Astro’s Playroom

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 61

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Astro’s Playroom is a phenomenal showcase for the DualSense controller and is a charming celebration of the history of PlayStation.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 61

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 61

Astro's Playroom is a phenomenal showcase for the DualSense controller and is a charming celebration of the history of PlayStation.

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Awards & Recognition

Critic Reviews for Astro’s Playroom

Critic Reviews

Score Distribution

61

Reviews

Average Score

100

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8/10

Joe Juba (Game Informer)

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.

November 6, 2020 |

Full Review

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

November 6, 2020 |

Full Review

Recommended

Martin Robinson (Eurogamer)

8/10

Mike Epstein (GameSpot)

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

November 13, 2020 |

Full Review

Joe Juba (Game Informer)

8/10 - (Read Review)

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.

Martin Robinson (Eurogamer)

Recommended - (Read Review)

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

Mike Epstein (GameSpot)

8/10 - (Read Review)

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

**Read all 61 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (61 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Atomix	Alberto Desfassiaux	90 / 100	11-06-2020	Astro’s Playroom is more than just the perfect demo to see the DualSense’s capabilities. It is a PlayStation Celebration	Read review
AusGamers	KostaAndreadis	8 / 10	11-10-2020	So the question heading into Astro’s Playroom becomes	Read review
But Why Tho?	Eva Herinkova	8 / 10	11-24-2020	Astro’s Playroom took me by surprise. I was expecting a short tech demo that would impress me because of the new controller, but instead, I was greeted with a full-blown, short and fun 3D platformer.	Read review
COGconnected	Paul Sullivan	93 / 100	11-06-2020	Alas, Astro’s Playroom is only a few astonishing, magical hours long. There are lots of collectibles to go after and a leaderboard driven speedrun mode, but when I finished I was still hungry for more. And that’s kind of the only criticism I can levy against it. The way it leverages PlayStation’s history, I can’t wait to see what irresistible creation Team ASOBI comes up with next. In the here and now, Astro Bot has earned a place in my heart among the very best of PlayStation’s franchises.	Read review
Critical Hit	Darryn Bonthuys	8 / 10	11-12-2020	More than just a tech demo for the DualSense controller, Astro’s Playroom is a stunning showcase for the PS5 and the very first game that you have to try out on the next-gen system. Fine-tuned for maximum haptic feedback fun, Astro’s return is a marvel that celebrates the past and the future of the PlayStation.	Read review
Destructoid	Chris Carter	7 / 10	11-06-2020	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.	Read review
DualShockers	Ryan Meitzler	8 / 10	11-19-2020	As a showcase for the PS5 and DualSense, Astro’s Playroom is more than just a tech demo; it’s also a playful and remarkably fun platformer.	Read review
EGM	Mollie L Patterson	10 / 10	11-06-2020	While many may initially see it as a throwaway free demo for the features of the next-generation console it comes installed on, Astro’s Playroom is a wonderful surprise whose price does not speak to its quality. Though it certainly does showcase what the PlayStation 5’s new DualSense can do, the game actually has far more value being just that: a game.	Read review
Eurogamer	Martin Robinson	Recommended	11-06-2020	Sony leans into its PlayStation past in this frequently innovative, supremely charming old-school 3D platformer.	Read review
Everyeye.it	Marco Mottura	8.2 / 10	11-06-2020	Astro’s Playroom is a tangible demonstration of dualsense’s incredible potential, but also the sublime meeting point between playstation’s past and future. It is difficult, if not impossible, to determine at the moment whether the admirable route traced by ASOBI Team in exploiting the features of the new PS5 controller will remain a little beaten path or the high road taken by most. In doubt, it is still worth abandoning yourself to a colorful party that will make you laugh, entertain, excite and gasp. A very first step in the new generation of those not to be underestimated, as well as the perfect showcase of gaming in sensory format that Sony would like us to live on PlayStation 5 (celebrating its origins from A to Z in the meantime).	Read review
Explosion Network	Dylan Blight	8.5 / 10	11-15-2020	Astro’s Playroom is a fully-fledged game that’s more than just a tech demo.	Read review
Flickering Myth	Shaun Munro	8.5 / 10	11-20-2020	Astro’s Playroom is an outstanding introduction to the PS5’s key features and one you’d be a fool to miss under the pretense it’s simply another tepid, low-effort launch day freebie.	Read review
Game Informer	Joe Juba	8 / 10	11-06-2020	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	Read review
Game Rant	Anthony Taormina	3.5 / 5 stars	11-06-2020	On its own, Astro’s Playroom would be a fun platforming distraction fit for younger gamers or families. Its world is vibrant and wonderfully detailed, and it looks exceptional on the PS5. But in all honesty, this isn’t so much a game as it is a showpiece for what the DualSense controller can do. And as a result, this isn’t so much a review, as it is an opportunity to highlight how well the features on the PS5 controller work.	Read review
Game Revolution	Jason Faulkner	4.5 / 5 stars	11-06-2020	The only downsides to Astro’s Playroom are that it is fairly short, and it could have used a little plot to tie the whole thing together. However, for the price, it can’t be beaten, and it’s a must-play for those booting up their PS5 for the first time.	Read review
Gameblog	Gianni Molinaro	8 / 10	11-06-2020	Astro’s Playroom is a truly adorable and joyful platformer. Even if a bit short and not very difficult, it shows the potential of the DualSense as we go through some lovely levels with some funny ideas and a lot to remember about the whole PlayStation brand. Definitely worth your time.	Read review
GameGrin	Adam Kerr	8 / 10	11-29-2020	Sony’s obligatory ‘tech-demo’ game is a fun-loving trip through PlayStation history. Despite looking like a throwaway title, it easily stands alongside the biggest hits on the launch of the PlayStation 5.	Read review
GamesBeat	Mike Minotti	80 / 100	11-06-2020	I love 3D platformers. You don’t usually see this kind of charm and polish in the genre unless it has Mario’s name attached to it. Granted, Astro isn’t as acrobatic as our favorite Italian plumber. He has a simple move set consisting of a jump, a hover, and some punches. But Astro’s Playroom never feels dull for a second thanks to its unbounded creativity.	Read review
GameSkinny	Jonathan Moore	9 / 10	11-14-2020	Astro’s Playroom proves that the DualSense’s haptics and adaptive triggers are for real	Read review
GameSpot	Mike Epstein	8 / 10	11-06-2020	Transcending its role as an introduction to the PS5’s features, Astro’s Playroom is a quick and delightful celebration of PlayStation’s history.	Read review
GameXplain	GameXplain	Recommended	11-06-2020	Video Review	Read review
GamingTrend	Elisha Deogracias	90 / 100	12-16-2020	Perhaps the only real issue I have is the overall length of the game, which can be excused since it’s, well, free. The game lasts under about two hours on a casual playthrough, though there’s tons to explore (with a platinum trophy requiring a little more thought when replaying levels for collectibles), as well as special online time trials you can participate in for the best time. Do I want more of Astro’s Playroom? Definitely, and if we could get a full-fledged sequel that could utilize the DualSense controller like this one, it would be a masterpiece.	Read review
God is a Geek	Adam Cook	9 / 10	11-06-2020	A love letter to PlayStation and a showcase for the future of PS5: a delightful thing to include with the console.	Read review
GotGame	David Poole	9.5 / 10	11-14-2020	It may only take a handful of hours to complete, but Astro’s Playroom is the perfect pack-in game for the PS5. Players can get a full experience of the DualSense controller’s capabilities and enjoy a fun platformer to boot. This is really something every PlayStation 5 owner should experience before jumping into any other game.	Read review
Guardian	Keza MacDonald	4 / 5 stars	11-06-2020	This free-with-the-console game is a ridiculously cute and charming tribute to 25 years of PlayStation history, games and hardware	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Adam Beck	4 / 5 stars	11-06-2020	Astro’s Playroom is an irresistible delight.	Read review
Hey Poor Player	Christian Angeles	5 / 5 stars	01-18-2021	With all-around fantastic gameplay, graphics, design, and just overall fun, I’d argue that under different circumstances, this could have even been considered a game of the year contender. I never realized just how much the Sony PlayStation had influenced my life until I played this game.	Read review
Hobby Consolas	Alberto Lloret	80 / 100	11-06-2020	Astro’s Playroom it’s the best possible way to try your brand new PS5. It’s not just a great tutorial to try all DualSense’s new tibdits, it’s the best possible homage to the PlayStation brand’s 25 years of videogaming history, full of references here and there. And it’s free. What a pity that it ends very soon.	Read review
IGN	Jonathon Dornbush	8 / 10	11-06-2020	Astro’s Playroom is a great showcase for the varied, impressive ways the DualSense can immerse you in next-gen games.	Read review
IGN Spain	David Soriano	8 / 10	11-18-2020	Haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, touch panel, motion sensor, microphone, speaker… there is not a single feature missing from the game included in every PlayStation 5 to discover all the possibilities of the DualSense controller. In addition, it is a nostalgic journey through the history of PlayStation that has touched our hearts.	Read review
INDIANTVCZ	Filip Kraucher	8 / 10	11-10-2020	Astro’s Playroom is a divine technological preview of the new DualSense controller for PlayStation 5. The developers have created not only a great game with a lot of the demonstration of the DualSense controller, but also a wonderful 3D action platformer with playful elements that will entertain everyone. The game is short, you can complete first pass in less than 6 hours with all the challenges, but it’s completely free. It offers beautiful stylized graphics in native 4K resolution, good challenges and also good humor.	Read review
Jump Dash Roll	Ant Barlow	10 / 10	11-23-2020	A love-letter to PlayStation and PlayStation fans, Astro’s Playroom also happens to be the killer app for showing off just how cool the DualSense controller is. Whatever you do, don’t forget about this one.	Read review
KeenGamer	Harry Fritsch	8.5 / 10	11-17-2020	Astro’s Playroom serves as a stellar introduction to the PlayStation 5, working both as a persuasive proof of concept of the DualSense controller as well as an engaging 3D platformer. The fact that it’s also the most endearing celebration of Sony’s history in gaming to date just projects it into the upper echelon of meaningful launch titles.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	GameCentral	7 / 10	11-06-2020	A highly enjoyable introduction to the PlayStation 5 but also a charming celebration of the entire history of PlayStation, even if it’s something you’ll only ever play once.	Read review
MonsterVine	Spencer Legacy	4.5 / 5 stars	11-13-2020	Astro’s Playroom is a light and fun platformer that serves as a fantastic introduction to the Playstation 5.	Read review
New Game Network	Alex Varankou	79 / 100	11-19-2020	Astro’s Playroom is an excellent showcase for the new PS5 DualSense controller, plus it’s also an enjoyable platformer with charming presentation and lots of neat cameos to discover. The fact that it’s free is just icing on the cake.	Read review
Player2.net.au	Paul James	Recommended	11-13-2020	As well as being an excellent demonstration of the future ahead for owners of the PS5, Astro’s Playroom serves as an excellent, albeit brief platformer. You’ll find that just as the game really begins to come into its own, it ends, and that’s an almighty shame, but will likely you leaving salivating at the prospect of what is to come for Astro Bot and friends.	Read review
PlayStation LifeStyle	Chandler Wood	9 / 10	11-06-2020	Astro’s Playroom is the epitome of the PlayStation 5. It’s the foundational software kicking off the next generation of PlayStation gaming. ASOBI Team from Japan Studio could have just phoned it in with a handful of gimmicky levels to distract players while they wait for Miles Morales or Demon’s Souls to download, but they didn’t. They developed a full fun platforming experience that not only demonstrates the PS5, but celebrates 25 years of PlayStation history in some pretty special ways. It’s a powerful showcase that honors everything that led to the “5” in PS5, while also providing a pretty clear picture of what makes this new generation so special.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	John-Paul Jones	9.5 / 10	11-06-2020	With its much hyped status as a showcase of the DualSesne controller’s fancy new haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, it’s equally important to recognise that like Astro Bot before it, Astro’s Playroom is a fundamentally excellent platformer that commendably stands on its own merits. Equal parts a stirring demonstration of the capabilities of the DualSense and PS5 console as it is an excellent traditional platformer, Astro’s Playroom might just be the best pack-in title of all-time.	Read review
Polygon	Russ Frushtick	Recommended	11-06-2020	Astro’s Playroom is a stellar showpiece for PlayStation 5	Read review
Press Start	Shannon Grixti	8.5 / 10	11-06-2020	As a free pack-in game, Astro’s Playroom is a great showcase of the new DualSense controller. More importantly though, it goes above and beyond in celebrating the history of PlayStation. There’s throwbacks to PlayStation’s greatest games and moments at every turn and it’s a genuine delight from start to finish.	Read review
Push Square	Sammy Barker	9 / 10	11-06-2020	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.	Read review
Saudi Gamer	عصام الشهوان	8 / 10	11-26-2020	It might be short and simple, but it’s also free, enjoyable and well done, and a great showcase for the system and its controller, and a required trip down memory lane for anyone who grew up on PlayStation.	Read review
Screen Rant	Rob Gordon	4 / 5 stars	11-21-2020	All in all Astro’s Playroom is a perfectly charming little platformer. It’s obviously not a mind-blowing display, but as a game to get up to speed with how the PS5 operates and enjoy a look at some PlayStation hardware of day’s gone it’s hard to find fault. After all, it’s free and can be played while waiting for other games to install. What’s not to love?	Read review
Sirus Gaming	Lexuzze Tablante	9 / 10	12-12-2020	Astro’s Playroom successfully showcases the capabilities of the PlayStation 5, giving us the true next-gen experience we’ve been waiting for since the PlayStation 3. It’s not about having the “powerful” hardware that can run games at native 8K, but it’s the number of games that can give us meaningful, interesting worlds and gameplay. The PlayStation 5 has that and with Astro’s Playroom, you already have an idea what Sony has to offer in the next couple of years.	Read review
SpazioGames	Stefania Sperandio	7.4 / 10	11-06-2020	Astro’s Playroom is way more than a tech demo: it’s fun and brilliant, definitely worth playing.	Read review
Telegraph	Dan Silver	4 / 5 stars	11-06-2020	Thanks to the incredible new Dualsense controller gaming has never felt so good	Read review
The Games Machine	Stefano Calzati	9 / 10	11-06-2020	Just as Astro Bot Rescue Mission was the perfect title to introduce PS VR, Astro’s Playroom is a gem that works better than any manual or datasheet in creating a true man-machine relationship, informal, very pleasant and extremely fun. The DualSense proves to be an exceptional controller with absolutely unique sensory possibilities, able to bring the player even closer to gameplay, without upsetting but moving to a new and unknown level of intimacy that, VR aside, had never been achieved in the “traditional” video game. Its nature as a pre-installed software, which I strongly advise you to start before anything else, to end in an afternoon of non-stop play, gives the ASOBI work a resounding value in empathic terms and “first impact” with the new generation, communicating in the language of fun and surprise everything there is to know about the characteristics of the newcomer. A much more important goal.	Read review
The Outerhaven Productions	Conner B	4.5 / 5 stars	11-23-2020	While Astro’s Playroom is designed as a tech demo for the PlayStaton 5’s DualSense controller, Team ASOBI! have taken those extra steps to make the experience something truly memorable. I would urge anyone firing up their PS5 for the first time to make this their first stop on the path to next gen.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Stefan L	8 / 10	11-08-2020	Astro cements himself as the PlayStation 5’s mascot with a celebration of all things PlayStation that also showcases the full potential of the immersive new DualSense controller. Astro’s Playroom is the first thing you should play on PlayStation 5.	Read review
ThisGenGaming	Justin Oneil	10 / 10	11-30-2020	Astro’s Playroom is the perfect game to play first to kick off the PlayStation 5 generation. It’s a fluid and fun 3D platformer sure, but it being built around showing off what the DualSense controller can add to gaming Is what really starts to make it special. Add in all of the PlayStation love letters scattered about inside these worlds and you have another magical, must-play experience from Team Asobi. I wish Astro’s latest adventure lasted longer but I have no doubt that we’ll be seeing more of the new PlayStation mascot in the future.	Read review
TrueGaming	محمد البسيمي	9 / 10	11-06-2020	This game will drive your excitement for next gen and will also provide an enjoyable platforming experience.	Read review
TrustedReviews	Jade King	5 / 5 stars	11-06-2020	In the modern landscape it’s easy to believe we’ve seen everything the medium has to offer, but then a title such as Astro’s Playroom comes along and redefines all previous conventions. It’s pure platforming excellence and hopefully spells a bright future for one of Sony’s finest current mascots.	Read review
Unboxholics	Σάκης Καρπάς	Recommended	11-17-2020	Astro’s Playroom is the best first touch anyone can have with the next-gen capabilities of the PS5. And It’s not just a free demo of the console but a damn fine and entertaining platform game filled with a nostalgia trip inside the history of PlayStation.	Read review
VG247	Tom Orry	Recommended	11-06-2020	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.	Read review
VGChartz	Lee Mehr	7 / 10	12-01-2020	Despite clinging to some underwhelming gimmicks, Astro’s Playroom is a cute-n-capable platformer and a respectable assemblage of PlayStation antiquity included in every PS5.	Read review
Video Chums	A.J. Maciejewski	8.5 / 10	11-06-2020	Astro’s Playroom is perhaps the best pre-installed console launch game that I’ve ever played. In fact, it’s so good that it provides even more incentive to get your hands on a PlayStation 5.	Read review
Video Games Chronicle	Andy Robinson	5 / 5 stars	11-11-2020	Astro’s Playroom is both DualSense’s killer app and an unmissable, imaginative tribute to PlayStation’s history. Games have never felt this satisfying.	Read review
VideoGamer	Josh Wise	9 / 10	11-22-2020	The developer, SIE Japan Studio, has forged a platformer from the same blend of delirium and precision that blows through Super Mario, and then filled it with fossils.	Read review
WayTooManyGames	Leonardo Faria	9 / 10	11-29-2020	Astro’s Playroom is more than just a well-crafted proof of concept, it’s a phenomenal 3D platformer in its own right that perfectly showcases the capabilities of the Dualsense and the visual prowess of the Playstation 5.	Read review
WellPlayed	Kieron Verbrugge	9 / 10	11-13-2020	More than a tech demo or a fleeting curiosity, Astro’s Playroom is a phenomenal game in its own right that paints a bright future for both the PlayStation 5 and Astro himself	Read review

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About Astro’s Playroom

Game Description / Storyline:

Astro and his crew lead you on a magical introduction through PS5 in this fun platformer that comes pre-loaded on PS5. Explore four worlds, each based on PS5’s console components. Each area showcases innovative gameplay that taps into the new features of the PS5’s DualSense wireless controller.

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Developed by SIE Japan Studio. All titles, content, brand names, trademarks, logos, artwork, and associated imagery are trademarks and/or copyright material of their respective owners. © All rights reserved.