[3][4] Traversal between the galaxies and levels is achieved through the "Dual Speeder"; a spaceship shaped like a PlayStation 5 DualSense controller.

322 Bots can be rescued and recruited in total: 301 in the base game, 17 via free downloadable content,[7] and 4 obtainable through missions in the free-to-play predecessor Astro's Playroom.

Bots originate from both Sony Interactive Entertainment franchises and franchises owned by third-parties by the likes of Capcom, Konami, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Activision, Arc System Works, Crystal Dynamics, Sega, Atlus, Argonaut Software, Koei Tecmo, Mediatonic, Team17, Ubisoft, Young Horses, Polyarc, Oddworld Inhabitants, SHIFT UP Corporation, THA LTD, Ember Lab, and BlueTwelve Studio.

A bluebird helper may also be purchased, helping the player uncover any Bots or puzzle pieces which they might have missed on their first attempt at the level.

Astro is revived by his Dual Speeder, a smaller spaceship resembling the DualSense controller, and together they begin reactivating satellites and exploring galaxies to rescue the crew and rebuild the mothership.

The crew helps Astro gain access to Nebulax's minions, whom he defeats and recovers mothership parts from - the system memory from Mighty Chewy the gorilla, the solid state drive from Wako Tako the octopus, the graphics processing unit from Lady Venomara the snake, the cooling fan from Mecha Leon the chameleon, and the ship covers from Falcon McFly the bird.

Bots (guest characters from other games) and explores planets based on Ape Escape, God of War, Uncharted, LocoRoco, and Horizon.

Several Bots from the crew find replacement parts and help the mothership's repair systems rebuild their captain, who springs back to life.

Once the actual credits finish rolling, a badly beaten Nebulax and his minions are seen floating through space; they threaten the player, but are sent flying by the sudden appearance of the words "THE END".

The overhauled game engine allows for significant improvements in both the visuals and physics and over 70 unique species of wildlife (which include polar bears, elephants, and small insects).

"[24] Doucet further corroborated this viewpoint in an interview with MinnMax, stating that developing a PSVR 2 version of Astro Bot would make it an entirely different game.

To make the most out of DualSense's features, Team Asobi formed a small group solely dedicated to getting as much out of the controller as possible.

[18] Doucet notes a few examples of these features, which included using the adaptive triggers to simulate squeezing water out of a sponge by changing its resistance level and using the haptic feedback to feel certain irregularities on a surface to uncover a hidden secret.

The reason for this, as stated by Doucet, was because using the touchpad requires the player to move their fingers away from the jump button, thus creating discomfort during gameplay.

The reason he gives for this is that it could potentially work as a generational bridge; a child wondering who a certain Bot is referencing could receive an explanation from their parent who had played the games previously.

Doucet noted there was a balance to be had with maintaining this aspect of humor present in the previous Astro games while simultaneously being respectful to the legacy of the characters they were "taking the piss and being funny with".

Doucet said he and Team Asobi had considered not implementing any PlayStation branding in the upcoming game, instead allowing Astro to "stand on his own feet".

Ultimately, he and Team Asobi decided against this, reasoning that fans of Astro's Playroom who enjoyed the PlayStation references would likely be disappointed if the sequel had done away with them entirely.

[16] The design of the Bots was not always completely accurate to the source material they were referencing, with Doucet specifically noting that characters who had hair often had it replaced with vinyl.

The track "Rising Blue Lightning" from Thunder Force V: Perfect System (1998), originally composed by Hyakutaro Tsukumo, is also used in the level "PlaySquadron Go!".

The digital standard version comes with an in-game outfit for Astro resembling the character PaRappa the Rapper, a Dual Speeder graffiti skin featuring a variety of different V.I.P.

[e] The digital deluxe version, alongside featuring all of the rewards in the digital standard release, also adds two outfits (one of which being a golden outfit and the other referencing the Yharnam hunter from Bloodborne), two controller skins (one called 'Neon Dream' and the other 'Champion's Gold'), 10 PlayStation Network avatars (showcasing more renders of Astro and various V.I.P.

[2] Kiosks featuring a playable demo of Astro Bot were present at Summer Game Fest, EVO, ChinaJoy, and PAX West.

[1][33][34][35][36] Astro Bot was also present during Tokyo Game Show which, alongside the aforementioned playable demo, featured a giant replica Gatcha machine.

It also contained a brand new "mission room", which displayed a countdown until Astro Bot's release and directed players to the game's official store page.

[61][62] Many reviewers praised the overall charm of the game, with particular note being paid attention being given to the environmental design, the utilization of the DuelSense's features and the V.I.P.

Cardy compared the game to the likes of "a theme park, throwing a new thrill at you around every corner and after every double-jumped gap" and Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, boasting "a delightful concoction of experimentation and joy, just without the child endangerment."

He also noted that it was the best utilization of the DualSense's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers since 2020's Astro's Playroom, feeling "like some popping candy has smuggled its way into your controller as it fizzes and pings away, sweetly reacting to whatever is happening on screen.

Delaney also noted that the various abilities Astro could use elevated the gameplay, but never at the cost of alienating the player from that fundamental sense of control.

Doucet noted that while Team Asobi had hoped to include characters like Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII, the studio had been unsuccessful but respected "the choice of each publisher".