Players can be hard to shop for. Even if you know the type of games they usually play, there is no guarantee that they will like a specific title. But I have no hesitation in recommending Astro Bot to anyone on your list who has a PS5.

I don’t have a ton of time to play, so I’m careful about who I pick (mostly I just play any reviews on Engadget) so when Jess called. Astro Bot “one of the best games ever made by Sony” I thought it was a safe bet. That was an underestimation on my part. It’s a joy: Inventive but completely intuitive, adorable but not cutesy. You play as Astro who is tasked with finding his bot friends on different planets. Some of those friends dressed up as characters from other video games. Innovation doesn’t just satisfy players: in my house, it also leads to discussions of gaming history. For example, my husband and son looked up Ico after seeing bots dressed as the game’s two main characters.

The controller itself plays a big role, both on-screen and in the novel ways you use it. The gameplay is challenging, but so easy to get that my seven year old got really into it. Actually, that’s my complaint. Among all the other people in my house who want to play it, I rarely get a chance. But that only proves its universal appeal – a great quality in any gift. – Amy Skorheim, Reporter