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Freedom251 › Blog › Astro Bot

Best Family-Friendly Platformers Like Toy Story 3 on PS5

By Freedom251 Team · · 10 min read

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ASTRO BOT is the closest premium solo match for the cheerful, approachable platforming many families associate with Toy Story 3. Choose Sackboy: A Big Adventure when two or more people need to play together, and start with ASTRO’s PLAYROOM if the family is new to PS5. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the step-up option for older children who want substantially more combat.

The important distinction is not simply which game looks colorful. It is whether you need one-player exploration or shared play, how much fantasy violence your child is ready for, and whether you want a separate purchase or an introductory PS5 experience.

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Quick comparison

Game Players ESRB information Action level Best fit Purchase context
ASTRO BOT Solo recommendation E10+; crude humor and fantasy violence Light fantasy combat alongside platforming Families wanting the most polished single-player choice Separate PS5 game; confirm the current edition and price
Sackboy: A Big Adventure Solo, local co-op or online co-op; up to three other adventurers E; mild cartoon violence and mild lyrics Gentler platforming with shared play Siblings, parents and children sharing a screen Separate PS5 game; confirm the current edition and price
ASTRO’s PLAYROOM Introductory PS5 platformer E10+; fantasy violence Low-pressure introduction First sessions, short play periods and learning the DualSense controller Check whether it is already installed on the PS5 before buying anything
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Solo story-driven adventure Rating is not stated in the supplied official information More combat and a more action-led presentation Older children who have outgrown gentler platformers Separate PS5 game; confirm the current edition and price

ESRB categories describe content, not a child’s individual readiness. A child who is comfortable with fantasy fighting may enjoy ASTRO BOT earlier than another child who prefers purely gentle play.

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What makes a PS5 platformer feel like Toy Story 3?

Most families asking for “games like Toy Story 3” are looking for a particular combination rather than a literal licensed sequel: a bright 3D world, a clear goal, playful characters, forgiving onboarding and movement that feels fun before it feels technical. The games above cover those qualities in different ways.

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  • ASTRO BOT emphasizes a polished solo adventure in which Astro searches across planets for pieces of his crashed ship.
  • Sackboy turns the platforming premise into a family activity, with Craftworld exploration and rescue objectives that support up to four local or online players.
  • ASTRO’s PLAYROOM is the least demanding starting point for a household that has just connected a PS5 and wants to learn the basics.
  • Rift Apart keeps the colorful platformer structure but puts considerably more weight on combat and story spectacle.

That means there is no single winner for every household. The right choice depends first on who is holding the controller and second on the amount of action you want on screen.

ASTRO BOT: best premium solo choice

Why it is the closest overall match

ASTRO BOT is the strongest recommendation when one player will lead the adventure. The ESRB rates it E10+ for Everyone 10+, with crude humor and fantasy violence. Its central premise is easy to explain to a child: help Astro recover pieces of his crashed ship while visiting different planets. That concrete objective gives a younger player a reason to keep moving without requiring knowledge of a complicated franchise history.

PlayStation lists ASTRO BOT as a PS5 game with a September 6 release date, while Team Asobi describes it as an award-winning platforming adventure exclusive to PlayStation 5. Those descriptions establish its platform and broad format; they do not promise that every child will find every level easy. Use the E10+ descriptor and your child’s tolerance for cartoon fighting when deciding whether to supervise the first sessions.

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Who should choose it

  • A child who mostly plays alone but wants a large, colorful adventure.
  • A family looking for a premium showcase of PS5 platforming rather than a multiplayer party game.
  • An older child who accepts light fantasy combat and jokes that may be too mature for a younger sibling.

Who should choose something else

ASTRO BOT is not the first recommendation when the main requirement is two children playing simultaneously. It is also not the safest content choice for a child whose family has decided to avoid fantasy violence altogether; in that case, begin with a conversation about the E10+ descriptor and consider the E-rated Sackboy instead.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure: best family co-op platformer

What the rating and modes tell you

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is rated E for Everyone, with mild cartoon violence and mild lyrics. The ESRB describes it as a 3D adventure platformer in which Sackboy explores Craftworld and rescues Sackfolk. The game supports solo play, local co-op and online co-op with up to three other adventurers, making it the clearest answer when “family-friendly” means playing together rather than taking turns.

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PlayStation producer Mark O’Connor explained the design intent this way: “The LittleBigPlanet titles were always designed as games that could be played solo or co-op and this is something that we didn’t want to change for Sackboy: A Big Adventure.” That statement is useful for parents because co-op is not an incidental extra; it is part of the game’s intended identity.

Why it works for siblings and parents

  • Shared screen: local co-op lets people in the same room participate in one adventure.
  • Flexible household size: the documented limit is the lead player plus up to three other adventurers.
  • Lower content threshold: the E rating and “mild cartoon violence” descriptor make it the most conservative choice among the clearly rated recommendations here.
  • Solo fallback: a child can continue playing alone when another family member is unavailable.

No official difficulty scale, completion time or guarantee that every stage is equally easy is published here, so do not buy Sackboy on the assumption that co-op removes all challenge. Its advantage is participation: a parent can share the controller time, and siblings can experience the same level together.

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Local versus online co-op

For a living-room session, pair each controller with the PS5, launch the game’s multiplayer option and follow its on-screen prompts to add the additional players. For online play, use the game’s online co-op option and check the account, network and subscription requirements shown by the console for your region. Those requirements can change, so rely on the current PS5 store and in-game notices rather than an old setup guide.

ASTRO’s PLAYROOM: the easiest first step

Why start here

ASTRO’s PLAYROOM is an action-platformer for PS5 rated E10+ for Everyone 10+, with fantasy violence. It is the practical introduction for a household that has just bought a console, has short play windows or wants to see whether a child enjoys 3D platforming before purchasing a larger game.

The game is associated with the PS5’s introductory experience. If it is already installed on your console, open it before spending money on another platformer. Availability can differ after a console reset or account change, so check the game library on the specific PS5 you are using.

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Best uses in a family routine

  • First controller lesson: let a child learn movement, jumping and camera control without committing to a long campaign.
  • Short sessions: use it when there is only a limited amount of time before dinner, homework or bedtime.
  • Confidence builder: move from this introduction to ASTRO BOT or Sackboy once the player is comfortable navigating a 3D space.

Do not confuse “introductory” with “rated for everyone.” Its E10+ rating still includes fantasy violence, so apply the same household content rule you use for ASTRO BOT.

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Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: for more action

Where it fits

GamesRadar’s PS5 coverage identifies Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart as a PS5 platformer. It belongs on this list because it offers a colorful, story-driven platforming adventure for players who want more combat than the gentler Toy Story-like choices.

No current ESRB category or content descriptor is stated for Rift Apart, so check the current rating notice for your region before handing it to a younger child. The editorial fit is clear, however: choose it for older children who actively want action, not for a family seeking the mildest possible introduction.

Use it as a step-up game

A sensible progression is to begin with ASTRO’s PLAYROOM, move to Sackboy or ASTRO BOT, and then offer Rift Apart when the child is asking for more battles and a stronger story focus. This is a sequencing recommendation, not a claim that every player will find the games in that exact order of difficulty.

Choose by player count first

Your household’s priority Start with Reason
One child wants a substantial solo adventure ASTRO BOT It is the strongest premium solo recommendation and centers on Astro’s planet-hopping rescue objective.
Two or more people must play together Sackboy: A Big Adventure It explicitly supports local and online co-op with up to three other adventurers.
The family is learning the PS5 ASTRO’s PLAYROOM It is an approachable PS5 introduction and may already be installed.
The child wants battles and a bigger action story Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart It is the most action-forward platformer in this group.

Choose by age and content tolerance

Ratings are the most concrete comparison available, but they should be read with the descriptors attached. “E10+” is not a universal difficulty or maturity score; it flags content that may merit parental guidance for children under 10. In this group:

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  • Sackboy: E, with mild cartoon violence and mild lyrics.
  • ASTRO BOT: E10+, with crude humor and fantasy violence.
  • ASTRO’s PLAYROOM: E10+, with fantasy violence.
  • Rift Apart: check the current regional rating because no current ESRB category or content descriptor is stated.

If a younger child and an older child share the console, Sackboy is the most straightforward compromise on the documented ratings. If the older child wants ASTRO BOT, set expectations about the E10+ descriptors before purchase and decide whether the younger child will watch or play.

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A practical buying and setup checklist

Before buying

  1. Count the players. If simultaneous play is non-negotiable, prioritize Sackboy; do not assume that a highly polished solo platformer has a multiplayer mode.
  2. Read the full rating descriptor. Compare “mild cartoon violence,” “fantasy violence” and “crude humor,” not just the letter or number.
  3. Check the PS5 library. Look for ASTRO’s PLAYROOM first so you do not purchase an introductory experience you already have.
  4. Confirm the edition and region. Physical and digital listings can differ, and storefront stock and prices change.
  5. Verify current online requirements. For online co-op, read the console’s current account, network and subscription prompts.

For the first family session

  1. Pair the number of controllers you actually plan to use and check that each account can sign in.
  2. Start with a short session rather than promising a full campaign.
  3. Let the least experienced player choose the camera sensitivity and pace that feels comfortable.
  4. In co-op, agree on who leads movement and who pauses the game so a younger player is not left behind.
  5. Stop if the content descriptors or action level are uncomfortable; the next option in the list may be a better fit.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Buying a solo game for a co-op household

A colorful cover does not establish multiplayer support. ASTRO BOT is the solo recommendation here, while Sackboy is the documented co-op choice. Check the player-mode information before checkout.

Treating an age rating as a difficulty rating

ESRB ratings describe content. They do not tell you whether a level will be easy, whether a child will finish it quickly or whether a parent will need to help. Use a short first session to judge comfort and control skills.

Assuming online and local co-op are identical

Sackboy supports both, but the setup experience differs. Local play depends on controllers in the room; online play depends on accounts, network access and the current requirements shown by the PS5.

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Ignoring the included experience

Check ASTRO’s PLAYROOM before purchasing an introductory platformer. It can answer the basic question—does this family enjoy 3D platforming on PS5?—without requiring another transaction.

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Recommended paths for different families

For a first-time PS5 family

Open ASTRO’s PLAYROOM, play a short introductory session and observe whether the child enjoys the camera and movement. If the answer is yes, choose ASTRO BOT for a solo player or Sackboy when shared play matters.

For siblings who argue over turns

Choose Sackboy first because its documented local co-op supports simultaneous participation. Set a simple rule about who chooses the next level or who takes the lead when the group reaches a difficult section.

For an older child who says platformers are too easy

Try ASTRO BOT if the child wants polished platforming with light fantasy combat. If the request is specifically for more fighting and a stronger action story, move to Rift Apart and check its current regional rating first.

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For a mixed-age household

Use Sackboy as the shared game and keep ASTRO BOT or Rift Apart for the older child’s individual sessions. That separates the co-op requirement from the content level rather than asking one title to satisfy every player.

Bottom line

Pick ASTRO BOT for the closest premium solo experience to the upbeat platforming many Toy Story 3 fans want on PS5. Pick Sackboy: A Big Adventure when family co-op is the deciding factor. Start with ASTRO’s PLAYROOM when the console or 3D platforming is new, and reserve Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart for older children seeking more combat. The ESRB descriptors—especially the distinction between E and E10+—should make the final decision alongside player count and your child’s individual comfort.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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