Games Like Astro Bot

What Made Astro Bot Work

Astro Bot is a 3D platformer built around feel — the controller, the sound design, and levels that introduce a mechanic, use it well and end before it stales. It is short by design. What people want next is precision platforming with the same generosity, not a bigger game.

Astro Bot is Team Asobi's 2024 PlayStation 5 platformer and the winner of Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024. It grew out of Astro's Playroom, the demo that came pre-installed on every PS5, and builds dozens of short levels around the DualSense controller's haptics and adaptive triggers. Each level is short, introduces a power-up or idea, and moves on. Players who finish it usually want the same joyful, idea-a-minute platforming rather than a long open world.

9 Games Like Astro Bot

1. Su

   1.Super Mario Odyssey(2017)

   The only other platformer of the last decade with this many ideas per hour.

   Why it fits: Nintendo EPD's 2017 Switch platformer is the other modern game built on constant novelty: Mario's hat, Cappy, lets him capture dozens of creatures, each with its own controls.

   What is different: Open kingdoms to explore rather than one-idea levels, and no controller-specific tricks.

   Where to play it: Switch.

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2. Su

   2.Super Mario Galaxy(2007)

   The blueprint for Astro Bot's level-per-idea structure.

   Why it fits: Nintendo EAD Tokyo's 2007 Wii game structures its levels as small planets with their own gravity — the level-per-idea template that Astro Bot's galaxies clearly follow.

   What is different: More linear and more demanding in its later stars, and it is built around motion pointing.

   Where to play it: Wii; also re-released on Switch.

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3. As

   3.Astro's Playroom(2020)

   The free prequel that came on every PS5 and is genuinely good.

   Why it fits: Team Asobi's 2020 game came pre-installed on every PS5 console as a showcase for the DualSense controller. It is shorter, but it is where Astro Bot's design started.

   What is different: Short — an afternoon or two — and built as a DualSense demonstration.

   Where to play it: Pre-installed on PS5.

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4. Ra

   4.Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart(2021)

   The other PS5 showcase, and it feels just as good in the hand.

   Why it fits: Insomniac Games' 2021 PS5 game uses the DualSense triggers for different weapon fire modes and moves between dimensions through rifts, another showcase for the same hardware.

   What is different: A shooter with platforming, not a platformer with ideas; far more story.

   Where to play it: PS5 and PC.

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5. A

   5.A Hat in Time(2017)

   The best indie 3D platformer, with the same warm tone.

   Why it fits: Gears for Breakfast's 2017 3D platformer, crowdfunded on Kickstarter, is a colourful collectathon with distinct chapters, each with its own style.

   What is different: Rougher around the edges and more open-ended, with chapter-based missions.

   Where to play it: PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch.

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6. Ki

   6.Kirby and the Forgotten Land(2022)

   3D platforming built to be kind, and full of small inventions.

   Why it fits: HAL Laboratory's 2022 Switch game is Kirby's first full 3D platformer, with Mouthful Mode letting Kirby take on the shape of cars, vending machines and more.

   What is different: Easier, and slower-paced; the invention is in the copy abilities.

   Where to play it: Switch.

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7. Sa

   7.Sackboy: A Big Adventure(2020)

   PlayStation's other cheerful platformer, and best in co-op.

   Why it fits: Sumo Digital's 2020 platformer for PS4 and PS5 is a 3D spin-off of LittleBigPlanet, with up to four-player co-op and music-driven levels.

   What is different: Floatier movement and a crafted-cloth look; less inventive level-to-level.

   Where to play it: PS4, PS5 and PC.

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8. Ps

   8.Psychonauts 2(2021)

   Every level is a new idea, which is the Astro Bot promise.

   Why it fits: Double Fine's 2021 sequel, published by Xbox Game Studios, sends Raz into the minds of others, with each level shaped around one character's thoughts and a new visual style.

   What is different: Long, story-led and full of dialogue; the platforming is looser.

   Where to play it: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

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9. Yo

   9.Yooka-Replaylee(2025)

   For the collectathon side, rebuilt with modern controls.

   Why it fits: Playtonic, founded by former Rare developers, released this 2025 remaster of Yooka-Laylee (2017) with rebuilt controls, levels and camera — a collectathon in the Banjo-Kazooie mould.

   What is different: A collectathon remake with big worlds rather than short, dense levels.

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Where to Start

Super Mario Odyssey is the only game with the same density of ideas. If you are staying on PS5, Astro's Playroom and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart are the next two; Sackboy: A Big Adventure is the pick if you want to play with someone else on the sofa.

How We Picked These Games

Every pick is a platformer, mostly 3D, where levels are built around a new idea rather than repeated challenges. We favoured polished, generous games suited to any age, included both of Nintendo's modern benchmarks, and added the PlayStation platformers most often mentioned alongside Astro Bot.

Which One to Play, by What You Liked

If you liked Astro Bot for a new idea in every level, try Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Odyssey. Astro Bot's galaxy map openly follows Galaxy's structure, and Odyssey's captures do the same job as Astro's power-ups.

If you liked Astro Bot for the DualSense tricks, try Astro's Playroom and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. Astro's Playroom is free on every PS5; Rift Apart uses the adaptive triggers for weapon fire modes.

If you liked Astro Bot for the PlayStation nostalgia, try Sackboy: A Big Adventure. Another Sony mascot platformer with co-op and music-driven levels.

If you liked Astro Bot for hunting down every hidden bot, try A Hat in Time and Yooka-Replaylee. Two collectathons where the hiding places are the level design.