Sackboy: A Big Adventure

When looking at the PS5 launch lineup, Sackboy: A Big Adventure was not at the top of my hype list. Sure, it’s Sackboy, one of the most iconic PlayStation mascots since LittleBigPlanet’s release on PS3, but having been underwhelmed with the just okay LittleBigPlanet 3, seeing Sackboy’s smiling knitted face didn’t spark much excitement, especially up against the more obvious heavy hitters like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon’s Souls. Sackboy ended up being one of the best PS5 launch experiences, a creatively detailed adventure full of heart that embraces the magic of classic platformers whi...

After a six-year absence, PlayStation’s knitted icon returns in stunning form in one of the year's best platformers.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is an unexpected pleasure. Overshadowed by the likes of Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon’s Souls in Sony’s launch line-up, it’s gone far beyond our expectations – to play it is to love it. An immaculately made 3D platformer with huge amounts of charm, if you’re after something that will never fail to put a smile on your face you ought to consider picking it up alongside your PS5. With its cutesy looks, responsive controls and oodles of imagination, Sackboy: A Big Adventure goes further than ever to make Sackboy the PlayStation mascot he deserves to be.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a blast to play, no matter where you play it. Its PS4 shortcomings only lie with graphic fidelity and loading times. Apart from that, Sackboy is back and better than ever on all fronts and generations.

A brilliantly accessible and clever platformer with a top-notch soundtrack. This is a must-have title for any PlayStation owner who likes platformers.

There’s so much to love about Sackboy: A Big Adventure. The levels are so inventive, creative, and fun to play. The game is filled with so much content, including levels that continue to unlock once you’ve completed the main story. There’s also the ability to purchase costumes, re-do missions to get a higher score, and so much more. Levels are filled with so much variety yet each one fits into each world so well. With each level I played, I could tell Sumo Digital put a lot of thought and love into each aspect of the game. From Sackboy’s moveset to the enemies and locations, it feels like a st...

A Big Adventure is a lovely spin-off of LittleBigPlanet that’s filled with charming sights and sounds alike. Its level designs are adorable and creative, really shining in co-op but still entertaining when played alone. Its platforming can occasionally frustrate, falling short of the precision and nuance needed to really make it stand out from other games like it, but the feel-good vibe that permeates every corner of its crafted world still makes it a joy to play.

The classic 3D platformer is something of a lost art. Sure, there are fantastic examples from the past few years like Super Mario 3D World, but games like Voodoo Vince or Rocket: Robot on Wheels just aren’t greenlit anymore. It’s a real shame. Not happy with the state of the market, Sony tapped Sumo Digital to send one of their most charming characters on his biggest adventure yet. The result is Sackboy: A Big Adventure, an enhancting and visually magnificent game the whole family will adore, even if it’s not much of a challenge.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is dripping with charm and makes excellent use of the DualSense controller.

Sackboy is too good a character to sit on the sidelines, but for the last six years that’s exactly what the LittleBigPlanet protagonist has done. With creator Media Molecule turning its attention to the outrageously ambitious imagination simulation Dreams, it’s been six long years since we saw the smile of Sony’s only knitted hero. But with the PlayStation 5’s launch, UK developer Sumo Digital has returned to Craftworld – and the results are remarkable.

Though Sackboy: A Big Adventure's aesthetic is a bit basic, its solid platforming presents a good challenge.

Another gorgeous looking first party PS5 game, with some fun and imaginative platforming, but even with four players at once it lacks that certain spark that would’ve made it a true launch essential.