Bluey's Happy Snaps Review - Taking Advice From A Cartoon Dog

First Released October 15, 2026

7.0

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Published Oct 12, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT

Bluey has been around for nearly a decade, but it's still going strong thanks to streaming numbers, and an upcoming feature film.

My daughter ended up being the perfect age to watch Bluey, and she hasn't really stopped. It debuted in 2018, but it feels like it came out yesterday, given how much play it gets on streaming services. The series only has three seasons under its belt, but its influence is huge, as theme parks and distributors alike spar for the rights to Bluey merchandise.

It's a hit for a reason, and the tight scripts that focus on parenting, alongside the antics of sisters Bluey and Bingo, make it a family show everyone can feel engaged with. With a feature film on the way in 2027, it's poised for a pretty massive 10-year anniversary in 2028.

But for now, there's Bluey's Happy Snaps. Part Pokémon-Snap-lite and part small-scale Bluey episode, it has a lot of heart but falls short in a few respects.

Aesthetically Authentic Bluey

The first thing I noticed about Bluey's Happy Snaps was how much effort went into making it look as good as the show. If you aren't familiar with Bluey, do a quick Google search for "Bluey's house," because that's one of the easiest ways to get across this show's color palette.

Bluey's Happy Snaps recreates that aesthetic, but the straightforward story is equally adorable. Bluey finds her dad Bandit's old camera and wants to use it to take photos on family adventures. What starts as a stroll in the park expands to other areas, using the camera concept to fuel the gameplay.

Many of these smaller cutscenes play out like miniature episodes of the show, with the cast delivering a full performance, bolstered by the 60 FPS visuals. Even if your kid has watched every episode of the show, fans know that there's really no end to the amount of situations Bluey and Bingo can find themselves in.

Those scenes were easily the strongest part, and led to moments where you're basically reliving an episode of the show in real time. It's a stark contrast to the other Bluey games so far, which feel less focused, or more fantastical in nature. Some scenes were a little stilted and had limited voicework, but those are sparse.

Simple & Easy To Pick Up

Most of the actual game doesn't play out through cutscenes, however. Most of Bluey's Happy Snaps is spent photographing your surroundings, whether it's a local park, the beach, or a store. Photography works just as you'd expect: point and snap, and you're done.

It's easy to line up shots and add conspicuous objects (or creatures) to your scrapbook, which you'll need to fill up to move on to the next stage. The requirements aren't super taxing and taking pictures is easy, so the game never gets in its own way, since there's always something to find; and you can go back later to get that 100% rating.

There's also a meta-game element at play that could be popular with families. Some bonuses provide "real-life activity" pages that suggest things you can do together. Some draw inspiration from the show's imaginary playtime elements, while others are more basic, like "build a sand castle."

Plus, you can decorate your scrapbook with stickers you find throughout the game. These are small details, but interesting ones nonetheless, and help pad out the game and break up the photography sections.

If you're looking for engaging gameplay beyond photography and exploration in-game, there isn't much. Between levels, there's an on-rails photography minigame that tasks you with snapping every creature you see, which would have been a fun party-game element if it were expanded on.

Bingo Is Partially Left Out

One of the most polarizing elements of the game is its co-op implementation, which puts Bingo in the passenger seat for the player two spot. In many co-op games, partners have full or near-full parity, but here it plays out more like an episode of the show where Bingo gets left behind.

Interactivity for player two is severely limited, and although you can walk around, grab some objects, and pose for pictures, it doesn't feel like you have much agency. With some tweaks, this mode could be a family game for the ages, and something folks break out from time to time for a quick co-op run.

Still, you can swap controllers, so everyone gets a chance to control the action, or, if you're a parent, you can sit back and watch your kid play. While those options will suit some families, I can't help but think there was another path, with a full co-op mode that featured Bingo with her own camera.

The Grannies section of the game (one of the show's most iconic running episodes) is behind the Deluxe Edition, which is where some of the game's replay value lies. It's another unfortunate aspect of the game that isn't apparent at first glance, but at the very least, digital buyers get the deluxe version "for a limited time."

Snafus aside, Bluey's Happy Snaps is an evergreen recommendation for hardcore fans of the show. If you're diving in for the first time, there are better ways to get acclimated.

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