Will this game make you blue?

Inspired by the hand-drawn worlds of the Dragon and Escape episodes from the global hit TV series, Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen invites players to unlock Bluey’s drawings, brought to life as the Heeler family gather around the kitchen table to draw together. Featuring fully animated cutscenes woven into an all-new story written by Joe Brumm, the game blends heartfelt storytelling with discovery-driven gameplay for an experience filled with exploration and delight. Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen features nine adventure filled levels brimming with snowy mountains, golden beaches, lush green forests, and even the Australian Outback. Each level leads players closer to King Goldie Horns’ shining kingdom. Along the way, players can uncover hidden treasures, solve playful puzzles, and embark on magical mini quests as they glide, fly, and skate through a world of fun challenges. Just like the beloved animated series, Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen inspires laughter, creativity, and exploration for players of all ages.

I have somehow managed to get away with getting drawn into the world of Bluey. Something I never expected as a father, but my boy hasn’t really responded to it in the same way as Peppa Pig or Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, so I didn’t really know anything about it other than the odd internet meme. But I liked the look of the latest game so thought I’d see what the fuss is about.

The physical edition was sent to me to review, and it has a nice piece of artwork on the inside of the case, but there isn’t any physical goodies that come with it, which is a shame.

The game itself acts like a platformer of sorts. You collect whatever items are around, either through puzzles or just dotted around on the ground and once you reach the level’s threshold for a particular item, you can move onto the next or you can carry on until you collect everything else, though there’s no trophy pressure there. Simply grab what you need and move on if you are looking for an easy Platinum trophy.

There are 9 levels in total and these vary from forests to snow mountains, mining towns and castles. You’ll get new abilities depending on the level like being able to glide, hover or use vehicles like bicycles or boats. The major collectables are earned through puzzles like quizzes, platforming precision or by gathering a number of different collectibles and trading them in for the main prize.

It’s simple in its design and while it won’t win any prizes for originality, it does it well. It’s not a particularly long or difficult game, I was able to breeze through it in about 3 hours but that was without nailing down every single collectible, so it could take completionists a bit longer. There are a few platforming sections that can take a few tries, but nothing that will cause much trouble.

The art style is an interesting one. The cutscenes look directly from the show, while the game’s style looks badly hand-drawn and poorly coloured in. It’s on purpose to show it’s drawn by kids, so it does make sense with the overall story of trying to take back the Gold Pen from Bluey’s dad.

The Verdict

As a newcomer to Bluey, I didn’t know what to expect here. What I ended up with is an interesting game with some decent puzzle and platforming elements. It’s on the easy and short side, but definitely one that Bluey fans and younger gamers will enjoy. Failing that, it’s an easy Platinum for trophy hunters.

Score: 6.5