PS3

LittleBigPlanet: Game of the Year Edition

PlatformPuzzle

Time to beat: about 7.1 hours

Overview

LittleBigPlanet is a 2008 platform video game developed by Media Molecule and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. In LittleBigPlanet, the player controls Sackboy, a customizable ragged doll as they explore the titular realm. The game is primarily centered around content creation, with examples including a level editor and the Popit, a portable menu used for accessing creation tools. Prior to 12 March 2021, the player could publish levels online and play others' published levels. The story mode consists of eight themed areas, in which Sackboy helps out various Creator Curators across LittleBigPlanet before fighting the Collector, who has been kidnapping and stealing creations.

Media Molecule was formed by four former Lionhead Studios employees after the release of Rag Doll Kung Fu in 2005. Wanting to create a video game centered around content creation, they pitched a prototype called Craftworld to Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Phil Harrison, who lauded the concept and agreed to fund the project. LittleBigPlanet was first announced by Harrison at Game Developers Conference 2007, followed by a marketing campaign, beta testing, and consumer and press anticipation. After brief delay to remove controversial lyrics from an in-game licensed song, LittleBigPlanet released worldwide between October and November 2008.

LittleBigPlanet was met with critical acclaim, with praise for its creative gameplay and community-driven aspects. LittleBigPlanet won several Game of the Year awards and additional awards for its graphics, music, and gameplay innovation. Retrospectively, some publications have ranked it among the greatest video games of all time. After dwindling sales in 2008, LittleBigPlanet became commercially successful, reaching 4.5 million copies. LittleBigPlanet was followed by two sequels and several spin-offs.