Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen Review – A Simple Adventure That Younger Players Will Love

Licensed kids games usually don’t have the best reputation, especially when they’re tied to massively popular shows. More often than not, they feel rushed out the door to cash in on the brand recognition and little else. Thankfully, Bluey’s Quest for The Gold Pen manages to avoid most of those pitfalls by leaning heavily into the same charm and imagination that made Bluey such a beloved series in the first place. While this is very much a game designed for younger players, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a smile on my face through most of it.

Game Name: Bluey’s Quest for The Gold Pen
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PC
Reviewed On: PC
Genre: Family / Kids Game
Developer(s): Halfbrick Studios
Publisher(s): PM Studios
Release Date: May 28, 2026

So, first things first. You’re probably thinking, “Why is this guy reviewing a Bluey game when he normally covers those really hard games like roguelikes, action RPGs, and Soulslikes?” Well, it’s a fair question, and I’ll happily admit that I’m a huge fan of the Bluey series. I’ve watched every episode more than a few times, I own a few Bluey plushies, and I even dressed up as Bandit, who is clearly the coolest character, for Halloween. So yeah, I’m very familiar with the Bluey universe, and because of that, I wanted to give Bluey’s Quest for The Gold Pen a go.

I’m glad I did, because not only is this one of the better Bluey games available, but it also feels like an original episode made specifically for the game, and that’s because it was as it was pen by Bluey creator, Joe Brumm. And if you’re familiar with Bluey Season 3 Episode 43, “Dragon,” then you’ll feel right at home here because the game is loosely inspired by that episode.

Here, Bandit, Chilli, Bingo, and of course Bluey, go on a magical quest. Only this time, Bandit is sort of the bad guy and is being that mischievous dad he tends to be at times. After Bluey starts drawing with some pens, Bandit snatches away the gold pen and proclaims himself King Goldie Horns.

If Bluey wants the pen back, she’s going to have to go on a quest to reclaim it. Up for the challenge, Bluey heads across several lovely hand-drawn worlds alongside her sister Bingo, Bingooose, while Chilli handles duties as both the creator of the worlds you’ll explore and an assistant to the pair as they work to stop King Goldie Horns.

Of course, being a Bluey game, this is catered more toward children, even more so than the actual show at times, but it can still provide enough challenge to keep older players engaged here and there. And being the latter, I had fun.

The objective is to make your way through each world while collecting various items needed to help Bingooose lay an egg, which hatches something specific that can be used to help the boss of each world. That said, you don’t actually fight the bosses. Instead, you solve their problems. For example, in the snow world, the boss is a penguin who complains about being cold, so Bingooose eventually lays an egg containing a hair dryer to warm it up. See, no boss fights, just being helpful and being rewarded for being nice.

Along the way, there are plenty of puzzles to solve and obstacles to overcome. Bluey can use her magical wand to latch onto stars and sling herself across gaps while collecting items, and there are sections where you’ll need to sprint across crumbling pathways before they collapse beneath you. It’s all fairly simple, though at times a little repetitive since you’ll often repeat similar objectives across multiple worlds, only with different items and themes.

Still, the real charm of this game isn’t just spending time with Bluey and the rest of the cast, complete with voice acting for the Heeler family. What surprised me most was how naturally it became something others enjoyed watching alongside me. As I played, both my wife and daughter would occasionally stop to watch and point out things I missed or tell me where to go next. That alone made the experience feel very much in line with what Bluey is all about.

Beyond that, there’s plenty to enjoy here. Bluey giggles while adventuring, Bingooose makes ridiculous honking noises throughout the journey, and players are treated to animated intermissions that feel straight out of the show itself. Watching Bandit become increasingly frustrated while the Heeler kids constantly outsmart him genuinely made me laugh more than a few times. You can even go back and watch the cut scenes after you’ve unlocked them by heading back to the main screen of the game. That bit isn’t completely obvious, and you be in the options or in its own section.

Still, the game isn’t without a few frustrations. Since this was originally designed for iOS and Android devices, the PC version still retains a mobile-style interface that takes up part of the screen. It’s not a deal breaker, especially for younger players, but it can feel a little distracting when playing on PC.

Bluey also moves a bit slower than I would have liked. Oddly enough, it wasn’t just me noticing it, as both my wife and daughter kept commenting on it while watching me play. That said, the slower pace may very well be intentional since this game is clearly designed with younger children in mind, giving them more time to explore and interact with the world.

And sadly, while the cut scenes are voiced, the interactions with the characters in game are not at the moment, but I have been informed an update will be pushed when the game goes live that will correct this.

Update: June 11, 2026 – The patch that adds in-game voices is now live and this addresses my only real concern with the game.

Verdict

If you’re starving for something new involving the Heeler family while you wait for the next season or the upcoming movie, Bluey’s Quest for The Gold Pen is worth checking out. It’s a charming little adventure that clearly understands its audience and leans heavily into the imagination and humor that made the show so beloved in the first place.

Just keep in mind that this is very much a game aimed at younger children, so older players may not stay engaged for long unless they’re already fans of the series. Still, if you’re looking for something to enjoy alongside your kids, there’s definitely fun to be had here.

If you enjoyed this review, explore more of our in-depth video game reviews across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

Review Disclosure Statement: Bluey’s Quest for The Gold Pen was provided to us by PM Studios for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy.