game.

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Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Rubato 14 months ago. It was re-examined by Andy Robertson and updated 3 months ago.