Parents' Guide to

SpongeBob HeroPants

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

This pineapple-under-the-sea adventure's a bit stale.

Game Nintendo 3DS , PlayStation Vita , Xbox 360 2015
SpongeBob HeroPants Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • SpongeBob HeroPants Game: Screenshot #1
  • SpongeBob HeroPants Game: Screenshot #2
  • SpongeBob HeroPants Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 2 parent reviews

ryanfujismells
ryanfujismells Adult
July 18, 2020
age 5+

Meh, It's ok

I own the Vita version, and I liked it. The thing I didn't like that Burger Beard didn't appear.

This title has:

Easy to play/use
owlaboard
owlaboard Adult
January 16, 2016
age 7+

Good introduction to the genre.

My kids hadn't played action/adventure video games until I bought them "SpongeBob HeroPants." While it's not the most difficult game, it's not too easy either, which is good if your kids are just learning how to play these types of games. Nothing about the game is bland, and not to mention, the voice acting is top-notch.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Easy to play/use
See all 2 parent reviews

What’s It About?

Loosely based on The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, SPONGEBOB HEROPANTS follows everyone's favorite underwater hero (sorry, Aquaman), who must save Bikini Bottom -- and the entire world -- from a mysterious menace bent on mass destruction. The simple yet lovable fry cook must team up with his buddies (and even nemeses) -- Patrick, Squidward, Sandy, Mr. Krabs and Plankton -- to find lost pages of a magical book so they can turn the tables and save the day. Players will navigate various levels, jump on platforms, unlock superpowers, fight enemies, and solve some puzzles. Xbox 360 players can take advantage of four-player drop-in/out cooperative ("co-op") multiplayer on the same TV.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (6 ):

Unless you're a huge SpongeBob SquarePants fan who can't wait for this game to appear in the bargain bin of your favorite game store, there isn't anything too exciting here. It's fun to change among characters and unleash each one's superhero transformation, but this action-adventure hybrid doesn't offer anything new to the genre. In fact, even the familiar game mechanics -- such as collecting items (coins/keys/pages/lightning bolts and so on), platform jumping, and combat -- are boring. Some levels are too short and repetitive, and for some reason you can't jump and attack at the same. Plus, there are some graphical issues, such as characters who lose half their bodies inside an object, and character comments grow tiring quickly.

The game isn't a complete fail. It's hard not to fall for SpongeBob's infectious charm, and there's some variety in levels and characters, but overall this game feels more like a plug for the movie it's tied to than a competent standalone game.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the consumerism of SpongeBob HeroPants. Is the well-timed release of this game (with the new SpongeBob movie in theaters) a move to capitalize on the brand? Or is it smart business?

  • Talk about what makes SpongeBob so engaging for kids. Is it his optimistic outlook on life? His willingness to help out his friends? What's appealing about him?

Game Details

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