A Hat in Time, from Gears for Breakfast, casts Hat Kid into a quest to reclaim lost Time Pieces. It combines 3D platforming, combat, and exploration across distinct open hubs, asking players to jump, fight, and collect while using movement and hats to reach secrets. Key systems include hat stitching for new abilities, a badge upgrade economy, and challenge rooms that test precision. Fans of classic collect-a-thon platformers seeking playful, skill-based level design on PlayStation 5 will find a lot to enjoy.

A Hat in Time channels classic 3D collect-a-thon design into compact, characterful hubs

So, the game channels the spirit of Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie into five distinct hub worlds. Players move through named areas such as Mafia Town, Subcon Forest, and Dead Bird Studio, each filled with self-contained objectives and NPC-driven encounters. Thus, exploration rewards short, goal-oriented runs rather than prolonged open-world traversal, making sessions feel episodic and focused on discovery.

Split-screen co-op and expansions lengthen the social and single-player experience

Local split-screen lets a second player join the action as Bow Kid, converting solo platforming into shared couch sessions. The PlayStation release supports the base adventure plus major expansions available on the PlayStation Store, including:

• Seal the Deal
• Nyakuza Metro

Controls favor expressive movement and precision over brute-force inputs

The control set encourages chaining moves: diving, wall-jumping, and mid-air dashing enable fluent traversal and timing-based challenges. So, skilled inputs unlock faster routing and creative approaches to platform sequences, rewarding practice and experimentation. Some elements shift tone between missions, which makes pacing uneven at times, but the core responsiveness supports players who enjoy mastering movement technique.

Charm, soundtrack, and community backing keep the game lively after completion

A Hat in Time leans into a "cute-as-heck" visual style and an upbeat soundtrack that give each hub a distinct personality. So, its Kickstarter origins and ongoing player support feed into a community identity, and user reception registers as "Overwhelmingly Positive." The presentation and active fanbase make revisiting stages pleasurable and help the title maintain momentum beyond initial completion.

A Hat in Time is a playful pick for classic platforming fans, with one platform caveat

A Hat in Time is a lively choice for players who enjoy collect-a-thon platforming and unpredictable level design, thanks to its varied mission types and whimsical presentation. One consideration: the PS5 release runs via backward compatibility rather than as a native PS5 build, which may matter for players seeking a dedicated next-generation package. For fans of classic 3D platformers, it remains an engaging and personality-driven option.