Is Adorable Adventures the Chillest Game on PlayStation 5?
You step into the trotters of Boris, a tiny baby boar with a massive nose and a surprisingly high level of literacy, set loose in a sprawling 3D world. The vibe is immediately laid-back, trading high-octane combat for the simple, tactile joy of sniffing out flowers and clambering over ledges. It is a world that feels vast and inviting, where the biggest threat is getting sidetracked by a new aroma while trying to reunite your family.
[Specs] [Gameplay] [Performance] [Settings]
Adorable Adventures Playstation 5 Review: Specs & HUD
- Download Size: Tiny 3.13GB footprint on the SSD.
- Trophy Hunt: Platinum trophy available with 45 trophies to collect.
- Internal Tracking: Includes its own dedicated in-game achievements system.
- Navigation HUD: Scent trails appear on screen via your nose to guide you to targets.
- On-Screen Prompts: Button prompts appear to keep things accessible and easy to play.
- Map System: Shows points of interest but lacks a “you are here” marker or custom waypoints.
- Scent Book: A catalogue for flowers and items that reward you with wearable prizes like head-flowers.
Gameplay Review & Mechanics Breakdown
You play as a baby boar called Boris, and are out on an adventure where the world opens up over time. I like that I am a boar that can read and collect scents in a book, using my nose to put a scent on screen to navigate the world. You can jump and hold onto ledges, clambering up to reach new areas, while a voiced narrator tells the story as you go. There is plenty of checklist ticking to do, from finding Cairns to knock over as collectables to completing camera challenges where you match old photos to locations for a prize. As you help your family, they give you tasks that eventually let you recruit more boars to open up even more areas.
Let’s not get it twisted, it’s basically a game where all you do is follow scent trails and occasionally meet people or knock down doors and gates. It’s fun, but it is basic. You find little hidden puzzles or do actions like finding a football and a goal, and since you can pick up and carry items, you often stumble into things. I like how the scents can overpower each other, so you can get sidetracked. It is quite surprising how fun the game is; it’s very chilled and has enough to do that you are always exploring. Depending on the gamer, this will either trick them into learning about plants or they will just love the discovery of it.
Adorable Adventures Playstation 5 Review: Performance & Fidelity
- Visual Quality: Decent graphics featuring a beautiful 3D game world.
- Camera: Third-person view with full 360-degree control, though it goes crazy during jumping.
- Stability: Includes an “unstuck” option, though it unfortunately teleports you out of your current area.
- Frame Rate: Some slight hiccups, like slowdown, occur during play.
- Movement Tech: Running movement is the most broken part, getting clumsy and crazy near certain objects.
- Collision: Platforming is generally bad; you slide down many surfaces and can’t tell what is jumpable.
Settings, Customisation & Control Details
- Visual Settings: Simple brightness slider for graphics.
- Audio Control: Sliders for voice, music, and general audio with a “mute music” toggle and sound profiles (TV/Night time).
- Input Sensitivity: Invert axis options and sensitivity sliders are present.
- Language: Subtitles available with separate choices for spoken and written languages.
- Tutorials: Pop-ups appear as you play, and you can pause anytime to see the controls.
- Save System: Freedom to save whenever you want.
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Adorable Adventures Playstation 5 Review
Summary
GOOD STUFF
It’s surprising how much I enjoyed just exploring the world and finding all these flowers and objects. The game is very chill and has enough checklist ticking to keep you constantly moving. I love the fact that I’m playing as a boar that can read and catalogue scents in a book, and getting prizes like wearing a flower on your head is a great touch. The on-screen button prompts keep the game accessible and make playing a lot easier, and the way scents can overpower each other to lead you off the beaten path is a cool mechanic. I’m also glad the game rarely repeats a scent you’ve just found, keeping the hunt fresh.
BAD STUFF
The movement and platforming are where things get messy. Any platforming is generally bad because you can’t tell what you are supposed to jump on, and many surfaces just have you sliding down and away. The camera goes a bit crazy every now and then, especially when you’re trying to jump up ledges, and the running movement feels broken and clumsy near objects. While the “unstuck” option is a necessary addition, it’s frustrating that it resets your progress by taking you back out of the area. The map is also a bit of a pain since it doesn’t show your actual location or let you mark your own waypoints.
FINAL VERDICT
Adorable Adventures is a surprisingly fun time if you want something relaxed to sink into. It is a basic loop of following scent trails and knocking things over, but there is a genuine charm in the exploration and the “one more collectable” feel. The platforming and camera can be a total headache, but the vibe of the world managed to keep me hooked regardless. It’s a solid, cosy experience for those who just want to turn their brain off and be a boar for a few hours.
