Yooka-Replaylee Reviews
Playtonic Games has taken Yooka and Laylee to new heights with Yooka-Replaylee, cleverly addressing past criticism with meaningful upgrades. Not every tweak lands perfectly, but platformer fans will find plenty to love in this revamped collectathon.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Yooka-Replaylee is fun, but it lacks the sense of wonder that those old games to create. The various worlds themselves still feel kind of generic, even with the redesigns (ice level, swamp level, vague space pirate level, you get the idea), and yet somehow are also incredibly convoluted and hard to traverse (hence the map).
Yooka-Replaylee features beautiful visuals and highly responsive gameplay, but it is still just another platformer game.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yooka-Replaylee is the kind of game that knows exactly what it is, a 3D platformer packed to the brim with collectibles, quirky characters, and colorful worlds. It doesn't try to reinvent the genre or push the platforming forward in any major way, and that's both its comfort and its curse.
Yooka-Replaylee takes everything the original did and amplifies it with care, polish, and passion. It’s a game that celebrates the past without being trapped by it. Whether you’re chasing Quills, hunting Pagies, or simply vibing to the orchestra-backed nostalgia, this remake feels like a long-overdue love letter to fans — and a sign that Playtonic has truly come into its own. Yooka-Replaylee is what Yooka-Laylee was always meant to be.
Yooka-Replaylee refines the original with better visuals, smoother gameplay, and all abilities unlocked from the start. Worlds are fuller and more rewarding to explore, supported by strong art direction and music. Performance could be better, but it’s a charming and polished upgrade overall.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yooka-Replaylee is a visually impressive remaster with much-needed improvements to the camera and controls, but it remains an arduous collectathon.
Yooka-Replaylee is a massive upgrade on the original that finally lives up to the duo's potential as successors to Banjo-Kazooie.
Yooka-Replaylee is a charming and colourful 3D platformer remaster that delivers polished visuals, smooth performance, and a nostalgic experience, but, unfortunately, with very basic and rather generic platforming and gameplay in general.
Yooka-Replaylee is a solid platformer, even if it does feel like some of its original vision has been dissected away in favor of improving the overall feel of the game. With the conveniences of a map, fast travel, and better controls, some of the original’s flaws can creep up, but honestly, they rarely got in the way. While it is certainly not looking to compete with the platformers of today, I still love that Playtonic spent the time to improve a game they were so deeply passionate about.
Yooka-Replaylee is the game I wish had been released in 2017! A complete revamp of the genre, which not only maintains what made games like Banjo-Kazooie so charismatic and special, but also modernizes them and adds its own unique twist.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
As a great remake, Yooka-Replaylee is a well-deserved second chance for a game from 2017 that hadn't quite reached its true potential. Besides the graphic improvement, Playtonic has successfully modified the campaign for the better, removing obstacles for a more fluid, open, and fun progression.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
If it once seemed like Yooka-Laylee was trying too hard to be a new Banjo-Kazooie, now it seems the title has finally embraced its own identity. Ultimately, Yooka-Replaylee does what it sets out to do, reimagining the original adventure without losing its essence. Whether the new version of the title puts it on par with its predecessors remains to be seen; but I believe the future may hold good new adventures starring the chameleon and the bat, based on the mistakes corrected and the lessons learned from the remake.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yooka-Replaylee is the comeback story fans were hoping for, with this return transforming a once-divisive debut into a fantastic platforming experience. Every tweak and adjustment, from the tighter controls and streamlined world design to the wealth of thoughtful quality-of-life updates, shows Playtonic Games’ dedication to learning from past missteps, and whilst its 2017 DNA still peeks through in places, the sheer polish and fluidity on display make those quirks easy to forgive. This is the version of Yooka-Laylee that always should have been, and one that firmly earns its place among the best modern 3D platformers available today.
Yooka-Replaylee is, by and large, the same 2017 game you know and (hopefully) love, with just an extra layer of polish, less bugs, and more content to enjoy. I might not agree with all of its features, as well as how easy the game feels when compared to the original, but there’s no denying that this is still one hell of an entertaining platformer, with some incredible level design, amazing music, and outstanding visuals.
Yooka-Replaylee is exactly what I hoped the original game would be: a joyful and beautifully built 3D platformer bursting with things to discover. Whether you’re a returning fan or completely new to Yooka and Laylee’s antics, this version delivers everything with polish and heart. For me, it was extra special because I played most of it with my son, who was grinning from ear to ear watching me roll and jump through the levels. It’s the kind of game that’s just as much fun to watch as it is to play, and that’s a rare thing. If you’ve ever loved Banjo-Kazooie, or if the original Yooka-Laylee didn’t quite grab you, this is your second chance, and it’s well worth taking. A free demo is also available if you want to try it out first.
Yooka-Replaylee is the kind of remake every studio should study. Playtonic didn’t just give the original game a fresh coat of paint; it rebuilt the foundations, fixed design flaws, and delivered a modern, fluid, and charming version. It’s an experience that blends nostalgia and freshness, capturing the spirit of the classics without feeling outdated.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
A beautiful 3D platformer with stunning visuals, solid gameplay, open creativity for the player, great map exploration, long hours of fun, and an affordable price.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Playtonic's Yooka-Replaylee is the definitive edition, successfully eliminating the original game's flaws with polished controls, a fixed camera, an orchestrated score, and doubled content. Yet, this otherwise successful, vibrant tribute to N64-era platformers is frustratingly held back by being locked at 30 FPS and suffering from noticeable performance dips on Switch 2.
Yooka-Replaylee isn't a revolutionary new title, but it is a lovingly crafted, well-made remake of a charming platformer. The colorful worlds, smooth controls, and generous amount of collectibles provide hours of enjoyment. The technical improvements, such as ultrawide support and the smooth framerate, make this the best version to play. However, the camerawork remains a bit of a nuisance at times, and those who have already mastered the older games will have less to explore. The adjustment, which makes all abilities available from the start, and the visual upgrades make this revision feel refreshingly fresh. And you really have no excuse not to play this game again.
Review in Dutch | Read full review