Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen is a brand-new video game from the show’s creator, Joe Brumm, which makes it feel like a real part of the hit TV series rather than a typical licensed game. What makes it unique is how the story is built around Bluey’s world, with characters from the show playing major roles, while the gameplay is designed for both kids and adults. It was originally released on mobile but has now been ported to PC and consoles.
Since the story comes directly from the series creator, it feels authentic and original, much like an actual episode of the show. The narrative revolves around the Golden Pen used by Bluey and Bingo, which is stolen by Bandit, leading them on a journey to get it back and giving the game its title. One of the game’s biggest strengths is its hand-drawn art style. Bluey and Bingo are illustrated in the style of a child’s drawing, while the environments and fantasy elements blend naturally with the overall aesthetic.
The game takes some inspiration from the show’s famous “Dragon” episode for the premise of this new adventure. The family gradually travels through different worlds, but despite the focus on the Golden Pen, it is never used in a meaningful way as a proper gameplay mechanic, which feels like a missed opportunity. As the game progresses, it becomes more creative and distinct, with some of the final levels being the clear highlight.
The gameplay is kept fairly simple, with a focus on exploration and collecting items. Alongside the main collectibles used for progression, called “goose food,” there are also optional items hidden throughout each world. Bluey’s controls are straightforward, with a magic wand serving as the key tool for different mechanics, such as moving or destroying objects. There are no overly complex mechanics like difficult timed jumps, and most actions are context-sensitive to keep the game accessible for kids while still enjoyable for adults. The context-sensitive abilities can also be fun to use, with light platforming and puzzles helping keep the gameplay fresh.
While the gameplay is enjoyable, it does not really evolve in a meaningful way, so repetition starts to set in by the end of the game. The story is fairly short, though, so it does not take long to finish. Since Bluey is a show aimed at kids, it is understandable why the gameplay stays simple for the most part. Creativity takes priority over complex mechanics, and the difficulty never really ramps up. Still, the game’s main appeal is that it feels like a brand-new playable episode of Bluey, and it succeeds in delivering that experience.
The voice acting is solid, with the original cast returning for the game. The animated cutscenes are charming and engaging, helping draw players into the story’s premise. However, at launch, the entire game is not fully voiced, so kids may need to read some text to follow parts of the story. A future patch is planned to add voice acting to the whole game.
Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen has decent replay value, and chances are your kid will enjoy replaying it to collect all the trinkets, beads, and insects. However, outside of collecting everything, there is not much that encourages multiple playthroughs. The game does include fast travel, which makes backtracking less tedious. It also feels like a missed opportunity that there is no co-op support, as that could have added more longevity to the experience.
I played most of Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen on the Switch 2, where it looks beautiful and runs smoothly in both docked and handheld mode. It appears to maintain a solid 60 FPS on Switch 2, while the PC version is also well-optimized and runs nicely on the Steam Deck. I did not notice any major issues during my time with the game. Overall, it is a solid port, and despite its mobile origins, it still plays very well on PC and consoles.
If your kid is a fan of Bluey, this is an easy recommendation. It feels like a natural extension of the TV show, offering an interactive episode that captures the charm of its world and lets kids fully enjoy it. Even as someone who has only occasionally watched the show, I liked how faithfully it presented the world. The gameplay mechanics can sometimes feel too simple, and the repetition does start to wear thin, but the overall experience still manages to be enjoyable.
Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen Review Game Information
- Price: $39.99
- Publisher: PM Studios
- Developer: Halfbrick Studios
- Platform: PC, Switch (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
