Nicktoons Unite!
Nicktoons Unite! is a 2005 crossover action-adventure game released on the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Game Boy Advance. Bringing together characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, The Fairly OddParents, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, and Danny Phantom, the game blends light combat, puzzle-solving, and character-swapping mechanics. Each hero’s unique abilities are required to progress through different themed worlds, making it a cooperative, kid-friendly take on multi-franchise mashups. This week, The First Hour Podcast chose Nicktoons Unite! as their game of the week, diving into its mechanics, charm, and early-2000s crossover energy.
The story follows the unlikely alliance of Plankton, Professor Calamitous, Vlad Plasmius, and Crocker—collectively known as the “Evil Syndicate”—who combine forces to conquer the multiverse. The heroes must travel between their interconnected worlds, stopping reality-twisting devices and undoing the Syndicate’s cross-dimensional sabotage. The setup creates a brisk, linear adventure full of cameos and fan-service moments across the Nickelodeon universe. Fun fact: Nicktoons Unite! was successful enough to spawn an entire “Nicktoons” crossover series, including three sequels that expanded the roster even further.