Summary
Out of all the franchises to come out of PlayStation, LittleBigPlanet is one with a particularly wide appeal. And it’s easy to see why. Its “Play, Create, Share” philosophy, as well as its family-friendly aesthetic have helped the franchise reach a global audience, with games across every single Sony system since the PlayStation 3.
Over that time, the team at Media Molecule and other development studios have continuously experimented with the LittleBigPlanet series, delivering a string of delightful puzzle-platformers – with just a couple of small missteps along the way. Above all else, these games proved to so many that anything is possible if you allow your imagination to play.
7LittleBigPlanet Karting
A Bit Of A Skid Out
It’s not that the LittleBigPlanet franchise couldn’t work as akart racer,and it’s not that LittleBigPlanet Karting is a poor game. It just ultimately feels like an under-cooked and unnecessary spinoff that only captures some of the magic of the mainline games.
LittleBigPlanet Karting does feature some neat kart and track creator modes – as you would expect from a game in this series. But the actual racing mechanics feel generic at best and unfinished at worst, leading to kart racers that constantly get overlapped by the competition.
6LittleBigPlanet 3
Playing It A Little Too Safe
LittleBigPlanet 3 was the first mainline game in the series not to be developed by Media Molecule. And while new developer Sumo Digital does a competent job capturing the magic and charm of the first two games, in some ways, this third game doesn’t push the series forward enough to warrant its existence.
That isn’t to say there isn’t anything of value in LittleBigPlanet 3. The visuals are dazzling, and the expanded creator tools have led to some truly impressive user-generated content, but the game is just lacking that one “big thing” that really sets it apart from what came before.
5LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
A Little Big Portable Adventure
Hot off the success of the original LittleBigPlanet, Media Molecule and SCE Studio Cambridge set their sights on creating a spinoff for the PSP. The most impressive aspect of LittleBigPlanet (PSP) is how well the core gameplay elements translate over to the handheld.
Where the game does start to strain against the limits of its hardware is in the level-building mode, which can feel a bit awkward and clunky on the PSP. Otherwise, this game features some of the most creative story levels in the entire series – taking inspiration from real-world locations such as the Outback and Hollywood.
4Sackboy: A Big Adventure
A Charming Cooperative Platformer
After years of not having a new game in the series, LittleBigPlanet made a triumphant return at the launch of the PlayStation 5, just not in the way many were expecting. Sackboy: A Big Adventure features 3D platforming levels that can be played by up to four people at once – reminiscent of a game like Super Mario 3D World.
The game did launch without online multiplayer, which was a bit disappointing for those who wanted to play with their friends around the world. But once it was patched in, Sackboy: A Big Adventure had all the ingredients to be one of the most creative platformers for the PS5.
3LittleBigPlanet
The Game That Started It All
It’s almost quaint looking back on how revolutionary the first LittleBigPlanet was. Here was a game that didn’t just let you play a series of well-crafted puzzle-platforming levels, but then gave you all the tools to create your own and share them with the world.
These great ideas were wrapped up in an endlessly endearing world that felt tactile, warm, and inviting to gamers from all walks of life. If you are willing to dust off your PS3, then the original LittleBigPlanet is still absolutely revisiting to this day.
2LittleBigPlanet PS Vita
One Of The PS Vita’s Very Best
There are few matches more made in heaven than LittleBigPlanet and the PS Vita. When the series made its way over to the handheld, it immediately became clear that this was going to be something special.
The PS Vita’s special features – such as its touch screen and gyroscope – were implemented so well into the design of LittleBigPlanet PS Vita, that it’s difficult to imagine what the game would be like without them. Throw in one of the most extensive creator toolsets in the entire series, and you have a game that easily stands asone of the best PS Vita gamesand a must-play for any LittleBigPlanet fan.
1LittleBigPlanet 2
The Biggest Little Planet Of Them All
In the grand tradition ofgreat video game sequels, LittleBigPlanet 2 ups the ante in almost every department compared to the original game. There is much love and care placed into the level and puzzle design of this game, with every new stage holding a surprise that somehow always manages to outdo the one that came before it.
And then there’s the creator tools; LittleBigPlanet 2 opens up a world of possibilities for the types of levels you want to make – giving you the freedom to create a racing game or an RPG or just about whatever you want. No other game in the series lets you explore your imagination quite like LittleBigPlanet 2.
