5 Best Games Like Sackboy: A Big Adventure

It's no secret that PlayStation fosters some of the greatest and most innovative exclusives in gaming, which explains the sheer amount of iconic poster children that just so happen to stock its portfolio. Sackboy, being just one of hundreds of its hearty offspring, has shared countless ventures with the Sony brand, and has often represented each generation of console with a wholesome exclusive and a double-barrelled spin-off to boot.

Fortunately, both LittleBigPlanet and Sackboy: A Big Adventure are in receipt of some pretty solid lookalikes. Although one could argue that the PlayStation exclusive is very much a one-of-a-kind series, others would go on to say that there is, at least in some corners of the market, a generous selection of games that ring all the same bells and strike all the same boxes. With that in mind, we went ahead and dug out the five closest things to the PS5 exclusive. And so, if you too are keen to explore other worlds similar to that of Sackboy: A Big Adventure, then read on.

5. Astro's Playroom

Besides the obvious choice of exclusive, PlayStation also hosts another, although slightly lesser-known poster child, which comes under the form of Astro's Playroom. Think of it as a spiritual successor to LittleBigPlanet, complete with all the same puzzle-platform bells and whistles, only with a shiny new droid to assume the role of Playstation's home-brewed protagonist. That is, at least in part, the nutshell equivalent to Astro's Playroom.

Astro's Playroom is a platformer at heart, and one that also servers as a hub for PlayStation 5 users. Not only is it a virtual museum of sorts, with countless trinkets and old-fashioned treasures to collect and show off, but it's also a pretty exhilarating open world puzzler, too. And boy, if you're wanting to get familiar with your fresh-out-the-box PS5, then it's definitely worth checking out. Sony fan or not — it's worth opening up just to take the well earned trip down memory lane.

4. Unravel

Chances are, you fell in love with Sackboy purely for his iconic burlap sack and cross-stitch appearance. And if that is the case, then nothing is really stopping you from going one step further and finding a new admiration for a crimson doll made entirely out of yarn. And if you're looking to really kill two birds with one stone, then you'll also be pleased to know that its game, Unravel, has its fair share of puzzles and platforming worlds to take under your wing, too.

Unravel and Unravel Two are both worth experiencing, if only to pitch in to the mysterious and almost soothing atmosphere that each layer employs. The series is of course a side-scrolling puzzler at face value, but it's also oozing with a whole lot of heart and wonder. And as far as unusual heroes and their friends go, Yarny is hands down one of the best you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting.

3. LittleBigPlanet 3

It goes without saying that LittleBigPlanet 3 is an obvious alternative to Sackboy: A Big Adventure, especially if you've got an old PS3 knocking about somewhere. And although you could say it's a little dated compared to its 2020 iteration, it is still, at least in our eyes, one of the best platformers of the double ex-gen console era. Plus, if seeing more of Sackboy is what you're itching for, then it is more of Sackboy you shall get.

LittleBigPlanet 3 is a puzzle-platform game that also incorporates a sandbox mode, which aims to push players to create their very own levels, characters, and props. With thousands of in-game cosmetics to choose from, users can build and toy with just about anything their hearts desire. Add a relatively short but ridiculously addictive campaign to the final mix, and you've got yourself an absolute essential addition to the PlayStation library.

2. Dreams

It seems odd, slotting in a game that, quite frankly, shares next to no core similarities with Sackboy: A Big Adventure. Or at least, it doesn't on the surface. But, delve deep into the Dreams archives, and you'll more than likely dig up hundreds, if not thousands of puzzle-platform games exactly like the LittleBigPlanet spin-off. And this is but one of the categories that the sandbox platform boasts in its ludicrously large library, believe it or not.

Dreams is a creation tool that lets everyday players build the games of their, well, dreams. Without any previous experience needed, owners can utilize the beginner's arsenal to conjure up indie games and share them with the world. And if there's one thing newcomers to the platform love creating — it's puzzle-platform games, similar to that of Sackboy: A Big Adventure, no doubt. Therefore, if you're happy to onboard an open-minded approach, then you're almost always guaranteed to find something worth calling your own. At least after scouring the archives for a few hours, anyway.

1. It Takes Two

More dolls? It's almost as if we've curated this list based purely on yarn and stitches alone, right? And yet, as it happens, It Takes Two is far closer in style to Sackboy: A Big Adventure than you'd initially believe. In fact, the two share almost all the same ingredients, with the only exception being the actual story and characters themselves. Besides that, though, the resemblance between the two is uncanny, and actually quite odd.

It Takes Two is a stupidly entertaining albeit chaotic couch co-op game that boasts hundreds of hours of mismatched doll-based antics and laughably bad one-liners. Does it contain puzzles? More than you could ever imagine. Does it also contain a wholesome story that's surprisingly deep and original? Absolutely. And so, with that, you should definitely consider throwing these two ragdolls about — if only to say you've trudged through the best-selling game of 2021 and came out swinging.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there any games you'd recommend? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.