Sackboy: A Big Adventure
By Paul Semel,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Accessible platformer is fun but lacks challenge.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this game.
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Not the best of the Little Big Planet series, but stil a great game for kids
Report this review
Amazing game!
Report this review
What’s It About?
In SACKBOY: A BIG ADVENTURE, our titular hero -- who we all know from the LittleBigPlanet games -- has to save his hometown of Loom from the evil Vex, who has vacuumed up all the sackfolk in a plot to take over Craftworld. Luckily, our hero escaped in a spaceship, and can now run around and find the supplies he's going to need to confront Vex and save the world. He spends a lot of time running, jumping, climbing, and occasionally bopping enemies on the chin as he explores some rather, well, crafty worlds. On PC, the game supports 4K visuals, as well as 21:9 ultrawide monitor setups, and up to 120 frames per second.
Is It Any Good?
While fans of his other games will lament that this isn't as challenging or full of chances to be creative, it's still a relatively entertaining opportunity to run, jump, and mix it up. In Sackboy: A Big Adventure, the adorable hero of the LittleBigPlanet games has to save the day when his fellow sackfolk are kidnapped by the evil Vex. Though rather than hire mercenaries and launch a daring but dangerous rescue, our hero instead has to find some special resources, something he does by exploring the world. Hence why he spends all his time running, jumping, and solving puzzles that will open doors to other areas. He even occasionally punches some animals in the face. And while you can't make your own levels to share with your friends, the levels do get rather clever and creative (as does Sackboy's closet full of outfits).
That said, the lack of customization and creation isn't the only thing that might disappoint fans of Sackboy's previous games. Getting around, for instance, is decidedly less about split-second timing and jumping the way LittleBigPlanet was. Instead, it's more about exploring and figuring out what things do. Which isn't to say this doesn't get hazardous at times, because it does. It's that the dangerous parts are rather infrequent, and usually just involve misjudging a jump and falling off the world. On PC, while the game supports a large number of computer setups, the game suffers from a large amount of slowdown and stuttering play that can make you misjudge certain areas or sequences. On top of this, there aren't a lot of people playing the game, so if you're looking for co-op, you'll be waiting for a while. While this isn't as challenging as what he's had to deal with before, which will bother serious LittleBigPlanet fans, people just looking for a casual hang with an old pal will enjoy the soft, fluffy fun of Sackboy: A Big Adventure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in Sackboy: A Big Adventure affected by the fact that all of your attacks are done in self-defense? Does that make it okay? How else could Sackboy stop the violence? Does it matter that no blood or gore is shown as a result of attacks?
People playing Sackboy: A Big Adventure may be expecting something different, possibly even closer to the older games in the LittleBigPlanet franchise, so why is it important to remain calm when you're disappointed? How else could someone avoid this situation?
Game Details
- Platforms: PlayStation 5 , PlayStation 4 , Windows
- Pricing structure: Paid ($59.99)
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Release date: October 27, 2022
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Adventures
- ESRB rating: E for Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Lyrics
- Last updated: November 3, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Play
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate