I still remember the crisp autumn morning in November 2020 when Sackboy: A Big Adventure finally landed on my doorstep. The PlayStation 5 had just launched, and like millions of others, I was eager to dive into a brand-new generation of gaming. Sackboy, that charming knitted hero from the LittleBigPlanet universe, was stepping out of his 2.5D playground and into a full-blown 3D platformer. I had no idea that this little guy would carve such a deep groove into my heart—and that, six years later, I’d still be humming its soundtrack while folding laundry.

The development team at Sumo Digital, with Ned Waterhouse cheerleading the charge, made it clear from the very first developer trailer that this wasn’t just a spin-off. They rebuilt Sackboy’s moveset from the ground up. No more floaty 2D jumps; now I had a proper double jump, a roll, and a slap attack that felt satisfyingly tactile. Running at a silky 60 frames per second on the PS5, every acrobatic flourish popped with clarity. I’d spend hours practicing wall jumps in the hub world simply because it felt so good.

What truly floored me was the sheer variety. One minute I was careening through a mountain pass on a runaway train, my heart pounding as I dodged crumbling platforms and swinging obstacles. The next, I found myself exploring a forgotten temple where light puzzles demanded precise platforming. Waterhouse once said, ""We wanted every level in the game to feel unique and to continually surprise you with what comes next,"" and boy, did they deliver. The game even included a power-up that literally turned the world upside down, flipping gravity and my sense of direction in the most delightful way.

Then there were the special editions. I still have the physical Collector’s Edition sitting proudly on my shelf. Inside that chunky box I found a gorgeous physical artbook filled with concept sketches that charted Sackboy’s evolution, a digital soundtrack that I’ve since burned onto a custom vinyl (yes, I’m that kind of fan), and the comic The Gathering Storm, published by Dark Horse Comics. It followed Scarlet, Sackboy’s mentor, and added layers to a story I thought I already understood. The real treasure, though, was the plushie—a tiny Sackboy in a tiger suit that now serves as my desk’s unofficial mascot. The digital edition didn’t disappoint either, offering four PlayStation character costumes. I spent an embarrassing amount of time swapping between Connor from Detroit: Become Human, Jin from Ghost of Tsushima, Deacon from Days Gone, and Sam Porter Bridges from Death Stranding. Seeing Sackboy waddle around as a mini Deacon, crossbow in hand, never got old.

But it was the music that truly sealed the deal. Waterhouse teased an “unbelievable” soundtrack, and he wasn’t exaggerating. The game features a mix of orchestral swells, funk-infused beats, and cheeky lyrical tracks that sync perfectly with the on-screen action. I remember one level set to a reimagining of a classic pop song—the first time the chorus hit, I actually laughed out loud while dodging spinning blades. That moment perfectly captured the spirit of Sackboy: joyful, surprising, and utterly infectious. The secret areas, too, rewarded my curiosity. Tucked behind every waterfall and inside every suspiciously cracked wall lay collectibles, hidden puzzles, and some of the most inventive platforming challenges I’ve ever encountered.

Now, in 2026, I’ve replayed Sackboy: A Big Adventure with my youngest niece. She was only a toddler when it first launched, but watching her discover the same runaway train level I adored brought back a flood of memories. The game’s couch co-op has aged beautifully, and those special edition costumes still get a giggle. It’s a testament to Sumo Digital’s craftsmanship that Sackboy’s world feels as fresh today as it did on November 12, 2020—a timeless adventure stitched together with love, humor, and an unbeatable soundtrack. If you’ve never joined Sackboy on his big adventure, even in this era of hyper-realistic graphics and sprawling open worlds, trust me: this little knitted hero still knows how to put a smile on your face.