The 15 Best SpongeBob SquarePants Episodes, Ranked

Kotaku marked SpongeBob SquarePants’ 27th anniversary by ranking the show’s 15 best episodes.

The list focuses on the series’ early golden era, with the first three seasons widely seen as its creative peak.

Standout picks include episodes like Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy III, The Fry Cook Games, Frankendoodle, and Rock Bottom.

The ranking underscores how those early episodes continue to define SpongeBob’s legacy despite later decline.