Yooka-Replaylee Reviews
laytonic and friends take another stab at Yooka-Laylee with Yooka-Replaylee, a revised version of their 2017 Rare-flavored character platformer.
Full of heart, a cute cast, a seemingly endless array of goodies to grab and new ideas at every turn, Yooka-Replaylee is a must buy for any fan of the platforming genre.
Overall, while there are still some issues, Yooka-Replaylee’s revamped level and game design reflect a more confident identity both for this series and developer Playtonic Games. There is still some room for the series to grow in a potential sequel, but until then Playtonic Games has delivered the game fans have wanted since the initial Kickstarter campaign, which happens to also be one of the strongest collect-a-thon 3D platformers of the current generation.
Yooka-Replaylee stands as the definitive version of what was only a promising start back in 2017. This remake-remastered finally delivers to fans the Yooka-Laylee they deserved, filling the original’s gaps with a series of additions that make the experience richer and up-to-date, without neglecting a colorful and joyful visual style and an exceptional orchestral soundtrack. Yooka-Replaylee is therefore a game suited both for those who didn’t play the original eight years ago and for those who didn’t fully appreciate it because it was too anchored to the '90s style gameplay; now, I am sure, they will completely change their mind.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Yooka-RePlaylee is still the same love letter to Nintendo 64 classics as the original release was, but in a much more refined form. The game contains roughly double the challenges as the original, there are hundreds of ways to customize the experience in unique ways, the controls have never felt better, and the quality-of-life upgrades really go a long way in improving the experience. This is, in fact, Yooka-Laylee in its best form, and it gives little reason for players to go back and play the original.
One of the best games of its kind since Super Mario Odyssey. Not for copying, but for understanding the spirit of the collectathon—that almost childlike joy of collecting things, discovering secrets, and watching the counter rise, without ever feeling repetitive.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Yooka-Replaylee finally feels like the game it was always meant to be—an expansive, polished platformer that celebrates the genre’s golden days. Its worlds are denser, its controls tighter, and its charm undeniable, making it a joy for both newcomers and longtime fans. But despite its many improvements, a lightweight story, overwhelming collectibles, and a handful of dated quirks keep it from true greatness. What we’re left with is a game that shines brightly, even if it never quite reaches the top of the platforming mountain.