Yerba Buena

Yerba Buena is a novel puzzle-platform game with a unique gameplay concept, which offers an opportunity to play around with real-world physics; however, its weak points include poorly designed puzzles and interruptions.

61%Game Brain Score

gameplay, music

story, graphics

82% User Score Based on 11 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

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About Yerba Buena

Yerba Buena is a single player platformer game. It was developed by Mad About Pandas and was released on May 26, 2026. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

The world is a game. Break the rules. Step into a surreal puzzle-platforming adventure as Barb, a young woman living as an NPC in an abandoned gameworld. When a sinister plot threatens your beloved San Francisco, you must step up to save it with the help of a mysterious and powerful device: the Oscillator. Copy the movement and physical traits of the world around you, reapply them to manipulate…

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Reviews

82%Audience ScoreBased on 11 reviews

gameplay3 positive mentions

stability1 negative mentions

Innovative and creative puzzle mechanics with multiple possible solutions, encouraging player creativity.
Unique and memorable story set in 1970s San Francisco, enhanced by atmospheric art direction and catchy music.
Good writing with occasional humor and a fresh narrative concept that engages players.

Technical issues including bugs, jittery platforming, and occasional crashes that can lead to soft locks.
Inconsistent voice acting and animation quality, with some dull line delivery and placeholder-like character movement.
Uneven pacing, with some rushed plot exposition and puzzle difficulty spikes, as well as lack of checkpoints in later chapters.

story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 50% negative mentions
The story is praised for its unique and memorable concept that quickly engages players, featuring innovative puzzle mechanics within an intriguing plot. However, some find the pacing rushed and complex, potentially causing confusion without clear exposition. Overall, players enjoy the narrative and its engaging premise.
- “It has one of the more innovative puzzle mechanics I've come across in recent years, and a story concept that is completely unique and memorable.”
- “The overarching plot is something I can't say I've heard before and it pulled me right in within the first 5 minutes of playing.”
- “I am having a great time and I am enjoying the story.”
- “The pacing and exposition of the plot points is crazily rushed.”
- “I personally prefer to use my own noggin but I can imagine that a story this complex would frustrate most players without an explanation.”
- “Stop an evil plot and save the city!”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The gameplay features innovative mechanics that blend puzzle-solving with a unique narrative, offering a fresh and memorable experience. The diverse range of properties to absorb and apply adds depth and originality, setting it apart from typical puzzle games.
- “The mechanics introduced are used in good ways, and there is a decent range of different properties that can be absorbed and applied with the oscillator.”
- “It has one of the more innovative puzzle mechanics I've come across in recent years, and a story concept that is completely unique and memorable.”
- “No pre-made formula or reskin of a known mechanic, but an innovative approach that combines a puzzle game with narrative.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 33% negative mentions
The music is catchy and well-designed, enhancing the puzzle-solving experience without being distracting. It complements the environments effectively, making exploration more enjoyable.
- “Catchy music and sound design.”
- “If you're moving quickly through areas, the music adds to the environments in a really fun way.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The humor is characterized by hilariously dry writing, with subtle, clever dialogue that rewards attentive players with unexpectedly hilarious lines.
- “Hilariously dry writing.”
- “If you're willing to pay attention to the dialogues, they will occasionally reward you with a line so funny, it'll blow your socks clean off.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 100% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The graphics feature a charmingly rugged art style that adds distinctive character and appeal to the game.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its breathtaking and immersive environments, with impressive shaders, effects, and detailed tech art that showcase significant effort and artistry.
- “Some sets within the game and cutscenes are breathtakingly beautiful and atmospheric, showing a lot of work went into the shaders, effects, and overall tech art.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
The game suffers from notable bugs and lacks polish in levels, character models, and puzzle difficulty, impacting its overall stability.