5 Best Video Games Like Astro Bot

One of the best PS5 games so far is "Astro Bot," a 3D platformer released for the PlayStation 5 in 2024. The game follows its titular robot as he rescues his friends and repairs his spaceship, navigating surprisingly challenging platforming levels. More than providing vibrant platforming action, the game is a love letter to the entire history of PlayStation consoles. This is showcased through robots and levels designed after popular PlayStation properties, including "God of War," "Uncharted," and even "Ape Escape."

For those who have cleared even the toughest challenges in "Astro Bot" and are looking for more platforming action, there is no shortage of titles evoking similar gameplay. With that in mind, we're rounding up some of our favorite 3D platformers, some of which also contain a prominently cosmic theme. These games vary in difficulty level, with some more oriented for platforming pros while others are more welcoming to newcomers. 

Mario went cosmic with 2007's "Super Mario Galaxy" for the Wii, which revolves around Mario pursuing Bowser into outer space as their feud reignites. Receiving help from interstellar Princess Rosalina and a star-shaped companion named Luma, Mario recovers Power Stars to fuel Rosalina's Comet Observatory. Mario does this by exploring different planets, several with their own unique gravitational conditions affecting the platforming gameplay. He also brings several unique power-ups to the mix, including the ability to temporarily transform into a bee or Boo.

"Super Mario Galaxy" easily stands as one of the best Nintendo Wii games of all time, gently reinventing the "Super Mario" franchise for a new generation. The platforming mechanics feel as intuitive as ever while the planetary premise gives the series a fresh angle to explore. The game led to a direct sequel in 2010, with both titles remastered for the Nintendo Switch in 2025. A clear reminder that Mario is still the king of platforming, either in 2D or 3D, "Super Mario Galaxy" is Nintendo's flagship franchise at its finest.

The big 3D platforming franchise from PlayStation's early days is "Crash Bandicoot," which started in 1996. After the main series went dormant in 2008 following the release of "Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant," Crash made his return with 2020's "Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time." The game has Crash and his sister Coco take on their old enemies Doctor Neo Cortex and Doctor Nefarious in their renewed bid to conquer reality. This time, Crash finds himself defending the multiverse, gaining new abilities that let him temporarily bend the rules of time and space.

Time and a change in developers hasn't slowed down Crash or diminished his charm, with the 2020 revival effectively modernizing the pivotal platformer's appeal. More than just significantly improving the technical presentation, the game's cosmic elements evoke similar gameplay mechanics to "Astro Bot." "Crash Bandicoot 4" is also packed with Easter eggs, which is especially rewarding for longtime fans. A welcome return from one of gaming's pivotal icons, "Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time" was worth the wait.

Before "Astro Bot," Astro and his friends got their start in the 2018 PlayStation VR game "Astro Bot Rescue Mission." But the prior entry fans should really check out next is the PlayStation 5 launch title "Astro's Playroom," which showcased what the PS5's hardware was capable of. It's here where the series really finds itself, as Astro embarks on platforming levels occasionally reflecting classic PlayStation games like "Resident Evil." Astro ventures into a world reflecting the different components of the PS5 as he unlocks collectibles and helps his friends.

Critics enjoyed "Astro's Playroom" and how it implemented the PS5 DualSense controller's features and capabilities intuitively in its gameplay. In revisiting the game after playing "Astro Bot," fans can see where the developers got their concepts for the 2024 follow-up. This includes a healthy blend of 3D platforming and nostalgia for PlayStation's earlier generations as the experience's playgrounds. An early PS5 game that still holds up six years later, "Astro's Playroom" is a must-play for fans if they missed it the first time around.

Admittedly, the adventures of Ratchet and Clank tend to be much more explosive than Astro's but the 3D platforming elements are still prominent. The "Ratchet & Clank" game that hews closest to "Astro Bot" is the series' most recent entry, 2021's "Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart" for the PlayStation 5. The game has the titular duo take on Doctor Nefarious once again, this time with multiple dimensions under threat. Among the new innovations is a device that allows the pair to leap through interdimensional rifts, providing a unique way to traverse stages.

Critics widely lauded "Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart" upon release, marveling at its breathtaking presentation and intuitive gameplay. The interdimensional traversal underscored the importance of platforming elements in the game while reinventing them for modern sensibilities. The third-person shooter combat is still as delightfully vibrant as ever, with plenty of exciting set pieces to hook gamers. Among the best-looking games on the PS5, "Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart" is also the smoothest the fan-favorite series has ever handled.

Alongside Mario, if there's ever a platforming series that survived and thrived after making the leap to 3D, it's Sonic the Hedgehog. The franchise's most ambitious entry yet is 2022's "Sonic Frontiers," the first open-world experience in the series. The familiar gameplay elements are still very much present, including the emphasis on fast-paced navigation and platforming sequences. The game sees Sonic trying to stop Doctor Eggman from misusing ancient technology found in the Starfall Islands, rescuing his friends in the process.

With its distinct biomes to explore and 3D platforming and combat, "Sonic Frontiers" is a fresh take on Sega's flagship franchise. This reinvention is packed with plenty of exciting new features to the Sonic series heightening its immersive qualities. This sweeping scope brings Sonic into the modern gaming generation in a way that other recent titles hadn't quite been able to deliver. Another engaging rebirth in a franchise that's been revamped multiple times, "Sonic Frontiers" is both a great jumping-on point and welcome return for Sega's speedster series.