Presentation
Astro's Playroom has a dual identity. First and foremost, it is a genuine 3D platform game built around simple and precise movement, jumps, enemies, collectibles and numerous small secrets. Its levels remain accessible, but introduce visual and interactive ideas quickly enough to maintain a constant pace.
It is also a showcase for the possibilities of the DualSense. Haptic feedback attempts to distinguish the different surfaces Astro travels across, while adaptive triggers are used in certain actions and specific sequences. The game therefore treats the controller not simply as a peripheral, but as part of its language: some sensations are communicated directly through the player's hands before they are even fully perceived on screen.
The four main worlds extend this idea by transforming the architecture of the PS5 into game environments. Each has its own atmosphere and regularly introduces new ways of controlling Astro, particularly through transformations or short sequences built around a specific gesture.
But the identity of Astro's Playroom is just as closely tied to its relationship with PlayStation history. Consoles, accessories and peripherals from previous generations can be discovered throughout the adventure. The small robots also recreate scenes referencing numerous games associated with the brand. These references work as playful nods for players who recognize them without becoming necessary to enjoy the journey.
This combination prevents the game from feeling like a simple technical demonstration. The PS5's features are integrated into a coherent platform game, while nostalgia remains in service of exploration and curiosity.
What to remember
- An accessible 3D platform game built around Astro and his world of small robots.
- Four main worlds inspired by different components of the PlayStation 5.
- Particularly extensive use of the DualSense's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
- Short and varied levels that continually introduce gameplay ideas, transformations and secrets.
- Numerous references to the consoles, accessories and games that have marked PlayStation history.
- An experience designed both as an introduction to the PS5 and as a genuine standalone game.
Conclusion
Astro's Playroom could easily have been nothing more than a demonstration designed to introduce a new console. Its success comes precisely from the fact that it goes beyond that role. The sensations offered by the DualSense are not isolated inside a series of technical exercises: they support a platform game inventive and polished enough to work independently of its role as a showcase.
Its simplicity naturally comes with limitations. The adventure remains short, its difficulty is generally accessible, and some of its ideas disappear almost as soon as they are introduced. But this lightness also suits its intention: to keep surprising the player rather than developing each mechanic at length.
Another of its strengths lies in the way it celebrates PlayStation without turning nostalgia into a cold inventory. Old consoles, forgotten accessories and references to games become objects to discover or small comic scenes. The history of the brand is literally scattered throughout the levels.
Astro's Playroom therefore succeeds in looking in two directions at once: showing what a new generation of hardware can bring while celebrating the generations that came before it.
Good to know
- Astro's Playroom was released in 2020 alongside the PlayStation 5.
- The game is preinstalled on the console and was designed in particular to showcase the capabilities of the DualSense controller.
- The main adventure is organized around four worlds accessible from a central hub.
- Astro had already appeared in several PlayStation experiences before this installment, including Astro Bot Rescue Mission on PlayStation VR.
- Many collectible objects represent older PlayStation consoles and accessories.
- Astro's Playroom precedes Astro Bot, a larger-scale adventure centered on the character released in 2024.
