Team Asobi’sAstro Botis a triumph. Sprucing up the budding Sony mascot, who had previously been featured in the well-received, but not Earth-shattering,Astro Bot Rescue MissionandAstro’s Playroom,Astro Botbrings the titular character into the upper echelons of gaming iconography, sending him on a nostalgic journey of PlayStation history in the process.
But it’s not just PS1 reminiscing that makesAstro Botso great—not by a long shot. A true audiovisual tour-de-force,Astro Botmakes full use of the PS5’s DualSense controller, utilizing it in ingenious, but also somehow obvious, ways to maximize enjoyment. And “enjoyment” is certainly an apt descriptor, as few modern games are capable of evoking the sense of childlike joy thatAstro Botexcels at, regardless of player age. Strong and varied platforming mechanics are other building blocks ofAstro’s gameplay, allowing for exhilarating and unexpected interactive opportunities. All of this is to say thatAstro Bot’s four Game Awards victories, including the coveted Game of the Year Award, are more than deserved.
Astro Bot Brought Home Four Big Game Awards
Every 2024 Game Award Astro Bot Won
Astro Bot’s win for Best Family Gameis probably the least surprising of the bunch. While 2024 saw a number of great family friendly titles, including a newMario PartyandLegend of Zelda, the pure, tangible excitement evoked throughAstro Bot’s colorful presentation and DualSense functionality makes it stand out as an all-timer in this space. Put simply, just about anyone can appreciateAstro Bot’s strengths, not just seasoned gamers or astute, wizened audiences.
Part and parcelwith this victory is the Best Game Direction award.Astro Bot’s diverse smattering of levels run the gamut from sunny and joyous to mysteriously galactic, but each of these spaces is populated with rich detail that make them a sight to behold. Background elements like a flock of pink flamingos soaring through the sky or sunlight shimmering off incongruously realistic water will stick with players long after credits roll onAstroBot, and this attention to detail makes the game stand out in a genre that’s already known for having particularly great design. These levels come together to fulfillAstro Bot’s broader vision: a hodgepodge of video game throwbacks in a thrilling, toy-like package. Indeed, in terms of cohesion,Astro Botis perhaps the most well-realized game of 2024.
Best Action/Adventure is an interesting one.Astro Botwas up against some heavy hitters for this prize,includingPrince of Persia: The Lost CrownandSilent Hill 2, but it wound up emerging victorious, likely as a result of its unique approach to mixing combat, movement, and puzzle solving. Some of the other nominees arguably do a better job of nailing the action/adventure fundamentals, butAstro Bot’s creativity and novelty are perhaps what gave it the edge.
All of these strengths, along with many more, combine to makeAstro Bota more than worthy recipient of the Game of the Year award. It’s worth mentioning thatAstro Bothad some pretty stiff competition this year, what withlandmark releases likeMetaphor RefantazioandFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthnominated for the ultimate prize as well, so this victory is certainly not an easy one. Like with any GOTY win,Astro Bot’s claim to the title is sure to be debated for months to come, but few could argue that it’s not an incredible achievement in the medium, and that its rampant praise isn’t well-deserved.
JOIN ASTRO IN A BRAND-NEW, SUPERSIZED SPACE ADVENTURE
The PS5® mothership has been wrecked, leaving ASTRO and the bot crew scattered all over the galaxies. Time to ride your trusty Dual Speeder across more than 50 planets full of fun, danger and surprises. On your journey, make the most of ASTRO’s new powers and reunite with many iconic heroes from the PlayStation universe!
Blast off on a supersized adventure
From sandy beaches to lush jungles and piping-hot volcanoes, explore a myriad of memorable planets in search of Astro’s lost crew!
Power up your platforming
With your new powers, battle out a whole new roster of quirky baddies and huge bosses. Feel every hop, punch and crack through your DualSense wireless controller.
Join the PlayStation celebration
Reunite with over 150 iconic PlayStation heroes and celebrate 30 years of PlayStation history!
