Fatty Bear's Birthday Surprise
Adventure game where a teddy bear prepares a birthday surprise.
Fatty Bear's Birthday Surprise is a point-and-click adventure game from Humongous Entertainment. It launched in 1993 on 3DO, MS-DOS, and Classic Mac OS, with a Windows version arriving in 1995. This was the studio's second title, released after Putt-Putt Joins the Parade, and it remains the only full adventure starring Fatty Bear. The character later appeared in the minigame collections Fatty Bear's Fun Pack and the crossover Putt-Putt & Fatty Bear's Activity Pack. In July 2013, the Fatty Bear license was acquired by Tommo during Atari's bankruptcy proceedings.
The story begins as a girl named Kayla falls asleep the night before her birthday, excited about a surprise present her parents mentioned. While she sleeps, her stuffed animals come to life to get ready for the party. Fatty Bear, Kayla's teddy bear, decides to bake a chocolate chip birthday cake and enlists the help of Matilda Rabbit, a stuffed bunny. Meanwhile, Kayla's doll, Gretchen, volunteers to decorate the room, including making a "Happy Birthday" sign on the bulletin board. Fatty Bear and Matilda Rabbit head to the kitchen to start baking.
In the kitchen, Fatty Bear finds a present box and becomes curious about its contents. A female puppy bursts out of the box and causes chaos around the house. When Fatty Bear returns to Kayla's room, Gretchen tells him the puppy stole three letters from the birthday sign and asks him to find them, as well as blow up five balloons. Fatty Bear completes both tasks. Using a bone and a ribbon he found, he lures the puppy back into its box and wraps it up again. After baking the cake and returning the missing letters, Fatty Bear jumps onto Kayla's bed and reverts to a stuffed animal as morning arrives. Kayla wakes up, delighted by how beautiful her room looks. Her father brings in her surprise—the puppy. Kayla thanks everyone, especially Fatty Bear, whom she hugs, ending the game.
Gameplay is similar to the Putt-Putt series. Players control Fatty Bear by clicking on spots in each location to move him. He can store items in his pockets to solve puzzles. Several minigames are also available throughout the adventure.
Electronic Gaming Monthly rated the 3DO version 7.2 out of 10, noting its similarity to the Putt-Putt games but suggesting gamers choose a Putt-Putt title instead. Computer Gaming World praised the PC version's interactivity and the fact that the gam
- Developer
- Humongous Entertainment
- Release Year
- 1993
- Platforms
- 3DO, MS-DOS, Classic Mac OS, Windows (1995)
- Genre
- Adventure video game
- Notable For
- Second game by Humongous Entertainment; only Fatty Bear adventure
Lore & Background
The game follows a girl named Kayla who falls asleep the night before her birthday, looking forward to a big surprise present. While she sleeps, her plushies come to life to prepare for her party. Kayla's teddy bear, Fatty Bear, decides to make a chocolate chip birthday cake and accepts help from Matilda Rabbit, while the doll Gretchen decorates Kayla's room, including making a 'Happy Birthday' sign. In the kitchen, Fatty Bear discovers a present box from which a female puppy bursts out and causes havoc. The puppy steals three letters from the birthday sign, and Fatty Bear must find them and blow five balloons. Using a bone and a ribbon, he lures the puppy back into its box and wraps it up. After baking the cake and returning the letters, Fatty Bear returns to stuffed animal form as morning comes. Kayla awakens, delighted with her room, and her father delivers the surprise—the puppy. Kayla thanks everyone, especially Fatty Bear, and gives him a hug.
Reader's Guide
Fatty Bear's Birthday Surprise holds significance as the second title from Humongous Entertainment, a studio known for children's adventure games. Its gameplay is similar to the Putt-Putt series, allowing players to control Fatty Bear by clicking to move and collect items in his pockets to solve puzzles, with minigames interspersed. The game received a 7.2 out of 10 from Electronic Gaming Monthly for the 3DO version, which noted its similarity to Putt-Putt games but recommended those instead. Computer Gaming World praised the PC version's interactivity and lack of need to complete the game, calling it a wonderful introduction to computers for beginners and a delightful game for experienced youngsters. In July 2013, Tommo bought the Fatty Bear license during Atari bankruptcy proceedings, ensuring the game's continued availability. Its legacy lies in being a gentle, puzzle-driven adventure that introduced young players to point-and-click gameplay, and it remains a nostalgic title for those who grew up with Humongous Entertainment's catalog.
Did You Know?
- Fatty Bear's Birthday Surprise is the second game by Humongous Entertainment, following Putt-Putt Joins the Parade.
- It is the only Fatty Bear adventure, though the character appears in Fatty Bear's Fun Pack and Putt-Putt & Fatty Bear's Activity Pack.
- In July 2013, Tommo bought the Fatty Bear license during the Atari bankruptcy proceedings.
- The game features a female puppy that bursts out of a present box and causes havoc.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fatty Bear's Birthday Surprise?
It is a point-and-click adventure game from Humongous Entertainment in which a teddy bear character sets up a birthday surprise for a young girl. The title shipped in 1993 and marked the studio's second released game.
What platforms can I play Fatty Bear's Birthday Surprise on?
The original 1993 release covered 3DO, MS-DOS, and Classic Mac OS, with a Windows port arriving in 1995. No modern re-release or port has been announced based on the available record.
Is Fatty Bear's Birthday Surprise the only full Fatty Bear adventure?
Yes, it remains the sole dedicated adventure game built around Fatty Bear as the lead character. The bear later appeared in the minigame collections Fatty Bear's Fun Pack and the crossover Putt-Putt & Fatty Bear's Activity Pack, but no other full-length adventure followed.
Who currently holds the Fatty Bear license?
Tommo acquired the Fatty Bear rights in July 2013 during Atari's bankruptcy proceedings. Before that transition, the character lived within the Humongous Entertainment and Atari catalog.
Why is Fatty Bear's Birthday Surprise notable in Humongous Entertainment history?
It was the studio's second shipped title, landing right after Putt-Putt Joins the Parade, and it stands as the only full adventure ever made around the Fatty Bear character. Fans often cite it as a foundational entry in the broader Humongous toy-based game library.
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