Yoku's Island Express

Yoku's Island Express is the perfect combination of pinball mechanics meets metroidvania, and is not only my favorite indie game so far this year, but my favorite pinball game of all time.

89%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

grinding, replayability

95% User Score Based on 3,077 reviews

Critic Score 86%Based on 29 reviews

Platforms

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About

Yoku's Island Express is a single player open world platformer game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Villa Gorilla and was released on May 29, 2018. It received positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Yoku has arrived on Mokumana and he’s ready for the easy life, soaking up the sun and delivering parcels on a tropical paradise! However, an ancient Island deity is trapped in a restless sleep - and it’s all down to Yoku to traverse the island using a unique blend of pinball mechanics, platforming and open world exploration, in an amazing adventure to help those in need! Flip and bump our pint-siz…

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,077 reviews

gameplay432 positive mentions

grinding109 negative mentions

Unique and innovative combination of pinball mechanics with metroidvania-style exploration works surprisingly well.
Charming art style and design, coupled with a catchy, relaxing soundtrack that enhances immersion.
Game is accessible and enjoyable for a wide range of players, featuring forgiving gameplay with no punishing fail states and a positive, wholesome tone.

Backtracking can become tedious due to limited fast travel points and slow character movement outside pinball sections.
Certain pinball sections and puzzles require high precision and can be frustrating, potentially impacting enjoyment for some players.
Lack of control customization (no key remapping) and occasional technical issues such as unskippable credits and minor bugs impact the overall experience.

gameplay
1,093 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
Yoku's Island Express offers a unique and innovative blend of metroidvania exploration with well-executed pinball mechanics, creating a refreshing and charming gameplay experience. The pinball elements are tightly integrated and satisfying, though some players may find certain mechanics and puzzles frustrating or imprecise, especially in later stages or for 100% completion. Overall, the gameplay is engaging, accessible, and enjoyable, with a relaxing atmosphere and a well-paced progression that keeps the core mechanics fresh throughout the roughly 10-hour playtime.
- “Yoku’s Island Express creatively fuses a traditional metroidvania game with pinball mechanics in a way that feels surprisingly natural.”
- “Yoku's Island Express is a delightful and charming adventure that combines pinball mechanics with platforming gameplay to create a truly unique and memorable experience.”
- “The pinball mechanics work well to facilitate movement and exploration of the surprisingly large world.”
- “However, the implementation of that idea felt half-baked, to the point where the gameplay loop just wasn't fun for me.”
- “The one genuine problem with the game is that it has the absolute worst grappling mechanic, which is a combination of not having any air control at all (this is a pinball game, you have to aim your shots) and the Nintendo Switch being the lead platform (the Switch has binary triggers, while PC gamepads have analog triggers, and the screwy way the game implements analog triggers makes precision control impossible).”
- “Complicating this is that the pinball parts, in addition to being tiny constrained areas that you have to unlock exits from, have little to no ability to use "english," you can't really alter the course of the ball - everything is on rails, and paths are limited - some areas literally have only two paths for the pinball, meaning you find yourself endlessly and mindlessly repeating the same simple flipper/rebound motion, hoping to god that something changes... there seem to be hidden bumper mechanics, because eventually it seems something does happen, which at best just lets you escape the little trap you're in.”
story
800 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
68%
3%
The story in Yoku's Island Express is a charming, lighthearted, and simple narrative centered on Yoku, a dung beetle postman helping an island under threat, blending wholesome characters and a gentle unfolding of a larger plot involving ancient gods. While the main story is relatively short—typically around 5-7 hours—and somewhat predictable or simplistic, it is well integrated with the gameplay and world exploration, enriched by numerous engaging side quests and collectibles that expand the experience beyond the main plot. Overall, the story effectively complements the unique pinball-metroidvania gameplay, providing enough motivation and character to keep players invested without overwhelming them.
- “Yoku’s island express tells the story of a little dung beetle who takes up a job as postman of the isolated Mokumana island, helping the locals with a variety of problems before stumbling into a quest to reawaken a sleeping god.”
- “The story unfolds gently, never overwhelming the player with exposition, and the dialogue maintains a playful tone that fits the game’s sunny aesthetic.”
- “Combining pinball mechanics with metroidvania-like world structure and exploration is an unexpectedly awesome idea, and the developers nailed it both in concept and execution while tying it all together with beautiful visuals and a charming little story about a small dung beetle uncovering ancient secrets of a tropical island while working as its mailman.”
- “The story, while cute, also seems half-baked, and the final boss battle doubly so: it was over very quickly and didn't require much skill, while not being particularly easy or cathartic because the antagonist hadn't been well set up.”
- “Finally, there is the final boss of the game, which was a big disappointment both in terms of challenge and plot twist. The fight was a cakewalk despite no game-over system, and the plot twist was a last-second reveal that felt empty and out of nowhere.”
- “The game has so much content outside the main story, but the majority of side quests are simple fetch quests that bore quickly, especially due to painful travel times early in the game.”
music
684 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The game's music is widely praised for its charming, eclectic, and catchy tropical soundtrack that perfectly complements the vibrant, playful island setting and unique pinball-metroidvania gameplay. Reviewers highlight the relaxing, upbeat, and immersive qualities of the music, often noting how it enhances the atmosphere and keeps the experience engaging, with standout tracks and varied themes for different areas. While a few mention occasional repetitiveness or less memorable boss music, overall the soundtrack is considered a major strength and a key part of the game's appeal.
- “The music blends tropical percussion, mellow guitar, and soothing harmonies, perfectly complementing the game’s easygoing mood and the natural rhythm of its pinball traversal.”
- “The tone remains lighthearted throughout, but there’s also a sense of wonder that permeates the world, enhanced by the beautifully orchestrated soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack - combining tropical sounds and melodies reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country with electronic downtempo/lofi beats, jazz and at times almost David Gilmour-esque smooth guitar riffs is quite excellent too!”
- “The music is mediocre to subpar aside from the opening title screen 'island jam' (which you hear in the trailer on the store page as well).”
- “The underwhelming nature of the music is not a tremendous fault but it just doesn't add much in terms of atmosphere or immersion.”
- “The music is just a drone fest, nothing remarkable at all, in fact, makes you want to turn it off after five minutes.”
graphics
497 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
37%
1%
Yoku's Island Express features charming, colorful, hand-painted visuals with a unique and delightful art style that many compare to Ori or Rayman, creating a bright, whimsical island atmosphere. The graphics are praised for their creativity, detail, and seamless blend with the gameplay's pinball mechanics, offering an original and relaxing aesthetic that runs smoothly even on low-end hardware. While a few find certain character designs less appealing, overall the graphics greatly enhance the game's fun exploration and are complemented by an excellent, cheerful soundtrack.
- “Yoku's Island Express is an extremely unique spin on the Metroidvania genre through a pinball-esque system, and the overall aesthetic from art to sound and story just flow so well together.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and full of character.”
- “Yoku's Island Express boasts stunning hand-drawn visuals and a whimsical atmosphere that immerses players in its enchanting world.”
- “Given the personality displayed in the aesthetics of all the other characters in the game, it's too bad the one you're given—an ant-like creature pushing a ball—just doesn't pop like the others.”
- “Although the game has a charming art style and ear-worm inducing musical compositions, something about the character models and visual effects feels a bit cheap.”
- “Graphics are limited to 1080p, too low quality for modern PC gaming standards.”
grinding
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
Grinding and backtracking in the game are commonly described as tedious, especially before unlocking fast travel and during late-game exploration or achievement hunting. While the unique pinball mechanics add charm and novelty, repeated precision-based challenges and navigation through a large, sometimes confusing map can make progression feel repetitive and frustrating. However, for many, the overall fun and creativity in exploration help offset these grinding and backtracking drawbacks.
- “The backtracking is way too tedious and the map doesn't help in the slightest; one wrong turn and you've wasted 20 minutes.”
- “Pinball being the main gimmick seems clever at first, but it gets tedious very quickly as you have to repeatedly pass through the same pinball sections many times while backtracking all over the map for fetch quests.”
- “Movement in this game outside of the pinball sections is undeniably slow most of the time, and I will wholeheartedly agree that backtracking is the most tedious part of the game.”
atmosphere
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
Yoku's Island Express features a charming and vibrant atmosphere, combining hand-drawn visuals, relaxing island-themed music, and lively sound design to create a cozy, cheerful, and immersive world. The unique blend of pinball mechanics with metroidvania-style exploration is complemented by this warm, playful ambiance that balances a lighthearted mood with occasional darker undertones. Overall, the atmosphere is widely praised for its ability to engage players in a relaxing yet captivating experience.
- “The world of Mokumana is a triumph of design and atmosphere.”
- “The visuals and the atmosphere combine to bring a cozy charm that's rare for any game or piece of entertainment in general to capture.”
- “Every environment of this large open-world island is perfectly accompanied by its sound design which gives everything a unique atmosphere.”
- “The underwhelming nature of the music is not a tremendous fault, but it just doesn't add much in terms of atmosphere or immersion.”
- “There is something quite childish and toy-ish about the sound effects, which detracts from the game atmosphere.”
- “Music can get a bit repetitive at times, though it definitely fits the different worlds and sets the right atmosphere.”
humor
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently described as lighthearted, charming, and quirky, with funny characters, dialogue, and amusing moments tied to the gameplay and exploration. While not always laugh-out-loud, the humor adds a whimsical, positive vibe that enhances the colorful world and makes the experience enjoyable and endearing. Some players find certain humorous bits repetitive or mildly annoying, but overall it is a well-loved and tasteful aspect of the game.
- “Each encounter feels like a reward for exploration, as conversations reveal snippets of lore or humorous dialogue that give the island an identity all its own.”
- “It's also a pretty lighthearted story: yes, you're saving the world, but the presentation is so cute and all the characters are so childishly funny that it's hard to take seriously.”
- “A genuinely fun and quite innovative game, with fantastic artwork, vastly different locales, and some cute and funny NPCs, aided by humorous voice overs.”
emotional
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its deeply wholesome and heartwarming emotional experience, emphasizing kindness, curiosity, and charming relationships over conflict. Its simple, yet touching story paired with a delightful soundtrack and unique pinball-metroidvania mechanics evokes nostalgic, joyful, and sometimes emotional moments, making it a comforting and emotionally uplifting adventure. Players often highlight how it feels like a relaxing, cheerful, and genuinely wholesome journey that stands out for its emotional warmth rather than epic stakes.
- “The emotional core lies not in epic stakes but in the relationships you build with the island’s residents.”
- “Other games have made me cry, or cheer, or whatever else, but somehow no game has made me feel like Yoku does every time I play it.”
- “What I thought was a cheery song now gets me emotional, especially since you don't hear it in its entirety until the very ending.”
replayability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
Replayability is generally enhanced by the game's built-in randomizer mode, which offers varied routes and item placements, keeping the experience fresh and engaging for multiple playthroughs. However, without the randomizer, replay value is limited due to the game's relatively short length and completion of main content reducing incentive to replay. Overall, while some players find the mechanics and exploration compelling enough to revisit, others feel the replayability is modest.
- “It's not too difficult but engaging enough, looks visually really unique, and it even includes a built-in randomizer which is a blessing for replayability.”
- “There's also quite a bit of replayability with its randomizer mode - and thank god too - a metroidvania with a built-in randomizer mode that doesn't require constantly having to redownload it every time the game updates or completely breaks the game and stops it from launching when you attempt to install it.”
- “It's cute, it's relatively fast to play through, but has enough content to feel truly satisfying to finish, and the randomizer mode adds a fair amount of replayability.”
- “[*] Limited replay value: once players have completed the main story and discovered all the secrets, there may be limited incentive to replay Yoku's Island Express.”
- “Replayability is low though... that is, except the latest patch added a randomizer mode which makes you progress through the map in different routes each time due to the abilities you unlock at different times.”
- “-Replayability: once you have beaten the game there are small quests to still complete, but these did not bring me back into the game.”
character development
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
The character development is widely praised for its charming, quirky, and aesthetically appealing designs that bring warmth and personality to the game’s colorful world. Players enjoy befriending diverse and imaginative inhabitants, which enhances the cozy and delightful atmosphere. Overall, character design is a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The character designs are equally delightful, featuring quirky and expressive inhabitants who range from grumpy fishfolk to cheerful mushrooms and spiritual guardians.”
- “The character design is also quite interesting, taking a mix between original species and pre-existing animals, a concept I honestly hadn't seen before.”
- “This game is incredibly charming, from the art, music, and character design to the simple act of delivering the mail to the far corners of the island.”
optimization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
43%
21%
Yoku’s Island Express is generally well optimized, offering smooth performance, fast loading times, and fluid gameplay with rare or occasional minor stutters. Despite a capped frame rate, the technical performance remains impressive and consistent.
- “The technical performance of Yoku's Island Express is impressively smooth.”
- “You can expect fast loading, smooth FPS, no stuttering, and fluid gameplay.”
- “This game is extremely optimized; I did not experience a single stutter.”
- “We are getting occasional stuttering which detracts from the experience a bit but not that much.”
- “Occasional performance stutters.”
- “The performance in this game is fine for the most part.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
Overall, the game is largely stable with very few bugs or glitches reported, mostly minor visual issues affecting a small fraction of gameplay. While some users mention occasional glitches and bugs, the experience is generally smooth and feels complete. However, a few players noted sporadic instability, particularly with map updates.
- “No glitches.”
- “Buggy piece of crap!”
- “The game offers some nice graphics, although some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same.”
- “Oh and the map might just be one of the best I've ever seen - it simply zooms out the game so that you can see the whole world (although some things don't seem to update properly at times - a bit buggy).”

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86%Critics’ scoreBased on 29 critic reviews

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11h Median play time

13h Average play time

6h Main story

11h Completionist

6-15h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 17 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yoku's Island Express is a open world platformer game with fantasy theme.

Yoku's Island Express is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 6 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 11 hours to finish. On average players spend around 13 hours playing Yoku's Island Express.

Yoku's Island Express was released on May 29, 2018.

Yoku's Island Express was developed by Villa Gorilla.

Yoku's Island Express has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Yoku's Island Express for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Yoku's Island Express is a single player game.

Similar games include Supraland, Minishoot' Adventures, Islets, Snake Pass, SteamWorld Dig 2 and others.

Yoku's Island Express

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