Barbie: Project Friendship [PlayStation 5] | REVIEW

My little one has got into gaming recently, and after playing titles like Astro Bot, The Grinch: Christmas Adventures, and SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game, she’s always excited to play something new. And now, after putting a LOT more hours than I expected into Barbie: Project Friendship, she has found her ‘most favourite game ever’.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Barbie: Project Friendship puts players in the role of two Barbies (who are known as Malibu and Brooklyn in the game) as they arrive at Malibu Waves Community Center, a once thriving resort that has become rundown over the years. It’s up to them to bring it back to life by putting their snazzy design skills to work, partaking in mini-games, and completing quests to keep their friends happy.

It’s the sort of premise you’d expect from a Barbie game, but honestly? It’s actually pretty endearing, with the game having a feel-good vibe throughout that ensures that Malibu Waves Community Center really is a nice place to be. Admittedly, the opening of the game could be a bit of a slow burn with a lot of talking that might put off younger gamers, but when you get the ball rolling, it becomes a lot of fun.

And one big plus? It’s all fully voiced, which is a LOT better for kids who don’t know how to read yet.

There’s a mixture of tasks to get stuck into in the game, with some of your earlier busywork involving fixing a bell by finding its pieces scattered around the environment, clearing up litter across your surroundings, and applying a fresh lick of paint to the office that you work from. Most are simple tasks to complete that simply require you to interact with the necessary objects, though applying décor does add a more personal touch where you’ll actually get to customise your surroundings. It’s something that’s built upon as you progress through the game too, with players unlocking new items and options to add plenty of pizzazz to Malibu Waves Community Center. The same applies to customising your characters, with plenty of outfits to unlock to ensure that Malibu and Brooklyn ALWAYS look snazzy.

“Barbie: Project Friendship offers a charming adventure with fun tasks and varied mini-games that are sure to keep younger players entertained for hours on end.”

A lot of time will also be spent completing mini-games, with players painting roller skates in quick-time events, grooming animals or serving ice cream in an Overcooked-style setup, and playing guitar in simplistic rhythm game action, just to name a few. Admittedly, each mini-game is very simple and easy to complete, so don’t expect them to be too engaging if you’re playing as an adult. However, when playing with my little one, she found them an absolute blast and took a lot of satisfaction in each success she achieved. It was nice to watch, and with Barbie: Project Friendship offering plenty of variety across each mini-game, she found herself fully engaged with its cheery world.

It’s also worth noting that the mini-games can be played in local co-op, so it’s possible to join in with younger players to give them a helping hand. Or, if you’re anything like my little one, turn it into a competitive experience where she was (in her eyes) the ‘best player’. It certainly brought a smile to my face, and whilst she probably didn’t need me to join in on the action, it’ll definitely be appreciated by those who are using Barbie: Project Friendship as a means to introduce children to gaming.

There’s plenty to do across Barbie: Project Friendship to keep players busy, with new characters introduced, additional areas opening up, and a genuine sense of progress as you see the Malibu Waves Community Center take shape and improve upon its initially derelict form. There are a bunch of collectibles to find too, and whilst they’ll be easier for older players to spot, my little one’s face was beaming every time she came across one. Whilst most adults would see everything it has to offer in a few hours, its customisation options and re-playable mini-games will certainly keep younger ones entertained for a LOT longer.

Check out some screenshots down below:

And that’s what it all really boils down to. Whilst I have no doubt that some adults will be interested in checking out Barbie: Project Friendship, this is a game that’s designed for kids. And, from a kid’s perspective, it’s wonderful – and I have my own little one who’ll back that up, after declaring that Barbie: Project Friendship is her ‘most favourite game ever’ (and that’s coming from a kid who beat Astro Bot).

Developer: Xaloc Studios, Casual Brothers
Publisher: Outright Games
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Website: https://outrightgames.com/games/barbie-project-friendship/