In 2018, the adorable little puppy, Bluey, and her family graced our TV screens with their loveable personalities, spreading positivity and having fun. While other kid’s shows feature educational aspects, Bluey focuses more on fun activities as a family, while also giving life lessons, and even tackles some heavy topics. The Australian-made kid’s show became a huge success, not only in its home country but also across the world, currently showing in more than 60 countries.

Bluey is now a pop culture icon, has a huge following of both kids and adults, won numerous awards, has had big celebrity guest appearances, and is currently in its third season. It was only a matter of time until Bluey made her way into the gaming world, with Bluey: The Videogame, published by Outright Games, and developed by Artax Games, and it’s now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4|5, Nintendo Switch and PC.

It’s another morning at the Heeler House. Bandit and Chilli are enjoying their sleep before the kids, Bluey and Bingo, come into their room to wake them up because they’re ready to enjoy the holiday. Bluey even shows her parents a sticker book she made for the occasion. Before they can really start their holiday, they must first tidy up the house. This holiday, the Heeler family plans to meet with Muffin at the playground, catch up with Grandad, go to the beach, and collect pieces of a map that leads to a hidden treasure from Bandit’s childhood.

Players can take control of any of the four family members, which include the titular Bluey, her younger sister Bingo, her mum Chilli, and her dad Bandit. Just like the show, the game’s focus is on simply having fun. Everything becomes an activity, such as the family searching for stuffed toys pretending they’re animals that escaped the zoo, some problem-solving by moving objects to reach something, and some familiar games including Keepy Uppy, Ground is Lava, Chattermax Chase, and Magic Xylophone. The overall gameplay is simple, straightforward, and easy for kids to pick up and play.

All four characters play very much the same, but the kids can ride on the shoulders of their parents, and this comes in handy when trying to get to those hard-to-reach places. The game can be played solo or with up to three additional players, which is a lot of fun, especially when working together. It can also be a little problematic as more players tend to get in each other’s way, but this can also happen in solo play.

While playing as one character, the other three act as NPCs and join in to help when required, but occasionally, they will also get in the way, obstructing the player’s view when trying to see something. There are also a few minor glitches here and there, such as the character becoming frozen and unable to move. Thankfully, none of these are major issues that greatly affect the overall experience and fun factor of the game.

The graphics stay true to the bright and colourful style of the show. All the characters are 2D sprites, animated just like they are in the show, while the environments are in 3D. Players can explore five locations including the Heeler House, the Backyard, which connects to the house, the Playground, the Creek, and the Beach. The Heeler House is a faithful recreation of the one seen in the show, and being able to run around in Bluey’s home provides a lot of fan service, making it feel like you’re in the show. There is a lot to see and collect across all the locations, with various stickers and toys that help uncover a bigger picture.

The original voice actors reprise their roles with Melanie Zanetti and David McCormack as Chilli and Bandit respectively, as well as the voices of Bluey and Bingo, whose identities are still kept private. Other familiar faces also appear in the game, and their voice actors reprise their roles here as well. The show’s opening and theme song can be enjoyed when starting the game, and relaxing background music can be heard throughout the game too.

The main story is split up into four episodes, each having a different theme and activity attached to it, with a nice variety of cutscenes to help pull the story along, and together, these feel like they could be part of the actual show. Depending on how you play, the main game can be completed in about an hour, and collecting everything can take about three hours in total. It may not sound like much, but the fact that it’s a Bluey videogame is more than enough for any kids who love the show and will keep them busy.

The only issue with the length of the game is the price. It’s currently sold at AUD 60, which is much cheaper than most new games, but still pretty steep for the amount of content provided. There are plenty of mobile games aimed at kids that are much cheaper or even free, and there’s even a Bluey game on mobile. I hate to say it, but when looking at it this way, this game does feel like a cash grab, especially knowing that kids will be begging their parents for it. If the price isn’t an issue for parents, then it’ll be the perfect Christmas present this holiday season.

From its humble beginnings at Ludo Studio in Brisbane, Australia, and coming from the creative mind of Joe Brumm, Bluey has become one of Australia’s biggest pop culture icons. There are various books, clothing lines, and toys, plus a stage show that’s also gone international, and Bluey has even appeared as a balloon at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2022.

Her first appearance in a “proper” videogame may not have lived up to its full potential, but loyal fans, especially the kids, will appreciate what this game has to offer, and this is only the beginning. Even if parents are screaming “Oh, biscuits!” internally at the game’s price, no one can deny that Bluey: The Videogame is a must-buy for any kids’ collection, and it’s come along just in time for Christmas.

Written by: Sammy Hanson