Finding gamers can be difficult. Even if you know the type of games they usually play, there is no guarantee that they will like a particular title. But I have no qualms about recommending it AstroBot to everyone on your list who has a PS5.
I don’t have much time to play games so I’m careful about which ones I choose (mostly I just play the Engadget reviews) so when Jess called AstroBot “one of the best games Sony has ever made“I thought it was a sure thing.” That was an underestimate on my part. It’s a joy: imaginative but completely intuitive, adorable but not cute. You play as Astro, who is tasked with finding his bot friends on various fantastic planets. Some of these friends are dressed as characters from other video games. The novelty not only delights gamers, it also sparked discussions about the history of games in my house. For example, my husband and son looked up Ico after seeing bots dressed as the game’s two main characters.
The controller itself plays a big role, both on the screen and in the novel ways it can be used. The gameplay is challenging but easy to learn, so much so that my seven year old got pretty immersed in it. In fact, that’s my only complaint. With all the other people in my house wanting to play it, I rarely get a chance. But that’s just proof of its universal appeal – a great quality in any gift. — Amy Skorheim, reporter
