There are few film franchises that invoke nostalgia quite like Toy Story, and alongside those first three movies, a video game or two was released in tandem.
Now, with Toy Story: Retro Roundup! & Toy Story 3: Complete Edition, Digital Eclipse has attempted to bring a huge chunk of that history to modern consoles.
And while both releases are clearly made for Toy Story fans, they offer two very different things: They are both such fun trips down memory lane.
Toy Story: Retro Roundup!
Retro Roundup! is essentially opening an enormous box of toys that you have kept in the loft since childhood and discovering that some of them were much better than you remembered.
And some are considerably worse.
Digital Eclipse has assembled 11 versions of classic Toy Story games in this collection spanning the SNES, Genesis, PlayStation, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color eras.
This means you’re getting Toy Story, Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue, Toy Story 2, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Toy Story Racer, and for some weird reason, A Bug’s Life.
Yes. A Bug’s Life is also included.
Now the positives. This isn’t just a simple port of the now ancient titles; there are genuine quality of life improvements included here.
There are rewind functions, save states, practice modes, and cheat codes designed to make these older games more approachable for newcomers. And thank goodness for that rewind mechanic.
Some of these games are brutally difficult by modern standards. The original Toy Story in particular reminded me very quickly that games from the 90s had absolutely no interest in respecting your free time.
There were moments where I genuinely asked myself why I was playing this game. The rewind feature turns some of those previously frustrating moments into something far more manageable. Mess up a jump? You got to hit that rewind. Lose all your health? You got to hit that rewind.
This is also where Retro Roundup! becomes a fascinating historical experiment. Toy Story 2 remains the best part of this collection. The PlayStation One adventure still has that satisfying collect-athon structure, varied environments, and surprisingly strong platforming.
It feels like the developers understood how to turn Toy Story into an excellent 3D adventure. Other games aren’t quite as good, though.
The original Toy Story is very awkward, punishing, and sometimes frustrating.
The controls haven’t aged well at all, and some of the level design feels like it was deliberately constructed to test how long a child could tolerate failure before throwing a controller across a room.
Toy Story Racer is moderately interesting. It’s fun in short bursts, but it feels more like a passing fancy than a forgotten masterpiece.
The inclusion of A Bug’s Life is one of the collection’s biggest surprises. It has nothing to do with the Toy Story universe, but I’m not complaining.
It is a charming snapshot of the late-90s 3D platforming era, although playing it today highlights just how much the genre has evolved. The controls feel clunky, the camera occasionally becomes its own enemy, and some objectives can be frustratingly vague. Still, there’s something wonderfully nostalgic about controlling Flik. It’s an odd inclusion but a welcome one.
Retro Roundup! Verdict
The original Toy Story remains a difficult little nightmare. Toy Story Racer is a fascinating blast from the past. And A Bug’s Life being included is a gem. The result is an imperfect but incredibly worthwhile celebration of the early Toy Story universe.
Toy Story 3: Complete Edition
In comparison, Toy Story 3 is still fantastic. Originally released in 2010, this was one of the rare instances of a movie tie-in that felt like a genuinely good video game rather than a product designed to accompany a film.
The Complete Edition doesn’t fundamentally change that.
Instead, it gives the game the modern treatment it deserves, with improved visuals and smoother performance, and it does look great on my PS5.
There is a noticeable jump from the PS3-era title. Character models have more clarity, environments look cleaner, and everything feels considerably sharper on a modern TV. But what surprised me most is how well the underlying game has aged.
The story follows the movie pretty closely, taking you through familiar moments with Woody, Buzz, and Jessie.
The levels are fairly straightforward, but there’s enough variety to prevent the campaign from becoming completely repetitive.
Switching between characters is easy and enjoyable, with each one having different abilities and giving you reason to experiment.
Toy Story 3 is colourful, charming, and doesn’t take itself too seriously. More importantly, it feels like Toy Story.
If you’ve never played the original title, this could be the best reason to pick up this double pack.
It is essentially a mini-open world sandbox where you can build up your own Wild West town, complete missions, collect objects, and generally cause as much toy-related chaos as possible.
It was an ambitious idea in 2010, and it remains one of the most enjoyable parts of the game today.
The Complete Edition also brings previously platform-exclusive content together, including the ability to play as Emperor Zurg in Toy Box Mode and additional theme packs.
There are still some issues that have stayed over from 2010. The camera occasionally fights against you, movement can be slightly stiff, and some missions do have that classic 2010s feel.
I did also find myself occasionally getting caught on the environment, and some tight areas are tricky to navigate.
None of it ruins the experience. In fact, there’s something quite charming about the imperfections.
Final Verdict
Taken separately, both releases have their own purpose.
Retro Roundup! is a great celebration of Toy Story‘s gaming history, while Toy Story 3 is the better game.
Together, however, they make a surprisingly brilliant package. For anyone who grew up with Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang, there is something special about sitting on a PS5 and playing games that once lived on the consoles, handhelds, and TVs of yester-year.
Not every toy in the box is still in perfect condition. But that’s kind of the point.
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Atari
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 1/2, PC
Release Date: 15th October 2026
Gaming Respawn’s copy of Toy Story: Retro Roundup! & Toy Story 3: Complete Edition was provided by the publisher.
