SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit is an action/adventure game released in 2020 exclusively for iOS devices, through the Apple Arcade subscription service, based on the SpongeBob SquarePants animated series from Nickelodeon. It is developed by Old Skull Games.
In this adventure, Plankton has managed to steal the Krabby Patty formula yet again. This time, however, he has recruited the help of his many cousins to kidnap SpongeBob’s friends. Now the sponge must chase Plankton all around Bikini Bottom to get the formula back, while also saving his friends and utilizing multiple “transmogrified” forms to get past certain obstacles.
This adventure is also accompanied by a collection of smaller adventures called Tales of the Deep, where some of the companion characters become playable on their own little journey. In The Secret Life of Gary, the eponymous snail is revealed to be a part of a band called Patty Hype as he goes on a journey to find his fellow bandmates. In Mr. Krabs' Vacations, the crab himself takes the cast, and his money, on vacation, where said money ends up getting stolen, supposedly by the Flying Dutchman's crew. In The Case of the Missing Sponge, SpongeBob is reported to be missing, as Patrick and Squidward don detective gear as they set out to find him. And in A Winter Waterland, SpongeBob and Patrick head to the mall to get some chocolate, only to find all of the chocolate has been stolen.
This game contains the following examples:
- Amusement Park of Doom: Glove World.
- And the Adventure Continues: The normal ending of the game has SpongeBob invite Plankton to help him and his friends gather up enough treasure to rebuild and restore the Krusty Krab.
- Big Bad: Plankton, who else?
- Big Boo's Haunt: The Flying Dutchman's Ship.
- Birthday Episode: An upcoming Tales of the Deep update to the game has the gang supposedly giving Plankton a surprise birthday party.
- Bonus Stage: Every world contains one for collecting a certain amount of spatulas throughout the levels.
- Boss-Only Level: The fourth level of each world houses the world's boss.
- Call-Back: Plankton is seen riding his ‘freaky robot battle suit’ from Plankton’s Robotic Revenge during the intro and first boss encounter.
- Christmas Episode: A Winter Waterland.
- Deadpan Snarker: Squidward is in rare form here.(upon being selected): Really?(if SpongeBob dies): I'm gonna go read a magazine.
- Defeat Means Playable: After defeating the final boss, Plankton becomes an optional companion used to access previously blocked off areas of previous levels.
- Disc-One Final Dungeon: The Chum Bucket.
- Distressed Damsel: Patrick, Squidward, Sandy, Mr. Krabs and Gary.
- Final Boss: In a first, it’s Karen who’s the final boss here.
- "Get Back Here!" Boss: Being a runner game, this is how all the boss fights are structured, with SpongeBob having to dash into projectiles to deal damage.
- Slightly averted with the final boss, where SpongeBob has to dash into switches to electrocute Karen and deal damage to her.
- Green Hill Zone: Jellyfish Fields.
- Have a Nice Death: Sometimes, whenever you die in a level, whoever you have selected as a companion may react to SpongeBob's death. Mr. Krabs, Sandy, and Gary have the most
Tear Jerker reactions, while Patrick sounds confused, and Squidward...doesn't seem to care. - Lethal Lava Land: Rock Bottom.
- Promoted to Playable:The Tales of the Deep episodes, The Secret Life of Gary, Mr. Krabs' Vacations, and The Case of the Missing Sponge lets you control Gary, Mr. Krabs and Patrick and Squidward directly without SpongeBob.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Squidward tries to do this after SpongeBob rescues him in Jellyfish Fields. An encounter with some of Plankton's cousins causes Squidward to change his mind.
- Take a Third Option: In the opening, Mr. Krabs demands SpongeBob do this after Plankton gives him the Sadistic Choice of either saving the formula or saving his friends.Mr. Krabs: Do both, or you’re FIRED!
- Title Scream: Upon starting the game, one of the characters will say the name of the game when the title screen appears.
- True Final Boss: Plankton’s grandmother, of all characters, is the very last enemy SpongeBob battles before the Krusty Krab can be restored.
- Villains Out Shopping: Man Ray is seen taking a break from villainy to enjoy the rides in Glove World. This doesn’t stop him from trying to kill SpongeBob after the latter keeps on insisting that the former’s up to no good.
