I can’t say I had very high expectations for Astro’s Playroom, a game that comes free with every PlayStation 5 console. I figured it might be a cute series of minigames, akin to the robot-themed minigames in the PlayStation 4’s pack-in title, The Playroom. That PS4 game was the sort of thing you boot up once, mess around with for 30 minutes, and then forget it exists. Been with gamepressure.com since 2019, mostly writing game guides but you can also find me geeking out about LEGO (huge collection, btw). Even with a ton of games, sometimes I just gotta fire up Harvest Moon, Stardew Valley, KOTOR, or Baldur’s Gate 2 (Shadows of Amn, the OG, not that Throne of Bhaal stuff). When I’m not gaming, I’m probably painting miniatures or admiring my collection of retro consoles.
Similarly, there’s a grainy effect when you walk across the beach, as if you could feel the sand. The vibrations even alternate between the left and right sides of the controller as Astro walks, so you sense each footstep. Even though Astro’s Playroom is relatively simple, it kept me entertained for about five hours with its array of challenges and entertaining Easter eggs. During Astro’s jaunt through the guts of the PS5, you run across all sorts of PlayStation references and memorabilia. From seeing bot versions of iconic characters (like Kratos and Solid Snake) to gathering old peripherals and consoles, the journey is full of “I recognize that!
Air Combat was originally an arcade game released in 1993, but the port was scrapped and a new game was made using the same name. Tearaway is also references in the PlayStation Labo area, where it’s on the PlayStation Vita Game Pack artwork, and the Vita itself will boot to “Botaway” if you hit it. The same as the previous artefact, but specifically designed to be held by a right hand!
Most of them involve collectibles and completing specific parts of the story. Here are Metacritic’s 10 lowest-scoring video games released in 2025. The song “I Am Astro Bot [Playroom Remix],” which repeats the title and plays on the opening menu, is enough to make it a catchy earworm. While it’s not the game’s fault, it makes every exclusive PS5 game feel like it lacks DualSense exclusivity.
It is recommended to collect all Puzzle Pieces together with all Artifacts, so you don’t have to play the levels twice. Continue the level as normal, until you reach a checkpoint after riding a cloud. Instead of progressing the usual way, climb up the wall using the rocks to get to the tree at the top. Spin at the base of the tree with the bot sitting atop it, and it will drop some bananas.
Playstation 3 (super Slim)
Is improved force feedback and the same funny little collection of gyros and touchscreens carried over from the DualShock 4 really the next-gen difference? I’m not entirely sure, and it may well prove to be another false dawn that, like HD rumble on the Switch, is a pleasant addition that soon fades into the background. Astro and his crew lead you on a magical introduction through your PlayStation 5 in this fun platformer that comes pre-loaded on your console. Read allAstro and his crew lead you on a magical introduction through your PlayStation 5 in this fun platformer that comes pre-loaded on your console. Each area showcases innovative gameplay that taps into the new feature o…
On one of the monitors in the Labo area is an image of a CD-ROM and a DVD. DVDs meanwhile aided the PS2 because its DVD drive meant that it could play DVD movies, an incredibly popular format for watching films at the time. Speaking of which, on a table is a Bot observing a gold plus with the Sacred Symbols on it. This is in reference to PlayStation Plus, a premium service that launched in 2010 that offered features such as PlayStation Store discounts, automatic patch downloads and save backups. “The Last Guy” Trophy, awarded for getting 20 Bots to follow Astro in the CPU Plaza, is named after the 2008 PSN game The Last Guy, developed by SCE Japan Studios. The game is about playing as a survivor of a zombie infestation who must find and lead stranded civilians to safety.
This is an unmistakable reference to Final Fantasy VII for the PS1, released in 1997 by Square Enix. In particular, the use of the Buster Sword under a spotlight makes this is a reference to the game’s title screen. On the right-hand side of the CRT pile at the end of the level are some Bots huddled around gaming on a CRT.
Go under the bridge and immediately on your right pull the exposed cable cords to grab a throwable canister with a net inside. Punch the shell to reveal a steering wheel, then stand in front of it push the Options button to bring up the map. Proceed through the stage as normal until you reach the first dynamite enemy. Climb up to the platform where the caterpillars are roaming and destroy them.
Each area showcases innovative gameplay that taps into the new feature of the PS5’s DualSense wireless controller. The slight downside is that Astro’s Playroom is concise, as completing the game will take you an hour and a half. However, there are many collectibles to obtain, and Team Asobi has added free content updates. If you ever wanted to earn a platinum trophy, this is the game to do it. Sony boldly chose Astro Bot to lead the PlayStation 5 with the tech demo Astro’s Playroom. This came pre-installed with every PlayStation 5 console to show the power of the PS5 and DualSense controller.
The Look And Sound Of Astro’s Playroom Are Natural Endorphins
Once again, working together, you were able to crack the riddle and free her to make it 2 out of 4. Japan Studio gained the confidence to create a richer world for Astro after the success of Astro Bot Rescue Mission for the PlayStation VR in 2018. The positive reception of this demo then paved the way for Astro Bot, which won countless awards and accolades and even secured the title of Game of the Year 2024 amidst the fierce competition.
A vehicular combat game, this is the origin of the evil clown Sweet Tooth, who drives the ice cream truck featured on the game’s cover. The “Project Neo” Trophy is a reference to the codename of the PS4 Pro. The PS4 Pro was a more powerful model of the original PlayStation 4 launched in 2016. It has an additional 2.3 teraflops of power, which allows it to render games at close to 4K resolutions, or in HD with better performance.
The list goes on, and while some mechanics feel like gimmicks (steering with motion controls will never be fun), the majority of them are cool. Even more than that, they make a substantial difference in your connection to the action, conveying an amazing tactile sense of the world. A number of special bots were added to Astro’s Playroom in the months leading up to the release of Astro Bot. As spotted by Twitter user realradec, Astro’s Playroom received an update for February 2025 that added the PS5 Pro as an artifact.
No Escape! Special Bot Location
For the next part of our Astro’s Playroom guide, we’re going to answer any remaining questions or queries you may have about the game. For the next phase of our Astro’s Playroom guide, we’re going to reveal how to get them all, including the Platinum Trophy. Every single device, or UMD or game disc, is lovingly crafted right down to the movable thumbsticks of a controller, or the input and output ports on the back of a console. Cooling Springs is the third zone in Astro’s Playroom, whose Artefacts come from the PlayStation 3 era from 2006 to 2013. HM88 ‘s coloured blue after the Cross button, more commonly referred to as the X button.
Astro Bot is, among other things, a masterclass in how to make a sequel to a game. Although the game does go out of its way to demonstrate the various abilities of the DualSense controller it’s also a celebration of all PlayStation consoles up to this point. Sony Interactive Entertainment realized that shipping Astro’s Playroom as a free demo could set the bar high for what a true next-generation game should feel like. There are not many games released in recent memory that have utilized the DualSense controller, like Japan Studio. The fun gameplay mixed with the nostalgia is a potent mix of a successful game.