What Actually Makes It Good
Astro Bot is the kind of game you put on to show someone what a PS5 can do, and then quietly don't stop playing for three hours. It uses the DualSense controller in ways that make you forget controllers usually just... vibrate. Pulling elastic, feeling rain, crunching through sand, it's all there in your hands. Sounds gimmicky. Isn't.
I sat down with this on a quiet Sunday afternoon expecting maybe an hour. My tea went cold. That's the honest review right there.
Who This Is Actually For
Kids will love it, obviously, PEGI 7 and bright as anything. But this is not a kids game in the dismissive sense. It's a proper platformer with enough charm and invention to win over any adult who grew up on Mario 64 or Crash Bandicoot. The level design is smart, the PS5 history references land well if you know them, and the difficulty sits in a comfortable spot, challenging without ever being mean.
Not for you if you want something gritty or narrative-heavy. It's pure, cheerful, tactile fun. No apologies for that.
Is £31.99 Worth It
It won the Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024. Full stop. New copies of GOTY winners don't usually sit at this price for long. The community heat on HotUKDeals backs that up. Personally, I'd say it's one of the easier recommendations on PS5 right now. Just don't say I didn't warn you when the stock disappears.
