Astro's Playroom

Astro's Playroom is a great showcase for the varied, impressive ways the DualSense can immerse you in next-gen games.

Transcending its role as an introduction to the PS5's features, Astro's Playroom is a quick and delightful celebration of PlayStation's history.

Sony leans into its PlayStation past in this frequently innovative, supremely charming old-school 3D platformer.

Astro’s Playroom is a stellar showpiece for PlayStation 5

Astro's Playroom isn't just an introduction to the PS5. It is a charming and enjoyable game, even if it isn't trying to redefine the boundaries of the platforming genre

This free-with-the-console game is a ridiculously cute and charming tribute to 25 years of PlayStation history, games and hardware

Astro’s Playroom is both DualSense’s killer app and an unmissable, imaginative tribute to PlayStation’s history. Games have never felt this satisfying.

I’ve been going back to Astro every now and again during my time with the PS5, the quick loading and options to launch to certain zones from the system’s main menu making it easy to spend a few minutes hunting down missing collectibles. But my main takeaway is that I really hope the DualSense is used properly for the life of the console and not just by Sony. I’m sure a lot of the third-party launch window titles will make decent use of its features, but if pushed properly this controller could be a huge selling point for Sony. The HD Rumble on Switch Joy-Cons was used well during the console’s early days, but has now seemingly fallen way down the list of developer priorities.

Astro Bot has replaced Knack as the cute Sony mascot and I'm okay with it. Although Astro's Playroom isn't a killer app, booting up your PS5 and playing it for free is a great way to get accustomed to your shiny new toy from multiple angles.

Astro's Playroom is deserving of every single superlative you're likely to hear associated with it. As a platformer, it's a varied and entertaining experience that's constantly introducing new and exciting ideas over the course of its campaign. And as a DualSense tech demo, it's similarly effective at showcasing the power and potential of Sony's new hardware. But perhaps above all, this is a love letter to the legacy of PlayStation, and it feels fitting that as we enter an exciting new chapter from an undeniably iconic gaming brand, we take a moment to remember the milestones that got us to this point.