Heavenly Bodies
Review

Heavenly Bodies (2021) is a puzzle exploration game about cosmonauts working in space. You use one controller stick for each arm and a button for each leg. In this way, you navigate around the space station and complete tasks that would be relatively simple if it weren't for the difficulties of zero gravity.

On your own or with another player, you push, pull and twist your way through a precarious range of physically-challenging scenarios. It demands a combination of manual dexterity, communication and forward planning. This starts with simple tasks but ups the stakes when the power is out, or you're in the firing line of space debris. The complexity ramps up as you need to deal with air pressure and exterior navigation as well as getting around inside.

It creates an unusual challenge that requires different skills to other games. This not only expands the potential audience but is good at getting a family of players to work together and complete each mission.

Controls are limited to gamepad, whether on PC or console. The controller's triggers and thumb sticks are required to move each limb and grab objects. On PlayStation 5 the game makes use of the haptic feedback triggers to add more touch and nuance.

Our examiner, Jo Robertson, first checked Heavenly Bodies 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Andy Robertson and updated 6 weeks ago.