Image: Push SquareLooking for something festive to play on PS5 to keep the holiday vibes rolling? In our view, there's nothing better than Astro Bot's post-game Christmas level.
Once you've rolled credits on Sony's superb platformer, you'll unlock a new stage named Winter Wonder, and it's probably the most feel-good, most Christmassy thing you can play on PS5.
As you glide into the stage, Santa's sleigh flies alongside you, leading you to a snow-covered gingerbread village, where an explosion of jingle bells erupts in front of you as you land.
A total of seven Special Bots await rescue, each the reward for solving puzzles and exploring the level fully.
Images: Push Square
Regular enemies are wearing reindeer antlers, and many animal bots are bobbing along to the music and enjoying the festivities. It's so cheery and fun, even more so than is typical for Astro Bot, and it's the perfect Christmas playground to mess around in and absorb its joyful atmosphere.
However, Winter Wonder doesn't just stand out for its immaculate festive vibes. It also happens to be one of the best (if not the best) levels in the entire game.
Most of the stages in Astro Bot are relatively linear, though there are hidden areas and diversions to explore throughout the adventure. But this bonus level has a different structure; it's much more open, and utilises every power-up rather than leaning into just one or two.
It's a refreshing change of pace that means you end up spending much more time here than in the more straightforward levels.
Winter Wonder also can't be cleared until you find the majority of its 15 golden presents, each one igniting a light on the giant Christmas tree. They also reward you with those aforementioned Special Bots and festive goodies like Astro outfits and Dual Speeder skins.
Images: Push Square
To find them, you must explore each part of the level and solve all its miniature challenges. Each power-up has its own small challenge, puzzle, or platforming sequence for you to conquer.
It's a brilliant level because it takes advantage of every one of Astro's abilities, really showcasing the inventive mechanics and imaginative design present throughout the whole game, but concentrated into one cracker of a stage.
Some highlights include the rarely used mouse power-up, allowing you to shrink down and enter a tiny gingerbread town, and using the metal ball power-up to descend a chimney into a cosy living room.
Team Asobi outdoes itself in many ways with Winter Wonder, a level that acts as the perfect Christmas playground and, perhaps, a blueprint for more explorative, open-ended design in Astro's future.
If you're looking for something to play over the holidays, even if you already cleared it last year, we can't recommend it enough.
Related Articles
A 100% walkthrough for Astro Bot
Ace-tro Bot
Related Games Astro Bot (PS5) See Also Astro Bot Guide: Full Walkthrough and All CollectiblesAstro Bot (PS5) Review Share:55 740About Stephen Tailby
Stephen has been part of the Push Square team for over six years, bringing boundless enthusiasm and a deep knowledge of video games to his role as Assistant Editor. Hing grown up playing every PlayStation console to date, he's developed an eclectic taste, with particular passion for indie games, arcade racers, and puzzlers. He's also our go-to guy for Sonic-related matters, much to his delight/chagrin.
Author Profile Bluesky ReplyComments 40
Another reminder that Sony’s post game support this gen has been exceptional. Astro Bot, GT7, GoW: Valhalla, Returnal major DLC, GoT: Legends. Yotei’s Legends mode to come soon too.
18
I always enjoy Christmas themes in games, as I’m a sucker for all things Christmas.
AstroBot is the best we he on PS5, and it’s very special.
However, Christmas NiGHTs into Dreams is still the most special Christmas experience I’ve had with Christmas in games and it was both magical and unique back in 1996 when it released.
I also really enjoy Guild Wars 2’s “Wintersday” events also.
9
I did enjoy the Christmas level. But how lovely would it he been if there was a new level for this Christmas?!
4
@Kienda How did you get the Christmas Nights game? I remember as a kid frantically trying to get a copy and there was apparently none in my entire area. I would he been willing to buy it as a full price game too 😭
4
I wish they did more actual levels like this rather then the speed run levels while they were enjoyable nothing can beat the free roam ones.
5
Dang, seeing the headline I thought they made a new one. Love it!
1
That’s because Astro Bot is the best game on PS5 and it isn’t close.
Nah, there are few other very good games on PS5 as well, but not too much, as with every system.
2
I wasn't really a big fan of Astro Bot compared to everyone else(I had a much better time with Playroom)but this level nailed it. I really wish all the levels were like this. It honestly was a bit disappointing to me its a really high quality game but it didn't capture the magic of Playroom for me outside of a few levels.
0
@Kienda I just looked up Christmas NiGHTs into Dreams and it looks insanely Christmasy. It looks like it would've been a blast. Now I wanna play it.
1
Desperately waiting for this one to come down in price. This one and Ghost of Yōtei.
0
@Kienda Christmas NiGHTS was incredible and the first meaningful example of a game using the real world date and time I can remember.
@SeaDaVie I got it with the UK Sega Saturn magazine, I've still got the magazine and the disc is in storage 
As much as I like Astro Bot, my personal fourite would be the King's Canyon Xmas level on Kayak VR. That OLED screen coupled with the haptic in the headset, really sell the sense of being outside in the snow at night as you can feel it landing on your head and the lights in the dark just look amazing 
@carlos82 that's how I got my copy, loved that magazine!
0
I lost my astrobot se file so can’t access this unfortunately without completing the game again dammit!
0
@Oram77 agree, definitely prefer this kind of level over the speed run levels lol that last level almost broke me.
0
@AhmadSumadi it might go down to 30-40 next year but I wouldn't count on price drops anymore, Sony has taken a page out of Nintendo this gen when it comes to almost never lowering the price of their first party games
0
@Americansamurai1 Don't..... it was those stupid rotating cubes at the top, talk about an anxiety attack lol
1
I was the Leonardo DiCaprio pointing at the TV meme when I saw the Rayman bot.
0
I miss the consistent Astro Bot updates. If that was how live service games worked, Astro Bot would’ve been IT for me and my family. Love the Christmas level. The game literally never missed a single beat. Everything it did was premium gaming.
1
@Oram77 100% agree. I much prefer the 'normal' levels. They also give the devs more freedom and ability to get creative - and just as importantly, lets us players take our time and enjoy every little detail.
0
@AhmadSumadi We were waiting for the price of this 1 to come down as well, $50 or $60, whatever it was, seemed like way too much for us for a 12 hour game. Fortunately it was on sale for $40 most places this past Black Friday - I'm in the US - and it was basically the only thing on my kids gift list. For $40, and w/ 3 of us each playing it separately for 12 hours, it's just about worth it.
And I didn't know about this level, and after reading the comments I'm even more excited to play it. 2 more days.🎄
0
@rjejr I guess I need to look at other places than PSN. However, I he a digital console so not sure how that’ll work.
0
@carlos82 LOL
0
This game is in my stocking ($33 US from Costco last month), so I probably won't get to play that level this year.
0
@carlos82 Thanks for the heads up on that (King's Canyon Christmas level in Kayak VR) - I'll he to check it out. I wasn't sure I was going to fire up Kayak this season (with the sales that just dropped, I'm picking up about four new PSVR2 titles, so I'm not sure I'd he thought to play this one again).
Any details on when it's ailable?
0
Amazing game, would he been great to he had another Christmas level for this year.
0
Do I need to he completed the game to unlock the Christmas level?TIA 🎄
0
@RobN its already ailable
0
@AhmadSumadi Yeah I don’’t think lending you our disc is going to help. One of the downsides of all digital is fewer sales. You should still be able to find cheaper digital sales on retail websites though. If you’re in the UK then Boxing Day this Friday should be good.
0
@carlos82 I had a collection of Sega Magazine and Sega Saturn Magazine, I moved out when i was 18 and my folks threw them all out! Christmas Nights was fantastic, I often try and dig it out every couple of years or so
@BennyTheCat Yes unfortunately, so it'd be a tall order for anyone who hasn't started it yet. My mate got the game last year but waited until this Christmas to play this level!
1
Amazing game and great Christmas level I always thought banjo kazooie has the best ever Christmas level
0
@SeaDaVie If I remember correctly, we got it as a disc with the Sega Saturn magazine or something like that.
I even checked with my brother and he can’t remember properly either. But he still has the disc.
Also it was really short, like one level. But as a kid, who loved Nights, it was amazing.
0
@carlos82 that’s amazing!
I remember that cover. I used to he every copy of Sega Saturn magazine and a large amount of CVG and Games Master. But one year my parents forced me to clear them out and I lost em all (I think they were tipped).
I would go back and read them today if I still had access to them.
0
I just played Winter Wonder yesterday, and it really is a treat! I only wish the music was a bit longer before it looped. Otherwise, a terrific reason to fire up Astro Bot again.
0
Santa Astro was the cutest thing!
0
Playing through this with my youngest was an absolute treat, and something I know he will always remember.
0
My kiddo and I had a lot of fun playing through it last year.
0
This was actually my forite level of the game, and that's saying something. The fact that they added so much DLC makes me think I should send Team Asobi some presents of their own. They rock.
0
Just played this last night, oh what fun!
0
@Kienda I agree with you on all of those.
0Show Comments
Lee A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...
Related Articles
95+ PS5, PS4 Games to Buy in PS Store's January Sale
Check out these discounted games
Naughty Dog Forces Crunch to Get PS5 Exclusive Intergalactic 'Back on Track' for Mid 2027 Release
Sony review incoming
'Sony's Never Experienced This Phenomenon Before': PS5 Smash Hit Gran Turismo 7 Getting Stronger Over Time
Draws over two million monthly active users
Horizon Rip Off Removed from Steam as Sony, Tencent's Fierce Legal Battle Suddenly Concludes
Confidential settlement agreed
Japan's New Language Locked PS5 Hasn't Made a Massive Difference to the Format's Domestic Fortunes
It's still getting trounced