Nickelodeon hasn’t released a true crossover game in over a decade, and the return of the Nicktoons brand could have easily been a lazy nostalgia play. Instead, Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny arrives as a surprisingly well-crafted action RPG, trading platforming roots for a top-down, Diablo-style combat format that’s far deeper and more engaging than its colourful exterior suggests.
Nicktoons Deep Cuts
What immediately stands out is the size and variety of the roster. Well-known favourites like SpongeBob SquarePants, Danny Phantom, Timmy Turner, and Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender serve as anchors, but the true delight comes from the number of lesser-seen characters introduced throughout the campaign.
Icons like The Crimson Chin, Mrs Puff, Pearl and MANY others pop up not just as cameos, but as functional mission-givers or unlockable fighters. The developers understand that Nickelodeon’s appeal lies not only in its headliners, but in the personalities that orbit them. Whether you grew up in the ’90s, early 2000s, or later, there’s a strong chance you’ll stumble upon a character you weren’t expecting.
Importantly, the cast isn’t treated as interchangeable skins. Each character comes with a bespoke move set and class archetype — SpongeBob is a Knight-style tank, Katara fills the healer/support role, and Timmy acts as a fast, high-damage caster thanks to Cosmo and Wanda constantly launching spells beside him. Even within familiar ARPG frameworks, these character kits feel unusually thoughtful.
The abilities don’t just look visually accurate to their respective shows; they behave in mechanically relevant ways. Katara can freeze enemies before triggering bonus damage with follow-up strikes. SpongeBob can heal himself using Krabby Patties mid-combat. Sandy can unleash heavy-handed melee combos akin to a Barbarian.
Progress Diablo Style
The game’s progression system is also a pleasant surprise. Each character can be fully geared with weapons, armour, rings, and amulets, with a shared loot pool meaning upgrades carry across the entire roster. Even though the genre shift may initially feel intimidating for younger or casual players, the systems are more intuitive than they appear.
Builds can be kept simple for those who prefer plug-and-play progression, but there’s also enough stat depth and item synergy to satisfy veteran ARPG players looking for optimisation. Even on higher difficulties, combat strikes a satisfying balance between accessibility and consequence — early areas can be brute-forced, but later missions demand ability management and spatial awareness, particularly during boss encounters.
Speaking of which, boss fights are among the game’s highlights. These encounters are often comedically staged, featuring reimagined versions of classic Nickelodeon villains adapted into “fantasy RPG” variants that fit the Dice of Destiny’s tabletop-theme premise.
Plankton appearing with exaggerated muscles or Angelica commanding a monstrous spider version of Cynthia are both equal parts humorous and mechanically engaging. These fights aren’t overly punishing, but they require genuine strategy and reward smart swaps between characters.
Structurally, the campaign is laid out across themed worlds, each inspired by a different franchise — SpongeBob, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Danny Phantom, and more. Visually, these areas do a commendable job capturing the spirit of each series, using vibrant palettes and recognisable motifs. However, in terms of layout and design, the levels are functional rather than inventive.
Corridor-like routes and repeated enemy waves form the primary loop, occasionally broken up by simple puzzles or fetch-style quest objectives. While younger audiences will likely remain engaged throughout, older players may find the environments lack variety compared to the individuality shown in the character kits.
Fortunately, audio design helps elevate the repetition. The soundtrack is energetic and era-appropriate, blending orchestral fantasy stylings with playful riffs that recall title cards and theme songs from Nickelodeon’s history. Voicework is authentic across the board, with side characters in the hub area offering some of the best writing in the game. The developers wisely avoid overloading the player with juvenile humour, instead opting for dialogue that respects the original cadence and personality of each character without skewing too childish or too modern.
The hub world itself serves as both a social space and a mission board, growing more populated as the story progresses. While physically oversized and slightly barren in terms of interactivity, it thrives on character appearances alone. Seeing Pearl and Mrs Puff casually bantering in a fantasy tavern while The Crimson Chin monologues nearby adds flavour that never grows old. Side quests are light but rarely intrusive, often offering quick rewards or optional combat tests.
The overarching story — centred around Timmy Turner accidentally dragging multiple Nicktoons universes into a fantasy world after wishing himself into a tabletop RPG — is serviceable and unobtrusive. It acts mainly as a structural device to justify crossovers rather than an emotional core. For younger audiences, it will likely feel whimsical and adventurous.
For older players, it remains amusing without devolving into excessive fan-fiction territory. Importantly, the writing never feels embarrassed by its premise, which allows the player to buy into the absurdity without irony fatigue.
There are a few minor shortcomings worth acknowledging. Not every character feels equally satisfying to control, and some players may gravitate toward a select few rather than rotating frequently. Certain boss encounters are clearly designed with multiplayer in mind, leading to somewhat awkward pacing in solo play. And as strong as the overall fan service is, it’s difficult not to wish for an even broader roster, particularly from underrepresented series.
However, these are criticisms made from a place of enjoyment rather than disappointment. Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny succeeds not only as a solid all-ages ARPG but as a genuine celebration of Nickelodeon’s legacy. It doesn’t just reference the past — it actively repurposes it into a mechanically sound and surprisingly joyous gameplay loop.
If this marks the beginning of a new era for the franchise, the potential is immense. With post-launch support or DLC, this could easily grow into a long-running platform for nostalgia-driven crossovers. Even in its base form, it’s an easy recommendation for Nickelodeon fans, ARPG enthusiasts, or anyone looking for something light-hearted yet mechanically rewarding.
Final Thoughts
Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny is a welcome revival of the franchise, trading platforming nostalgia for a surprisingly robust action RPG format.
It’s smart, colourful, and clearly made by developers who understand why these characters mattered in the first place. A must-play for Nickelodeon fans, and a pleasant surprise for ARPG newcomers and veterans alike.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Excellent roster featuring both iconic and obscure Nicktoons characters; Surprisingly deep combat and build customisation for a family-friendly title; Faithful ability sets and dialogue that respect the source material; Entertaining boss fights with inventive fantasy-themed redesigns; Energetic soundtrack and strong voice performances
Lowlights: Level layouts and mission structure can become repetitive; Some characters feel noticeably stronger or more enjoyable than others; The hub area is thematically fun but underutilised mechanically
Developer: Fairplay Labs & Petit Fabrik
Publisher: GameMill Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows PC
Available: Now
Review conducted on PlayStation 5 Pro with a code provided by the publisher.
Featured header image provided by the publisher.
