To infinity… and beyond!
It may have been a few years since we’ve been graced with a new Toy Story movie, but this is a franchise that forever lives on in our hearts. Woody and Buzz are basically our own childhood heroes at this point, and the rest of the gang may as well be our best friends. Over the years we’ve had the pleasure to join them in a myriad of video games: but which are the best Toy Story video games of all time?
Dating all the way back to the mid 90s, when the very first Toy Story was a brand new phenomenon, and coming up to the modern day, we’ve rounded up 10 Toy Story games that we just wouldn’t want to be without. Reach for the sky!
10. Toy Story Mania
- Released in 2009
- Formats: Wii, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Toy Story Mania features a set of mini games based around everyone’s favourite set of toys. Similar to other party games, there’s no main story, but a selection of fun challenges to compete in.
Toy Story Mania is based on the real-world Toy Story Midway Mania attraction found at Disney World California. Without a story, it doesn’t quite build on the characters that make the franchise so lovable, but it’s an entertaining party game brought to life with familiar faces.
9. Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
- Released in 2000
- Formats: PS1, Dreamcast, PC, Game Boy Color
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command follows Buzz on his journey through a number of planets. Based on the animated TV series of the same name, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command fleshes out Buzz’s character, almost as if he never actually realised he was a toy.
It’s great to be able to play as Buzz, and using a ray gun never truly gets old. Especially when there seems to be no sign of intelligent life anywhere. It’s not quite as epic as the awesome start to Toy Story 2 where Buzz fights Emperor Zurg, and it’s quite aged now. But hey, playing as Buzz Lightyear is a win in our book, making this one of the best Toy Story games ever made. And with a Buzz Lightyear movie imminent, this one feels more relevant than ever.
8. Toy Story
- Released in 1995
- Formats: SEGA Mega Drive, Super Nintendo, Game Boy, PC
A side-scrolling adventure, Toy Story closely follows the events in the first movie. It’s a little long in the tooth now, but back in 1995 it won us over; at the time, its visuals were great, really capturing the essence of the movie.
Most levels were played from the viewpoint of Woody. With his trusty lasso in hand, players could leap over enemies and defeat them. We also got to to control the R.C. in some levels, keeping gameplay varied and fresh. Not only is this one of the best Toy Story games out there, but also one of our favourite film tie-in games of all time. A true classic.
7. Disney’s Extreme Skateboarding Adventure
- Released in 2003
- Formats: Gameboy Advance, Gamecube, PS2, Xbox
Developed by Toys for Bob, Disney’s Extreme Skateboarding Adventure isn’t just a Toy Story game. In fact, it features many Disney favourites skating around like they’re Tony Hawk. There are characters from Tarzan and The Lion King in there, but it’s the ones from Toy Story we’re more interested in.
Take control of Woody or Buzz and skate around a track laid out in Andy’s bedroom. There are challenges to complete, or you can simply head to free play, skating around to your heart’s content.
Fact: the game engine used for Disney’s Extreme Skateboarding Adventure is the very same one used to create Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4. This really is the real deal.
6. Kingdom Hearts 3
- Released in 2019
- Formats: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Here’s the newest game on the list. And we’re taking a bit of a liberty here. Of course, Kingdom Hearts 3 isn’t exclusively a Toy Story game. But it is still one of the best Toy Story games out there, thanks to its ‘Toy Box’ kingdom; a world based on the Toy Story franchise and where Sora and co will meet Woody and a whole host of familiar faces.
Seeing Woody and Buzz interact with toy versions of Sora, Donald and Goofy is, quite frankly, a gift that keeps on giving. Sadly, the time in the Toy Box kingdom is brief. We’d have loved to have spent more time exploring Andy’s rooms – which looks just like the real thing.
5. Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure
- Released in 2012
- Formats: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC
Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure is a delightful platforming game that takes players on a journey through six worlds based Pixar films. There’s Up, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, Finding Dory and, of course, Toy Story.
Each world brings with it its own challenges, secrets to find, and a short narrative to guide players through the three levels that make up that world. Each one lasts only an hour or two, but they provide faithful recreations of the Pixar films. Of course, the Toy Story world is our favourite. It features characters from all films in the franchise, putting them in scenarios that any fan of the series will instantly recognise. We just love it.
4. Toy Story Racer
- Released in 2001
- Formats: Game Boy Color, PS1
Did you know? Toy Story Racer is developed by Traveller’s Tales, the very same company responsible for Lego games. Before it become known for bringing plastic bricks to life, though, it had a name for itself making games based on Disney properties. One of our favourites is Toy Story Racer, a karting game featuring our favourite Toy Story characters.
Whether you’re jumping into a time trial or a smash tag race, there’s plenty to keep you on your toes here. With 12 characters to unlock from Toy Story, you’ll want to keep playing ’til you’ve unlocked them all. The courses are varied and creative too; from Andy’s Room to Pizza Planet, it’s true fan-service to the Toy Story franchise. For karting fans, this is one of the best games based on Toy Story there is.
3. Disney Infinity
- Released in 2013
- Formats: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, Wii U, 3DS, PC
Developed by Avalanche Software, Disney Infinity is a toys-to-life game putting players directly into the world of a range of their favourite franchises. One world is, of course, Toy Story. And it’s perhaps the most fitting of all: just like the film, Disney Infinity sees your toys come to life.
Disney Infinity‘s Toy Story level is a sandbox based around a planet from outer space. Buzz, Woody and Jessie take part in a variety of activities to save the green aliens – who are, of course, eternally grateful. Being able to adventure with Buzz, Woody and Jessie is a treat for all fans of the franchise. Plus, being able to see your toys come to life truly captures the joy of Toy Story.
2. Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue
- Released in 1999
- Formats: PS1, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, Dreamcast, PC
Another game developed by Traveller’s Tales, Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue is one of the best Toy Story games we’ve ever played. It may be long in the tooth, but don’t let that put you off. And, in fact, if you’re yet to play this masterpiece, it’ll soon be available on PS Plus for Premium and Deluxe members.
Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue is a platforming game based on – no surprises here – Toy Story 2. It follows Buzz as he rescues other favourite characters from the movie, featuring iconic locations like Andy’s house, Al’s Toy Barn and even the airport terminal. Andy’s house is a particular highlight for us, and getting to explore his bedroom never gets old.
1. Toy Story 3: The Video Game
- Released in 2010
- Formats: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP, Nintendo DS, PC
And here we have it: the best Toy Story game of all time. If you’ve played it, we’re confident you’ll understand. This is a game of two halves. The ‘campaign’ closely follows the events of Toy Story 3, with players taking control of Woody, Buzz and Jessie as they explore various locations from the movie.
But it’s the game’s secondary mode – Toy Box mode – where Toy Story 3: The Video Game really stands out. Based on Woody’s Roundup, a fictional TV show, Toy Box mode lets players build a town, taking on endless missions from Mayor Hamm and other townsfolk. With so much to do and explore, it’s a mode we never tire of playing. We just wish there was a modernised version. Please, Disney!
