How Team Asobi built the definitive modern 3D platformer and took home Game of the Year 2024. Full performance, haptics, and buying analysis.
Astro Bot is Team Asobi's flagship 3D platforming masterpiece on PlayStation 5. When the alien villain Space Bully Nebax ambushes the PS5 Mothership and scatters its essential hardware components across the cosmos, Astro must pilot his DualSense Speeder to rescue 300 VIP bots across over 50 inventive planets spanning 6 sprawling galaxies.
What sets Astro Bot apart from traditional platformers is its boundless mechanical invention. Rather than relying on a static moveset, virtually every single galaxy introduces brand-new power-ups—from the Barkster bulldog booster and Twin-Frog gloves to the Monkey climbing hands, Time-Slow wristwatch, and sponge water-swelling mechanics. Every level feels like a handcrafted amusement park ride packed with 30 years of PlayStation heritage cameos (Kratos, Nathan Drake, Aloy, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and more).
Team Asobi designed Astro Bot from the ground up to demonstrate the pinnacle of PlayStation 5 hardware capabilities:
Delivers a locked 60 FPS at dynamic 4K resolution (reconstructed from 1440p). Frame pacing is virtually flawless with zero stutter even during massive physics-heavy destruction scenes.
Leverages PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) to deliver a sharper native 4K presentation with enhanced shadow maps, higher foliage density, and rock-solid 60 FPS.
The industry benchmark for tactile immersion. You feel the distinct resistance of walking on sand, metal grate vibrations, rain droplet clicks, and adaptive trigger tension on every gadget.
Galaxy warp transitions take under 1.5 seconds. Dying in challenge levels respawns Astro instantly without immersion-breaking loading screens.
Sony priced Astro Bot at a consumer-friendly $59.99 USD ($10 lower than standard $70 AAA PS5 releases):
Recommendation: The Standard Edition ($59.99) offers maximum value since cosmetic outfits can also be unlocked naturally in the base game's Gatcha Lab.
Calculated from an IGN Score of 10/10: $(10 \times 10) - 5 = 95/100$. OpenCritic: 95/100 (100% Critic Recommended).
If you love Astro Bot, here is how it compares against the finest 3D platformers in gaming history:
| Game Title | Platform | MSRP / Sale Price | Haptics / Mechanics | Campaign Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astro Bot | PS5 / PS5 Pro | $59.99 (Sale: $44.99) | Unmatched DualSense | 12 - 16 Hours |
| Super Mario Odyssey | Nintendo Switch | $59.99 (Sale: $39.99) | Cappy Capture Mechanics | 15 - 40 Hours |
| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | PS5 / PC | $69.99 (Sale: $29.99) | Dimensional Rifts / Arsenal | 10 - 15 Hours |
| Psychonauts 2 | PC / PS4 / Xbox / Game Pass | $59.99 (Sale: $14.99) | Mental Psionic Powers | 15 - 20 Hours |
Astro Bot is an essential, joyful masterpiece. It represents pure gaming delight, proving that inventive level design, tight responsive platforming, and tactile feedback can evoke the same magic as classic platforming giants.
Every single PS5 owner, fans of Mario Galaxy / Odyssey, platformer enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a heartwarming, polished adventure with zero filler.
Players who exclusively play competitive multiplayer shooters, or those demanding 100+ hour open-world RPG progression systems.
Astro Bot routinely sees $10 to $15 promotional discounts ($44.99–$49.99) during PlayStation seasonal events. It is a phenomenal purchase at any price below $50.