Astro Bot Review

Platformers are not supposed to be this good in 2026. The genre peaked in the 90s, the argument goes, and while modern entries like Super Mario Odyssey keep the flame alive, there's a ceiling. Astro Bot shatters that ceiling, rebuilds it, and then bursts through again with a jetpack made of pure creative ambition.

This is Team Asobi's masterpiece.

A Love Letter Written in Gameplay

Astro Bot is nominally about rescuing captured PlayStation robots across dozens of imaginative worlds. In reality, it's a celebration of PlayStation's entire history, rendered as pure interactive joy. The cameos from PlayStation characters — rendered as bots in need of rescue — would be fan service in less confident hands. Here, they're integrated with such care and creativity that even non-PlayStation fans will appreciate the craft.

Each rescued bot unlocks a diorama that captures a beloved PlayStation moment. The attention to detail is extraordinary. This is the work of developers who genuinely love the history they're celebrating.

Gameplay: A Masterclass in Invention

What elevates Astro Bot above mere nostalgia is its relentless creativity. Each level introduces a new mechanic — a bubble that slows time, a sponge that absorbs water and grows, a monkey's fist on a chain — and then wrings every possible idea out of it before moving on.

The DualSense integration is the best in any PlayStation 5 game to date. Textures feel different under your fingertips. Walking across ice versus grass versus sand produces distinct haptic responses. When Astro picks up items or uses different gadgets, the controller communicates it physically. It's not a gimmick — it's a genuine enhancement to the experience.

Level design is consistently brilliant. The game never overstays a concept's welcome, never repeats a solution. By the time you're wondering "could they do something even wilder?", it already has.

Challenge and Accessibility

Astro Bot manages a difficult balance: it's accessible enough for younger players (the assist mode lets you be invincible if needed) but offers genuine challenge for those seeking it. The secret levels and collectibles require real skill to find and complete, and the final boss sequences are appropriately demanding.

The difficulty curve is perfectly calibrated. You're never bored, never overwhelmed without warning.

The Presentation

Visually, Astro Bot is among the PS5's best-looking games — not because of raw fidelity, but because of art direction. The colour palette is exuberant, the world design is inventive, and the character animation is extraordinarily expressive. Astro himself communicates volumes through movement alone.

The audio matches the visual energy. The soundtrack is playful and dynamic, adapting to gameplay moments with impressive responsiveness. Sound design is meticulous — every action has satisfying audio feedback.

The Verdict

Astro Bot is the PS5's best exclusive. That's not a close call. It's a game that earns comparisons to Nintendo's finest platformers — high praise that it fully deserves. It's inventive, generous, beautiful, and above all, joyful in a way that feels increasingly rare in big-budget gaming.

If you own a PS5 and haven't played this, stop whatever you're doing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Astro Bot worth buying on PS5? A: Yes — it's the best pure platformer since Super Mario Odyssey and a genuine PS5 essential. Roughly 12–15 hours for the main path, 20+ for full completion, with constant creativity that never repeats a mechanic. At £59.99 it's premium-priced but the production value, DualSense use, and replay are exceptional.

Q: Do I need to have played the previous Astro games to enjoy this one? A: No. Astro Bot is fully standalone — the nods to Astro's Playroom (free with every PS5) add charm if you've played it, but newcomers lose nothing. The PlayStation history references are the real treat, and you only need to recognise the characters to get the joke. Most are obvious.

Q: How long is Astro Bot and is there post-game content? A: The main story is around 12–15 hours. After credits, dozens of bonus levels and hidden bots stretch playtime to 20–25 hours for completionists. Each world has secret challenges, and the PlayStation Lobby fills with rescued bots as you collect them — there's genuine pull to 100%-it.