Across every category we scored (story, gameplay, visuals and audio), Bluey's Happy Snaps lands a seven out of 10. That’s an oddly neat outcome for a game with a few rough edges, but the numbers fit how it actually plays.
A bit of background. My daughter reached the perfect age for Bluey right on time, and she’s been watching ever since. The series first aired in 2018, yet streaming platforms keep it in such constant rotation that it still feels fresh.
There are just three seasons. Despite that, the show’s reach is so wide that theme parks and distributors compete for the rights to Bluey merchandise.
It isn’t hard to understand the appeal. The writing is tight and centered on parenting, and the mayhem caused by sisters Bluey and Bingo gives every viewer in the room something to connect with. A feature film arrives in 2027, positioning the show for a major 10-year anniversary in 2028.
In the meantime, families have Happy Snaps. Picture a lighter take on Pokémon Snap blended with a bite-sized Bluey episode. It’s full of heart, though it also has a handful of obvious misses.
Mostly a faithful match for the show
What stands out right away is how much effort the game puts into replicating the show’s style. If Bluey is new to you, search “Bluey’s house” online. That single picture sums up the entire color palette.
The game captures that look, and its story is equally sweet. Bluey discovers the old camera that belongs to her dad, Bandit, and decides to bring it along on family outings. A stroll through the park expands into visits to other locations, and the camera serves as the foundation for everything the game does.
Plenty of the brief cutscenes feel like miniature episodes. The voice cast delivers full performances, and the 60 FPS visuals help make it convincing. Even if your child has watched every episode, the show has never been short on scenarios for Bluey and Bingo to stumble into.
These moments are the game’s high point. Occasionally it feels as though you’re inside an episode while it unfolds. That’s a clear departure from previous Bluey games, which came across as unfocused or tilted more toward fantasy.
A handful of scenes feel stiff, and the voicework in them is thin. Those are the exception, however.
Aim, shoot, do it again
That said, cutscenes make up only a small part of the experience. Most of your time goes into photographing your surroundings, whether that’s a park, the beach or a store. As you’d expect, the photography is straightforward: aim, snap, finished.
Framing a shot is simple, as is adding striking objects (or creatures) to your scrapbook, which must be filled before the next stage opens up. The requirements aren’t demanding and there’s always something to discover, so the game never stumbles. Players chasing completion can return later to go for a 100% rating.
A meta layer could also resonate with families. Certain bonuses unlock “real-life activity” pages offering ideas for things to do together. Some draw on the show’s pretend play, while others are more basic, such as “build a sand castle.”
Stickers collected along the way can also be used to decorate your scrapbook. They’re minor additions, but welcome ones, stretching out the playtime and breaking up the photo segments.
Outside of exploring and taking pictures, the activities are limited. Between levels there’s an on-rails photo minigame that has you capture every creature that appears. Fleshed out further, it could have made for an enjoyable party mode.
Once again, Bingo is left out
Co-op is where opinions among families will diverge. The second player controls Bingo, who is largely just tagging along. Many co-op games give both players roughly equal abilities. Here, it resembles one of those episodes in which Bingo ends up left behind.
There’s little for player two to do. You can wander, pick up a few objects and strike poses for photos, but your impact is minimal. A few adjustments could have turned this into a family game for the ages, one you’d bring out now and then for a short co-op session.
Controllers can be swapped so each person gets time with the camera. Parents can also simply relax and watch their child play. That will suit some families just fine. Still, I can’t stop imagining a proper co-op mode in which Bingo carries a camera of her own.
The Grannies come at a price
The Grannies section, drawn from one of the show’s most iconic recurring gags, is restricted to the Deluxe Edition. A large share of the replay value sits there, and nothing about the game makes that obvious.
The only silver lining is that those buying digitally receive the deluxe version “for a limited time.”
The hiccups are genuine, but for households that revolve around Bluey, Happy Snaps is a straightforward recommendation both now and down the road. If you’ve never seen the show, watch that first.
And if your child shuts off the game and asks to go make a sand castle, go make one. Every so often, the cartoon dog has the right idea.