Toejam & Earl: Back in the Groove Reviews

Toejam & Earl: Back in the Groove is ranked in the 51st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Cubed3
Top Critic
8 / 10
Mar 20, 2019

Nearly thirty years was a mighty long time, but ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove! proves that the wait was worth it. This is an excellent sequel, and it's not just because it captures the spirit of the original. The new features, as well as quality-of-life improvements, really enhance the experience. Each level is filled with things to do, and they all serve a purpose. There aren't any meaningless distractions. Even today, where roguelikes are exponentially more common, this is one that shouldn't be passed up.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 10, 2019

A nice and very fun throwback to the past which doesn't require you to find out what these alien rappers were doing if this is the first time you are seeing them.

Review in Russian | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Mar 1, 2019

All in all, ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove! is as solid of a remake of the classic title as you can hope for. It plays the same, sounds the same, looks better, and has a fair amount of new content. It's fun and accessible, and it's a solid roguelike for players of all ages. Nostalgic fans of the original will find a lot to love here, and newcomers should enjoy this retro trip back to the radical '90s.

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80 / 100
Mar 1, 2019

ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is a trip to the past and a game that the fans of the original wanted. It's really good, fun and the multiplayer is great. The downside is the loading time and playing it alone can be boring.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Feb 28, 2019

ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove isn't a blast FROM the past, it's a blast TO the past.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 27, 2022

Online or local split-screen; ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is still one of the best co-op experiences a gamer can have. The boppin’ funk soundtrack, squiggly graffiti and amusing character designs still makes this feel like an authentic 90s throwback without any irony poisoning.

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GBAtemp
Lavar Pittman
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Feb 21, 2019

I had a fun time playing this game, I still think there is some improvements to be made. Some good decisions was done such as making it a four player game and adding online mode. It also expands the original by a huge margin like you would expect and none of it feels out of place. My only question is what can come next, I do hope they try the platforming idea again like they did before.

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EGM
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2019

ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is a literal return-to-form for the series, and longtime fans should be happy about that. While it might not be a hardcore roguelike or fully integrate its more modern design choices, it does exactly what it sets out to do: give players a true sequel to the original Genesis classic. It's hard to say how far this formula could have come in 28 years if the series hadn't taken detours into other genres, but for now I'm just happy that it's gone back to its roots.

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80 / 100
Mar 18, 2019

So what’s the verdict for this game? In one word – FUN!

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Feb 28, 2019

ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is an extremely welcome update to the first game in the series that retains and expands upon everything that made that game a classic.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2019

Full of fun characters and unique presents to unwrap, the classic Sega Genesis game feels as unique as ever in Back in the Groove, and is well worth a trip back for older fans of the series. Newcomers can also look forward to finding out what made ToeJam & Earl so popular.

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Wccftech
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2019

ToeJam and Earl: Back in the Groove goes old-school and ignores those experimental sequels to create a spiritual successor that's even more charming than the original Genesis adventure.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 4, 2019

A brilliant return for the funky alien duo! Back in the Groove is everything that ToeJam & Earl fans ever asked for. Even if sometimes is a bit broken and repetitive.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Feb 28, 2019

This is exactly how a retro revival should be done and studios would be wise to take note.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2019

Solid roguelike elements keep the action engaging and tense. No previous experience (or nostalgia) with the series required

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2019

Back in the Groove is the faithful return to form Funkotron fans have been rapping about for decades, capturing the magic that made the original so endearing the galaxy over. It may not expand on the OG formula much, but old skool spinmasters from the Sega Genesis era are sure to vibe with ToeJam & Earl’s funky fresh return.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2019

Sporting augmented graphics, remastered soundtrack, added items and earthlings, ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove is a remake done right.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2019

The sublime style drips with funk, and the cadence of roaming through floors using my presents to try to avoid failure and find my ship parts is one that made for a charming experience. It didn't matter if I saw some of the same things several times over my multiple playthroughs. The whole thing is spectacularly goofy and weird, even if I eventually do figure out why the hell the yeti has a pencil.

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8.5 / 10.0
Mar 12, 2019

Capturing the essence of the 1991 classic, HumaNature Studios hits all of the right notes with ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove. With nine playable characters, light RPG progression, online co-operative gameplay, and a whole lot of funk, the latest entry into the ToeJam & Earl franchise rests solidly in the pocket where it is meant to be.

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8.5 / 10.0
Oct 10, 2017

HumaNature Studios' Toe Jam & Earl: Back in the Groove has brought back and breathed life into the old gameplay design of the original game. It feels like a Toe Jam & Earl game, which I can appreciate immensely. While not groundbreaking with visuals, it still brings some real fun to a series that lost its way a long time ago.

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