After 55 minutes in a virtual queue, and a moment of sheer panic as the checkout timer ticked down and I typed my credit card details in wrong, I finally managed to snag a PlayStation 5. The console was launched a little under a year ago, yet most people still can't buy one. Sony blames a shortage of semiconductors for the low stock—a problem that has also impacted car manufacturers. But hey, I got one, and after 24 hours with the thing, I am seriously impressed. It was a breeze to set up, the feel and build quality of the controller is superb, and Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut looks sensational on my 4K TV.

But the real reason I've fallen in love with the console is Astro's Playroom. This free game, designed to show off the DualSense controller, is pre-loaded on every new PS5. But it's so much more than just a tech demo, and is in fact one of the best games I've played this year. When you first boot your PS5 up, Astro's Playroom will be right there on the home screen. Take my advice: don't ignore it. You might be itching to dive into Demon's Souls or Miles Morales, but resist the urge and give the tiny, cute robot a chance. It's a perfect introduction to the console's many strengths, and makes a stunning first impression.

Related: Despite All The 4K Upgrades, Astro’s Playroom Is Still The Most ‘PS5’ Game I’ve Played

Astro's Playroom is a 3D platformer set inside your PS5. The levels are built around different aspects of the hardware—the GPU, cooling system, memory, processor, and so on. The way developer Team Asobi incorporates chips, conductors, and other techy bits into the environment design is inspired, like the fields of swaying grass made of little connector ribbons. The level of visual imagination on display in every frame is remarkable. There's a glossy sheen to everything that is absolutely luxurious to look at, and the frame rate is absurdly smooth throughout. Visually, it's basic stuff compared to the likes of The Last of Us Part 2—but it's still a dazzling showcase for the hardware.

You play as Astro Bot, a miniscule robot with a range of abilities designed around the DualSense's adaptive triggers, motion sensor, trackpad, and haptic feedback. Whether you're rolling your finger across the trackpad to guide a ball down a Marble Madness-style track, or gently squeezing the triggers to ignite a tiny rocket ship's engines, it all feels amazing. This is one the tightest, most polished games I've ever played, and a great 3D platformer. The haptic feedback is fantastic, bringing a real sense of texture to the world. Whether you're walking across metal, skating over ice, or through a patch or grass, you can feel it in your hands.

Astro's Playroom

I also found myself being whipped up into a frenzy of nostalgia. As you explore you discover collectibles called Artifacts, which are realistic, lovingly rendered 3D models of classic PlayStation hardware—and curios like the PocketStation. You can rotate and inspect them, and they're stored in an explorable interactive gallery. Also, to whoever wrote the witty, tongue-in-cheek flavour text for the Artifacts: bravo. It's a genius idea, really, because as well as being a showcase for what PS5 can do, Astro's Playroom is also an entertaining reminder of—and an enjoyable journey through—the history and impact of PlayStation as a whole.

The game is also stuffed with charming, sublimely animated, and actually funny references to classic PlayStation games. Each level is littered with hordes of tiny robots, some of whom act out scenes from games like Resident Evil, Ico, Silent Hill 2, and Bloodborne. It's wild how much passion, care, and attention to detail has been poured into Astro's Playroom—and all for a free game a lot of people won't even bother loading up. But trust me: don't skip it. It's so compelling that I've barely touched the other games I had lined up, and it made me feel good about buying a PS5. I cannot wait to see what Team Asobi comes up with next. If there's any justice, this won't be the last we see of Astro Bot.

Next: All I Care About Now Is Team Asobi’s New Game