Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is a direct sequel to the classic trilogy from the 1990s, picking up the story after the events of the third game and ignoring the spin-offs released in between. The game was developed by studio Toys for Bob, and on PlayStation 5 it arrived as an enhanced version with a subtitle, bringing improved graphics, a higher frame rate, and additional new content compared to the original release from the previous console generation. The gameplay stays true to the series' legacy — linear running and jumping through levels full of traps, crates, and wumpa fruit to collect, complemented by new mask abilities that alter gravity, mass, or phase state. The game also offers alternate playable characters with their own movesets, allowing selected levels to be experienced from a different perspective and unlocking further collectible content.

On PlayStation 5, the game runs at high resolution with a smooth frame rate, which is essential for the notoriously demanding platforming built on pixel-perfect timing. The level design is intricate and often mercilessly difficult, with elaborately hidden paths and alternate routes through levels for completionists. Visually, the game combines colorful stylization with detailed environments and fluid animation, while the sound design carries forward the iconic atmosphere of the previous entries, including the characteristic sound effects of collecting fruit and smashing crates.

At launch, the game was especially praised by players who grew up on the original trilogy, for its faithfulness to the legacy and its honest, if demanding, challenge. Critics occasionally noted the high difficulty as a barrier for newcomers, while also praising the scope of content and the inventiveness of the new mechanics. Today it stands as a reliable choice for fans of classic 3D platformers who want a pure, nostalgically toned challenge with no compromises in design, and the enhanced PS5 version remains the technically best way to play it.

Why play: For fans of classic 3D platformers who want a pure, nostalgically toned challenge with no compromises in design, the enhanced PS5 version remains the technically best way to play it.