Being a husband as well as a father of two children, Bluey is a massive hit in our household. Before having kids, as much as I was looking forward to joining them in whatever shows they would end up watching, I never thought there would be a show that I would enjoy just as much as they did, if not more. In fact, sometimes, I decide for my kids that they’re going to watch Bluey, and it’s really just because I want to watch it. And any parent who has seen it knows why: somehow, it manages to be just as much a show for adults as it is for kids. But because of our undying love for all things Bluey, it’s hard not to jump at any chance I have to play a video game based on the show, even if my kids don’t know about it yet, and the latest to catch my eye is Bluey’s Happy Snaps.
Bluey’s Happy Snaps is the lovable blue heeler’s latest stroll through the gaming industry, and, as expected, it’s about as cozy as it gets. The “photo-powered” game takes players through Bluey‘s pastel-colored Australian world, where Bluey and Bingo have found Dad’s old camera that they then use to take photos of the games they play together and the various wildlife they discover. Essentially, it’s Bluey meets Pokemon Snap, and it even has a mini-game that is almost identical to Pokemon Snap‘s on-the-go picture-taking loop. Honestly, it’s a perfect combination for a gamer like me who absolutely loved Pokemon Snap when he was a kid and adores Bluey now. Bluey’s Happy Snaps is a short little romp through the magical world of Bluey, but in my opinion, it’s a romp worth taking.
Bluey’s Happy Snaps Takes Pokemon Snap’s Best Idea and Makes It Even More Accessible
One of the things I loved most about Pokemon Snap growing up was how it made something as simple as taking pictures feel worth doing in a video game. Sure, I wanted to get the best possible shots of every Pokemon I came across, but sometimes, I just wanted to see what I could find. There was something special about traveling through those environments and never knowing exactly what might show up around the next corner. Bluey’s Happy Snaps captures a bit of that same feeling, only instead of photographing Pokemon, players are taking pictures of Australian wildlife and the everyday adventures of the Heeler family.
Put the consoles in the correct order.
Most of Bluey’s Happy Snaps is spent exploring familiar locations from the show, including the Heelers’ house, the beach, and other areas around Brisbane. Each location has a collection of things for players to photograph, and successfully capturing the right subjects rewards them with stickers for their scrapbook. Some of these photos are as simple as spotting an animal or an object somewhere in the environment, while others require players to interact with something or participate in one of the game’s activities. It’s a fairly straightforward process, but it’s also the kind of thing that can keep someone like me occupied and my kids even more so.
However, the part that reminds me most of Pokemon Snap is the game’s on-rails photography sections, where players travel through an environment and attempt to photograph certain things before they pass by. It’s essentially the same idea that made Pokemon Snap so much fun in the first place, although Bluey’s Happy Snaps simplifies it considerably for younger players. There’s no need to worry about getting a perfect score or missing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Players can just enjoy taking pictures, which is probably how a game like this should work anyway.
Bluey’s Happy Snaps Is the Kind of Family Game I Want More Of
Of course, there’s more to Bluey’s Happy Snaps than taking pictures. Players can also interact with toys, participate in games inspired by the show, and decorate their scrapbooks using the photos and stickers they collect along the way. I especially appreciate the scrapbook feature because it gives players something to do with all those pictures they’ve taken. Rather than just collecting photos to check something off a list, kids can arrange their favorites, add decorations, and even color in pictures. Considering how much my kids love doing things like that already, I have a feeling the scrapbook might end up being their favorite part of the game.
Most of Bluey’s Happy Snaps is spent exploring familiar locations from the show, including the Heelers’ house, the beach, and other areas around Brisbane.
Another thing I appreciate is that Bluey’s Happy Snaps supports two-player local co-op, allowing one player to control the camera while the other explores and poses for pictures. It’s not quite the same as giving both players complete control over the experience, but I can see it being a great way for parents to play alongside their kids. And because the game isn’t particularly demanding, it seems like the kind of experience where I could hand one of my kids a controller without worrying too much about whether they’ll be able to figure everything out.
Perhaps my favorite thing about Bluey’s Happy Snaps, though, is its “Play for Real Life” feature, which actually encourages kids to take some of the activities they encounter in the game and try them outside of it. Whether it’s birdwatching or finding new ways to play with their toys, the game offers suggestions for activities that don’t involve staring at a screen. I love that, especially because it’s something the show itself has always been so good at encouraging. My kids have come up with plenty of their own games after watching Bluey, so seeing a video game based on the show actively encourage that same kind of creativity is something I can get behind.
At the end of the day, I know Bluey’s Happy Snaps isn’t going to be for everyone. It’s clearly designed with younger players in mind, and anyone going into it expecting the same depth as New Pokemon Snap will probably be disappointed. But I don’t think it needs to be anything more than what it is. As someone who grew up loving Pokemon Snap and now has two kids who adore Bluey, I’m just glad a game like this exists. Now I just need to introduce my kids to it, although I might have to finish filling out my own scrapbook first.
- Released
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October 15, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone / No Descriptors
- Multiplayer
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Local Co-Op
