Astro Bot is the ultimate PS5 platformer — and its rivals even Mario's best games

In the pantheon of platformers, Nintendo reigns supreme. That’s hardly a hot take. Mario has been the undisputed king of the genre pretty much since its inception. But not since the heyday of Sonic and the Sega Genesis has Nintendo’s plucky plumber faced such stiff competition. 

In fact, Astro Bot on PS5 should have the round-faced Italian feeling more than a little hot under the collar because PlayStation’s newest mascot might just be his biggest rival to date (yes, even bigger than the time he squared off against Crash Bandicoot on the PSX). 

Essentially the full entree to PS5 console pack-on Astro’s Playroom’s appetizer, Astro Bot is a vibrant and creative video game that manages to find new ways to delight in almost every single level. Plus, I lost count of the number of times I squealed with excitement at one of its references to iconic characters from PlayStation’s past within the very first world alone. 

Astro Bot is a phenomenal platforming experience and is a shoo-in for ranking high in our roundup of the best PS5 games. Read on for my full Astro Bot review, where I’ll explain exactly why this little blue-and-white robot is ready to give Mario a run for his money… 

Astro Bot: The Basics 

• What is it? A fully-fleshed expansion on PS5 pack-in game Astro's Playroom, Astro Bot is a colorful platformer that sees you help PlayStation's newest mascot recuse his robot pals across a variety of inventive levels, using various power-ups along the way. 
• Who is it for? One of Astro Bot's biggest strengths is its cross-generational appeal. The platforming gameplay can be enjoyed by all ages but there's a small handful of more challenging levels for players who really want to test their skills. 
• What's the price? The standard edition of Astro Bot costs $59, with the Digital Deluxe Edition available for $69, this includes additional cosmetic items and a soundtrack. 
• What other games has the developer made? Astro Bot comes from Japan-based studio Team Asboi, the developer's previous works include both previous Astro titles and the Playroom pack-in experience for PS4. 
• What games is this similar to? Mario is the natural comparison point for Astro Bot, and much like the plumber's best games, Astro's adventure is bursting with creativity. 

Astro’s got the moves

If you played Astro’s Playroom when you picked up your PS5, you’ll have a general idea of how Astro Bot plays. The mascot’s move set remains unchanged. That means right from the start, the bot has access to a simple punch (which can be charged up for a more powerful spin move) and a jump that can be extended thanks to a pair of very nifty hover boots. 

These are fundamental abilities in just about any platformer but they feel satisfying to use nevertheless. Astro’s jump feels particularly responsive, with the handy hover move allowing you to easily reposition if you launch yourself toward a platform at an awkward angle. 

While these basic moves are nailed, they are fairly standard, but fortunately, Astro’s repertoire is enhanced with a series of power-ups that can be picked up during specific levels. These range from a pair of frog gloves that give the micro-robot springy arms to one that turns Astro into a gigantic sponge and allows you to soak up water to solve puzzles. 

Each power-up you encounter is found in a level entirely designed around making each one feel useful. I don’t want to spoil too much (the joy of discovery is one of Astro Bot’s biggest strengths), but the developers at Team Asobi get pretty creative. Not to mention, powers-ups are only sporadically repeated in levels so you never get bored of them. 

Exploring the PlayStation universe

Levels in Astro Bot come in various flavors. There are the usual themes such as a tropical beach, a dark mushroom-filled cave and a few set high up in the clouds, but there are also more original ideas such as one set in a giant hourglass or one that has you riding on the back of a large robot. All of them are well-crafted and stuffed to bursting with secrets. 

The standout levels are dedicated to a single specific game. Again, I’m cautious of spoilers, but there’s a level themed around one of my favorite PlayStation franchises, Uncharted. And when the iconic theme song kicked in (with an Astro Bot twist) and I came face-to-face with a robot version of Nathan Drake, I was grinning so much my cheeks started hurting. 

While Astro Bot is a great game for young players thanks to generous checkpoints, very simplistic combat and no penalty upon death, there are some tricky platforming levels for more experienced players. These levels (which are themed around each of PlayStation’s iconic controller symbols) must be completed in one shot and each one took me a few tries. 

Across more than 80 levels, you won’t be short of trinkets to collect either. Each is bursting with fellow bots to recuse — these are the currency used to unlock new worlds and boss encounters — alongside puzzle pieces, gold coins and portals to new secret levels. 

Some platformers are guilty of giving players loads of collectibles just for the sake of collecting, but Astro’s shiny objects each have a purpose beyond providing a dopamine rush when the counter ticks up an extra digit. For example, puzzle pieces unlock new stalls at your home base that can be used to swap outfits, paint your controller-shaped ship a different color and give you access to a gacha machine filled with items for your bots. 

Collectibles are also well-hidden with just the right mix of relatively easy-to-find oddities and one that requires a little brain-power and liberal use of the camera to scan around corners and along high ledges. But players who prefer to speed through to the finish line might feel a little short-changed as Astro Bot is clearly a game designed for completionists. If you’re not willing to hunt for missing collectibles, you could conceivably beat Astro Bot in a weekend.

Don’t I know you?

The Astro Bot franchise has become a way for PlayStation to celebrate its own past, and that’s the case once again in the bot’s latest adventure. As mentioned, there are specific levels dedicated to a select few of Sony’s most beloved franchises, alongside 150 of the 300 collectible bots being “V.I.P Bots”, essentially bots dressed up as famous gaming characters. 

The breadth of PlayStation (and third-party) franchises referenced in these “V.I.P Bots” is quite staggering. There are the expected inclusions like characters from The Last of Us, God of War, Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil, alongside more obscure picks like Quill from the Moss games on PSVR or the floating Imp from cult-favorite PS4 design tool Dreams. 

And, yes, the hunter from FromSoftware’s Bloodborne is here which has me believing that this is actually a subtle confirmation that a full PS5 remaster is on the way. It has to be…right? 

Players not so well versed in PlayStation’s library of beloved characters might feel a little lost. So it’s a shame that when you collect a V.I.P. Bot you are not directly told what game series it comes from instead you only get a cheeky joke that requires insider knowledge. 

Sensory overload 

Astro Bot’s clean cartoon visuals may not reach the Pixar level of quality achieved by Insomniac’s Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart back in 2021, but there’s no denying that it’s a good-looking game. Levels are bursting with big blocks of color, and even if locations are generally simple in their visual design, each location is vibrant and begs to be explored. 

The real visual marvels come in the form of minor visual flourishes such as Astro Bot’s charming idle animations, or how each “V.I.P Bot” has a unique move that you can trigger once you’ve pulled their related item from the gacha machine. I especially enjoyed Crash Bandicoot's which sees him spin around before revealing it’s just a regular bot in a furry suit. 

Much like its pack-in predecessor, Astro Bot makes extensive use of the unique features of the PS5 DualSense controllers. After almost four years of pretty much daily use, I had thought the novelty of the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback had worn off, but playing Astro Bot made me feel like I was back in November 2020 all over again. 

I spent much of my playthrough just aimlessly strolling around levels walking over different surfaces to feel how the feedback mimics the terrain of sand compared to metallic flooring. These are sensations that you can already experience in Astro’s Playroom, but they manage to impress again, and there are even a few new uses of the adaptive triggers to boot. 

Astro Bot: Verdict

If you enjoyed Astro’s Playroom, then rest assured you will love Astro Bot. It’s pretty much the same concept but bigger and better across the board. It’s also a title that will appeal to all ages from experienced gamers who grew up alongside the PlayStation brand, to the next generation of players who are taking their first steps into gaming. 

Astro is a hugely loveable hero, and now after featuring in three stellar games (we can’t forget his origins in PSVR exclusive Astro’s Rescue Mission), the pint-sized bot has rapidly become the star of arguably PlayStation’s most consistently high-quality franchise. 

Astro Bot is among the most inventive and charming platformers on any console. Brimming with creative ideas and bursting with loving references to your favorite PlayStation characters, Astro Bot will have you smiling every time you pick up the DualSense.