TL;DR: Astro Bot is arguably the best game on the PS5 right now. It’s a joyful, vibrant platformer that feels like a warm hug for anyone who has ever owned a PlayStation. While it’s rated E10+ and is perfectly safe for kids, it features over 170 "VIP Bots" that are cameos from 30 years of gaming history—including some very "mature" characters from games you definitely wouldn't let your 8-year-old play. This guide helps you navigate those references and use the game as a gateway to gaming history for kids.
If you bought a PS5, you likely played Astro's Playroom, the short tech demo that came pre-installed. Astro Bot is the full-length, big-budget sequel. You play as a tiny, adorable robot traveling through different galaxies to rescue your stranded crew and rebuild your crashed PS5 mothership.
The gameplay is "Mario-esque"—lots of jumping, hovering, and using clever power-ups like a bulldog jetpack or giant sponge gloves. It is polished, inventive, and generally lacks the "brain rot" qualities of endless mobile games or the toxic competitive stress of Fortnite.
Ask our chatbot for a comparison of Astro Bot vs. Super Mario Odyssey
The hook for long-time gamers is the "VIP Bots." Throughout the levels, you find bots dressed up as iconic characters from PlayStation's 30-year history. For a kid, they’re just "cool-looking robots." For you, they might be a massive hit of nostalgia.
However, because PlayStation’s history includes a lot of "M for Mature" titles, your child will be interacting with adorable robot versions of characters who, in their original games, are busy decapitating monsters or surviving a fungal apocalypse.
The "Safe" Cameos (E to T Rated Origins)
Most of the bots come from family-friendly or teen-rated franchises. These are great conversation starters about the "classics."
- Ratchet & Clank: The duo from the famous sci-fi shooter.
- Sly Cooper: The thieving raccoon from the PS2 era.
- Ape Escape: There is an entire level dedicated to this game where Astro uses a net to catch monkeys.
- Crash Bandicoot: The orange marsupial who was the unofficial face of the original PlayStation.
- Spyro the Dragon: The purple dragon that every millennial parent remembers fondly.
- PaRappa the Rapper: A paper-thin rapping dog that introduced many of us to rhythm games.
The "Mature" Cameos (M-Rated Origins)
This is where you might need to do some "parental translating." Astro Bot turns these gritty characters into cute toys, but their presence might lead to questions like, "Who is the angry bald man with the axe?"
- God of War: Kratos and Atreus appear. In his own games, Kratos is a god-slaying machine in very violent, bloody battles. In Astro Bot, he’s a grumpy robot who throws a glowing axe.
- The Last of Us: You’ll find Joel and Ellie. Their home game is a heavy, emotional, and very violent survival horror story about a zombie-like plague.
- Bloodborne: The "Hunter" bot looks cool with his saw-cleaver, but the actual game is a gothic nightmare that would give most ten-year-olds (and some adults) actual night terrors.
- Metal Gear Solid: Look for a bot hiding under a cardboard box. This is Solid Snake, a legendary soldier from a series famous for complex political plots and stealth-action violence.
- Resident Evil: Characters like Chris Redfield and Leon Kennedy appear. The original games are the gold standard for survival horror.
Check out our guide on explaining M-rated game characters to younger kids
Kids love Astro Bot because it rewards curiosity. Every corner of the map has something to punch, pull, or fly into. It uses the PS5's "DualSense" controller in ways no other game does—you can "feel" the texture of sand, rain, or metal through the vibrations in your hands.
From a wellness perspective, this is "high-quality" screen time. It’s a finite experience (it has an end, unlike Roblox), it requires genuine motor skills and spatial problem-solving, and it doesn't rely on predatory "loot boxes" or dark patterns in game design.
Recommended Age: 6+ While the ESRB says E10+ (likely for "fantasy violence"), most 6 or 7-year-olds with decent coordination can handle the main path. Some of the "Challenge Levels" (marked by the PlayStation shapes: Square, Triangle, Circle, X) are legitimately difficult and might require a parent to step in and help.
Safety Considerations
- No Online Multiplayer: There is no voice chat, no strangers, and no "griefing." It is a purely solo experience.
- No Microtransactions: Once you buy the game, you own everything. There is no "in-game store" to drain your bank account.
- Sensory Input: The game is very "busy" with bright lights and haptic vibrations. If your child is prone to sensory overload, you might want to turn down the controller vibration in the PS5 settings.
Astro Bot is essentially a marketing masterclass, but it’s also a digital museum. As your kid rescues these bots, they are building a collection in a hub world called the "Crash Site."
You can use this as a way to bond. When they find the Uncharted bot (Nathan Drake), you can tell them about how it’s like an Indiana Jones movie. When they find the Ghost of Tsushima bot, you can talk about samurai.
The "Mature" Conversation: Eventually, your kid might see a character that looks cool and ask to play their game. If they want to play Resident Evil because they liked the "bot with the green jacket," you’ll have to be the bearer of bad news.
- The Script: "That bot is a tribute to a much older, much scarier game for adults. It’s like how there are LEGO sets for Stranger Things—the LEGOs are for kids, but the show is for grown-ups. Maybe when you're older!"
If you want to engage with your kid while they play, try these prompts:
- "Which bot has the coolest costume so far?"
- "What does that bot do when you hit it?" (Each VIP bot has a unique animation that references its home game).
- "Do you think any of these bots look like characters from movies we've seen?"
- "That bot is from a game I played when I was your age! Do you want to know what it was about?"
Astro Bot is a rare 10/10 recommendation. It is creative, respectful of the player's time, and completely devoid of the cynical monetization that plagues modern gaming. Yes, it features references to M-rated games, but it handles them with such "action-figure" innocence that they remain age-appropriate.
If you’re looking for a game that justifies having a $500 console in the living room, this is it. It’s a celebration of play, and honestly, you might find yourself grabbing the controller to find those last few hidden bots long after the kids have gone to bed.
- Check the Collection: Go to the "Crash Site" with your child and look at the bots they've collected. See how many you recognize!
- Explore the Lab: Use the in-game currency (which is earned only by playing, not by paying) to buy items in the Gatcha Lab that give the VIP bots their signature items.
- Discuss History: If they’re interested in the "old" consoles shown in the game, look up pictures of the original 1994 PlayStation together.