What it is
Astro Bot is a 3D platformer developed by Team Asobi, the Sony studio responsible for Astro's Playroom — the game that came preloaded on every PS5 and quietly became one of the best things on the console. This is the full, standalone follow-up to that: more levels, more ideas, a longer runtime, and all of the same DualSense-specific tricks taken further.
You control a small robot across a series of worlds, collecting lost crew members, punching enemies, and navigating environmental puzzles. The basic loop is familiar to anyone who's played a 3D platformer in the last 20 years. What Team Asobi does with it isn't familiar at all.
What the DualSense actually adds
I was sceptical going in. Haptic feedback gimmicks usually amount to a slight buzz when you fire a gun or walk on gravel, and then you forget about them. Astro Bot uses them differently. There's a level where rain falls and you can feel individual drops through the controller. There's a section where pulling a cord has physical resistance that changes as you pull harder. A world made of sand feels different underfoot than one made of ice.
None of this would matter if the game around it weren't good. But the game around it is good, so it adds up.
Level design
Each world introduces a new mechanic — a power-up, a vehicle, a tool — and then spends its three or four levels getting interesting with it before moving on. The pacing is close to perfect. Nothing overstays its welcome. A mechanic that might drag in another game gets two levels and then you never see it again, replaced by something else. This keeps the whole thing feeling fresh across its runtime.
Boss fights are well-designed and visually inventive. None of them are particularly hard, which is worth knowing if you're coming from something like Elden Ring expecting a challenge. Astro Bot is a game you're meant to enjoy, not struggle through.
What works
- DualSense integration is the best use of the hardware yet
- Level variety is impressive — no two worlds feel the same
- Excellent pacing, nothing drags
- Genuinely funny in places without trying too hard
- Runs beautifully at 60fps
What doesn't
- Not particularly challenging — experienced platformer players may find it too easy
- A bit short for the price if you don't go for 100% completion
- Some of the Sony cameo fan service moments are more hollow than heartfelt
Verdict
Exceptional — one of the best PS5 games available
Astro Bot is the best case for owning a PS5 right now if you don't already own it. It's joyful, inventive, and the DualSense integration is the real deal rather than a gimmick. If you want a challenge, look elsewhere — this is a game designed to be enjoyed, and it does that very well. Is it worth buying? Yes, without much hesitation.
A review key was provided by the publisher. This does not affect our editorial opinion or score. See our editorial policy and affiliate disclosure for full details.