Bluey: The Videogame, developed by Artax Games and published by Outright Games, brings the beloved Australian children’s show to the gaming world for the first time. The game is structured around four interactive episodes, offering players a chance to join Bluey and her family in various well known locations such as the Heeler House, Playgrounds, Creek, and a bonus beach area. With familiar games from the TV show, including Keepy Uppy and Chattermax Chase, the game aims to capture the essence of the beloved series and engage its young target group. We played it on a PlayStation 5.
The narrative stays true to the show’s spirit with bite-sized chapters filled with familiar moments and funny one-liners. The game avoids overwhelming players with a complex story, opting for a straightforward and enjoyable experience that resonates with fans of the franchise – though older kids might not be as impressed. The premise revolves around Bluey and Bingo embarking on a treasure hunt during their holiday, a tale that leads to amusing encounters and simple quests that may lack depth but successfully scratch that Bluey itch for the show’s biggest fans.
Bluey: The Videogame employs a dual approach, prioritizing the story with basic tasks while allowing players the freedom to explore each location as well in a collectathon style – which extends the gameplay time a bit. As you progress you can find various items and stickers, adding an extra layer of engagement for younger players looking to collect them. However, the game falls short in terms of replay value, with limited reasons to return once all collectibles are found.
Visually, the game excels in capturing the vibrant and colorful aesthetic of the TV series. The characters and landscapes, which all look exactly like the show, contribute to an immersive experience. However, occasional glitches and navigation issues in tight spaces can hinder the overall visual presentation and we hope these will get fixed post-launch. On the audio front, Bluey: The Videogame shines with a soundtrack that complements each chapter well. The use of the original voice cast adds authenticity to the game, although more dialogue would have been welcome.
The controls are child-friendly, featuring a clean UI and straightforward mechanics. Younger gamers will find the game easy to navigate, and parents will barely need to help out. Despite its simplicity, the game manages to entertain, especially for fans of Bluey. Cooperative play is also a welcome addition, extending the game’s longevity to some extent.
But while Bluey: The Videogame succeeds in capturing the show’s charm with crisp graphics, amazing audio, and simple controls, it falls short in terms of length and broader appeal. The simplistic and repetitive gameplay will entertain the targeted age group of 5-8-year-olds for a playthrough, but we doubt they’ll come back for more. The short duration of the game, coupled with a few technical issues, doesn’t help either. Despite these drawbacks, for fans of the Bluey franchise looking for a straightforward, fun, and colorful experience, the game still manages to deliver on certain fronts – if you’ve got a Bluey superfan at home, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Score: 6.5/10
Press Play Media 