Kao the Kangaroo: Mystery of the Volcano
A 3D platformer where Kao collects artifacts to defeat a volcano god.
Kao the Kangaroo: Mystery of the Volcano, sometimes called Kao 3, is a 3D platform game released in 2005. It was developed by Tate Interactive and published by Cenega. The game is the third main installment and the fifth overall title in the Kao the Kangaroo series.
Players control a kangaroo named Kao across an archipelago. The goal is to collect four artifacts to overcome evil forces coming from a nearby volcano, enter it, defeat the God of the Volcano, and free Kao’s friend.
Development was led by producer Paul Leskowicz and lead programmer Jan Matląg, with a team including Jakub Kojder, Marcin Klimek, Marcin Wasniowski, and Michał Trzeciak. Game designer Wojciech Biliński also worked as a 3D modeler and character animator alongside Arkadiusz Firlit. Paweł Czapla created textures and concepts for the world and characters. Special effects artist Piotr Kolasinski contributed to level design with Michał Firek, Łukasz Biegun, and Jacek Cetera. Sound effects and music were by Dariusz Puk and Jakub Kojder, while Jacek Joniec and Jan Nosal provided voice work.
The game was announced on October 31, 2005, and released in Poland on December 2 by Cenega. It later came out in Russia on December 15, 2006, via 1C Company, and in Australia on June 21, 2007, through N3V Games. A Polish compilation called *The World of Kao the Kangaroo* re-released it alongside the original *Kao the Kangaroo* and *Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2* on November 17, 2006. Years later, it joined those two games on GOG.com on February 15, 2021, and on Steam on April 27, 2023.
Reception was mixed. Daniel Kazek of Gry-Online praised the graphics and difficulty but criticized the camera and short length.
This was the last game in the series until the 2022 reboot *Kao the Kangaroo*. In April 2026, a fan-made expansion called *Kao the Kangaroo: Resurgence of the Volcano* was released, enhancing visuals and adding gameplay elements.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Kao the Kangaroo: / Mystery of the Volcano
- Developer
- Tate Interactive
- Publisher
- POL · Cenega · RUS · 1C Company · AUS · N3V Games
- Released
- POL · December 2, 2005 · RUS · December 15, 2006 · AUS · June 21, 2007
- Series
- Kao the Kangaroo
- Genre
- Platform
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- Windows
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Kao the Kangaroo: Mystery of the Volcano is a 3D platform game where the player assumes the role of a kangaroo named Kao. The game takes place on an archipelago where the player must collect four artifacts to overcome evil forces manifesting from a nearby volcano, in order to get inside, defeat the God of the Volcano, and free his friend. The game was developed by Tate Interactive, with Paul Leskowicz as producer and Jan Matląg as lead programmer, alongside a team including Jakub Kojder, Marcin Klimek, Marcin Wasniowski, and Michał Trzeciak. Wojciech Biliński served as game designer, 3D modeler, and character animator, with Arkadiusz Firlit also contributing to animation. Paweł Czapla provided textures and concepts for the game's world and characters. Piotr Kolasinski worked as a special effects artist and was involved in level design along with Michał Firek, Łukasz Biegun, and Jacek Cetera. Sound effects and music were by Dariusz Puk and Jakub Kojder, while Jacek Joniec and Jan Nosal voiced characters.
Reader's Guide
Kao the Kangaroo: Mystery of the Volcano received mixed reviews upon release, with Daniel Kazek of Gry-Online praising the graphics and difficulty but criticizing its camera and short length. The game was announced on October 31, 2005, and released in Poland on December 2, 2005, by Cenega. It was later published in Russia by 1C Company on December 15, 2006, and in Australia by N3V Games on June 21, 2007. It was first re-released in Poland as a compilation alongside the original Kao the Kangaroo and Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2 in a collection called The World of Kao the Kangaroo on November 17, 2006. Years later, alongside the two aforementioned installments, it was added to GOG.com on February 15, 2021, and on Steam on April 27, 2023. The game was the last in the Kao the Kangaroo series following its release, until the release of the reboot Kao the Kangaroo (2022 video game) on May 27, 2022. In April 2026, a group of fans released an expansion modification titled Kao the Kangaroo: Resurgence of the Volcano, which enhances visuals and adds gameplay elements.
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