RUBATO is one of the most wonderfully weird indie games to drop in 2026.
Developed by solo creator dconn and published by Headcannon (the studio behind Sonic Mania Plus), this experimental 2D physics-based collect-a-thon launched on March 20 for PC, Nintendo Switch, and PS5.
You play as a frog tasked with collecting Planet Bits to restore the solar system after it gets destroyed by a botched game of pool. Yes, really.
The game blends platforming, exploration, and surprisingly deep storytelling into one bizarre and unforgettable package.
RUBATO does not hold your hand though, and the physics-driven movement plus massive levels can be disorienting if you go in unprepared.
These beginner tips will help you get your bearings and make the most out of your first playthrough.
Master the Tongue Mechanic Early
Your tongue is the single most important tool in RUBATO.
You use it to lick enemies, grab and pull objects, latch onto rings, and slingshot yourself across gaps. It is your primary way of interacting with almost everything.
Movement in RUBATO is entirely physics-driven. You are not just jumping from platform to platform like a traditional platformer. Instead, you are building momentum by chaining tongue-grapples with jumps to fling yourself through the environment.
Spend some time in the first area, The Bakery, just practicing your tongue mechanics.
Get comfortable with the timing of latching onto objects and the way your momentum carries you after you release. It feels chaotic at first, but once it clicks, the movement becomes incredibly satisfying.
There is no single correct way to traverse most areas.
The game rewards creativity and improvisation over precision, so experiment with different approaches to see what works.
Planet Bits Are Your Top Priority
Planet Bits are the main collectible in RUBATO and the key to your progression. These scattered fragments of the destroyed solar system are hidden throughout every area, and collecting them is how you restore the planets.
Picking up Planet Bits also levels up your health, making you tougher as you progress.
The more you explore and collect early on, the better prepared you will be for tougher sections and boss fights later.
The good news is there are tons of Planet Bits scattered everywhere. You do not need to find every single one on your first pass through an area. If you are struggling to find a specific one, move on and come back later.
There are 132 Planet Bits in the full game, and collecting them all is tied to upgrades and achievements.
Do not stress about 100% completion on your first run though. Just grab what you can and enjoy the ride.
Explore Every Corner of Each Area
RUBATO has five densely packed areas, each much bigger than it first appears.
These range from a sprawling bakery to what the game describes as the world’s most poorly planned city. Every area is crammed with secrets, shortcuts, and hidden paths.
The level design encourages you to poke around everywhere. Multiple routes are layered both vertically and horizontally, and there is almost always something tucked away in a spot you did not think to check.
As you unlock new movement options and get better with the tongue mechanics, previously inaccessible areas open up.
Make a mental note of spots you could not reach the first time around.
Don’t Panic When You Get Lost
Getting lost in RUBATO is completely normal. The areas are massive, the layouts are intentionally non-linear, and there is no minimap or quest marker guiding you.
This can feel overwhelming at first, but it is all part of the design.
Getting lost almost always leads to something good.
There are so many Planet Bits and hidden discoveries scattered around that even wrong turns tend to pay off.
Use the 3D-rendered world map between levels to reorient yourself and decide where to head next.
Use Your Weapons and Items Wisely
RUBATO gives you more than just your tongue to work with.
As you progress, you will gain access to weapons like the rocket launcher, which lets you blast through destructible props and environmental obstacles.
Yes, you can even blow up toilets with it.
There is also a shop where you can spend currency on upgrades, items, and customization skins for Rubato.
After defeating bosses, check out the customization shop that appears for some genuinely fun cosmetic options. Also make sure to check your key bindings in the settings, as Patch V1.1 added the ability to rebind item buttons.
Do not forget that you can switch between your tongue and weapons on the fly.
Some situations call for a quick tongue grapple while others are better handled with a well-placed rocket.
Boss Fights Require Patience and Timing
Boss fights in RUBATO are where the game tests your mastery of the tongue mechanic.
These encounters demand precision and solid timing, which can feel tricky when the rest of the game rewards a more freeform style of play.
The very first boss you encounter is a humongous onion in The Bakery area. It is a great introduction to how boss fights work, teaching you to read attack patterns and use your tongue to interact with the arena during the fight.
If you are struggling with a boss, slow down and focus on learning its patterns before going all-in on damage.
Bosses tend to have multiple phases, and the final boss alone has seven phases. Rushing will get you knocked out fast.
Here is a cool secret: certain boss projectiles can actually be parried.
The Area 3 boss has a specific projectile that can be parried in a hidden way. Experiment with your tongue during boss fights because there might be interactions the game does not tell you about.
Talk to Every NPC You Meet
RUBATO’s writing and characters are a massive part of what makes this game special. The story starts out hilariously absurd, but as you progress, the narrative takes genuinely unexpected emotional turns. What begins as a quirky comedy gradually peels back layers of loneliness, vulnerability, and existential reflection.
Talking to every NPC gives you important context for the world.
Some characters hint at secrets and hidden areas, while others flesh out the lore of GSSAI CO. Do not skip dialogue just because the early conversations seem silly.
The game’s tagline is “To save the world, you must save yourself first.”
That theme runs deeper than you might expect, and the NPC interactions are where a lot of that emotional depth comes through.
Check Out Subzones and Side Challenges
Subzones are one of the best-kept secrets in RUBATO. These are separate, self-contained sections within each area that focus on a single gameplay mechanic or a unique twist on the standard formula.
Some subzones completely change up the gameplay style.
One section has you playing as a character named Guy Craft in a first-person city planner challenge where you guide cars by destroying blocks to clear their path. It is wildly different from the main platforming.
These side challenges give the game room to breathe and are often shorter and more focused than the main areas.
They make a great palate cleanser when you are feeling overwhelmed.
Most importantly, subzones frequently reward you with Planet Bits.
If you are short on Planet Bits and need a few more to unlock a boss or level up your health, hunting down subzones you missed is a great strategy.
Play in Shorter Sessions if the Game Feels Overwhelming
RUBATO is around 8 hours long for experienced platformer players and can stretch to 12 to 15 hours if you are newer to the genre or going for completionist.
The sprawling levels and constant tonal shifts can be a lot to absorb in one sitting.
Several areas are best enjoyed in shorter, focused sessions where you can pay attention to the details. RUBATO hides so many small secrets and clever bits of writing that rushing through means missing a ton of what makes it great.
This is especially true for the later sections where the story gets heavier.
Give yourself time to process what is happening rather than powering through it all at once.
Embrace the Weirdness and Go In Blind
This is probably the most important tip of all. RUBATO is an experimental game that thrives on surprise. It is surreal, absurd, and deeply personal in ways that catch you completely off guard.
The community around this game overwhelmingly agrees: go in as blind as possible.
The surprises and unexpected set pieces are a huge part of what makes the experience memorable.
RUBATO blends gorgeous pixel art with 3D-animated elements in a visual style that feels like nothing else out there.
The soundtrack is phenomenal and has been praised as one of the best indie game soundtracks in recent memory.
At its core, RUBATO is a game about fixing broken things, both in the literal sense of restoring a shattered solar system and in the deeply human sense of learning to heal.
It is funny, strange, occasionally heartbreaking, and absolutely worth experiencing for yourself.
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Images in this article are from the Rubato page on Steam and used under Fair Use.