Astro’s Playroom first launched in 2020 as a pre-installed PS5 exclusive that highlighted the DualSense controller’s features. The platformer also paved the way for the successful Astro Bot, Team Asobi’s hit game from 2024 that earned numerous Game of The Year awards. While Astro Bot may have eclipsed Astro’s Playroom, it seems developers have not forgotten about the adorable Astro’s first adventure, as the robot’s first game recently received new content.

When you get to the first silver Bounce Pillow, use it to get on top of the wall, then drop off the other side. This references 2008’s LittleBigPlanet on PS3, developed by Media Molecule. The globe is LittleBigPlanet itself, covered in badges that represent levels from players around the world. After reaching the first Checkpoint in Caching Caves, look for a box frame structure in the ground you can drop into. In addition to a Puzzle Piece, you’ll see a Bot prancing down a line and clearing various shape-based obstacles. Vib-Ribbon was unique in that it loaded entirely into the PS1’s RAM, allowing players to insert their own music CDs to play levels to.

Checkpoint 3

Every bit of platforming presents almost no challenge, and so do the enemies. With rotating platforms, ones that disappear shortly after stepping on them, and lightning platforms that can take out Astro in one hit. As 789win of Push Square, Sammy has over 15 years of experience analysing the world of PlayStation, from PS3 through PS5 and everything in between. He’s an expert on PS Studios and industry matters, as well as sports games and simulators.

Climb up to the platform where the caterpillars are roaming and destroy them. Then hold down the Square button to attack the plant that sprouts with a spinning move, causing it to grow so you can climb up the CD leaves. Explore your favorite games in premium print format, delivered to your door.

Study the movement of platforms, observe what enemies are up ahead, and plan your approach accordingly. As you get better at playing games, you’ll get better at being able to make things up as you go. It’s worth noting however that this isn’t the same model from the demo. After jumping up the trigger platforms and tripping a Checkpoint, check the right-hand side for tow Bots hiding from a third with mushrooms on its head. The mushroom Bot refers to a Clicker, a human taken over by parasitic fungi, while the two characters are Joel and Ellie. Joel is holding a brick, a common weapon and means of distraction in the game.

Getting Started

The smooth, 60-frames-per-second gameplay makes controlling Astro a real treat. While none of the sequences are terribly difficult, there’s enough of a challenge here to keep me busy for around six hours as I chase the Platinum Trophy. Summary Astro and his crew lead you on a magical introduction through PS5 in this fun platformer that comes pre-loaded on PS5.

The real gimmick of Astro’s Playroom is the utilization of the DualSense controller. Players can feel the vibrations simulated from the game, like raindrops on Astro’s head, or feel the strong gusts of wind, the feeling of walking on a sandy beach, and many more. There are areas where Astro must ascend while in a miniature rocket, and players must exert more effort pressing the adaptive triggers. When you get to the very end of the level, you’ll land on a Sacred Symbols rainbow bridge. Turn around and run to the start of the bridge to see two bots at the title screen of “Bot of War”. This title screen references 2005’s God of War for the PS2, developed by SIE Santa Monica Studio.

You can jump down to the wooden platforms, then into a cave where you can pull a wire for this artifact. Artifact 1/3 “PSP UMD” – After riding the lilypad up, instead of jumping left onto the moving platform go to the right into a freezer area. Jump through the ice and hit the button to lower the water, then you can grab this artifact. Puzzle Piece 3/4 – After jumping up through a stack of glass blocks, this puzzle piece is just to the left at the top.

As spotted by Twitter user realradec, Astro’s Playroom received an update for February 2025 that added the PS5 Pro as an artifact. In Astro’s Playroom, players can obtain “Artifacts” from a gacha machine that unlocks collectible PlayStation products. Although Team Asobi did not formally announce it, the update also added the PS5 Pulse Elite Headset and Pulse Explore Earbuds. Once players obtain these Artifacts, they can display their giant versions in the PlayStation Labo area. Finally, the update also changed Astro’s Playroom boot-up cover art.

Puzzle Piece 2/4 – After reaching the next group of enemies circling a platform, go to the left where you can pull a wire and reach a tightrope. Puzzle Piece 1/4 – In the next section there are two groups of enemies walking in circles around a patch of dirt. Defeat both groups to reveal a plant that spawns some platforms when attacked, then jump over onto the tree platforms to find this puzzles piece. Puzzle Piece 2/4 – In the next section when riding the lily pad, you’ll need to jump over a series of obstacles to move forward. Jump onto the last one with the large coin above it, then jump up again to the right to reach this puzzle piece.

These reference Doko Demo Issyo, released for the device in 1999 only in Japan, and developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It’s most famous for starring Toro Inoue, also known as the Sony Cat, who wishes to become human. At the end of the short side-path to the Multi-Tap, you’ll spot a Bot with a flashlight stalked by a Bot in a straw hat. This references 2003’s Siren on PS3, developed by SCE Japan Studio.

Polygon Recommends is our way of endorsing our favorite games, movies, TV shows, comics, tabletop books, and entertainment experiences. When we award the Polygon Recommends badge, it’s because we believe the recipient is uniquely thought-provoking, entertaining, inventive, or fun — and worth fitting into your schedule. If you want curated lists of our favorite media, check out What to Play and What to Watch. 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.

On this page, you will find information about the controls in Astro’s Playroom. In the table, we have compiled the control buttons with an explanation of their applications inside the game. Japanese YouTubers got to play the PS5, and we even got a better feel for how large the system is.