Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

Playtonic has absolutely smashed it with Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair. It builds on the team’s experience with platformers and manages to improve on its predecessor in every way. One of the best platformers I’ve played in years.

84%Game Brain Score

gameplay, music

grinding, stability

85% User Score Based on 2,353 reviews

Critic Score 84%Based on 28 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair" is a platforming game with stunning 2.5D visuals, where players traverse through a series of 2D levels and an overworld filled with puzzles and objectives. The overworld offers separate gameplay experiences and hidden collectibles, while alternate level states and the Royal Beettalion can aid in taking down Capital B's Impossible Lair. The game encourages players to tackle the final challenge at any time, but preparation and collection of allies is crucial for success.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair screenshot

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 992 reviews

gameplay92 positive mentions

grinding36 negative mentions

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a fantastic 2D platformer that captures the essence of classic Donkey Kong Country games with its engaging level design and tight controls.
The overworld is creatively designed, allowing for exploration and puzzle-solving that enhances the overall gameplay experience.
The game features a charming art style and an outstanding soundtrack, making it a joy to play and listen to.

The final level, the Impossible Lair, presents a significant difficulty spike that can be frustrating for players, often feeling unfair compared to the rest of the game.
Some levels have design flaws, such as one-way doors and hidden collectibles that require replaying levels, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
The controls can feel slippery at times, leading to unintended deaths and making precise platforming more challenging than it should be.

gameplay
317 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
68%
3%
The gameplay of "Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair" is a blend of classic 2D platforming reminiscent of "Donkey Kong Country" and innovative mechanics, including level variants and a tonic system that modifies gameplay. While many players appreciate the creative level design and the introduction of new mechanics, some criticize the gameplay for being repetitive, frustrating, and occasionally lacking precision. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable exploration and challenging platforming, though opinions vary on its execution and difficulty balance.
- “The gameplay itself is in that old-school Donkey Kong Country style, but it definitely feels pretty good to go through the levels.”
- “The controls are tight, the levels and mechanics are interesting and have good variety.”
- “Every level so far has felt lovingly crafted, the gameplay is challenging but rewarding, and it's just incredibly fun.”
- “Simply put, the gameplay is extremely dull and repetitive as a whole.”
- “The game straight up expects you to perform precision gameplay that simply isn't reasonably possible and mercilessly chews up your stockpile of lives as you don't.”
- “Unfortunately the game felt bare, kinda clunky to play with a lack of flow to the level design and game mechanics.”
music
314 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
37%
1%
The music in "Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair" is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its exceptional quality and diversity, featuring unique tracks for each level composed by renowned talents like Grant Kirkhope and David Wise. The soundtrack is described as atmospheric, catchy, and a significant highlight of the game, enhancing the overall experience and evoking nostalgia for classic platformers. While some tracks may not resonate as strongly outside the game, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout element that elevates the gameplay.
- “Musically, this game borders on perfection.”
- “The soundtrack from the former Rare composers and the additional talents (adopting their style very well) is a notable highlight of the game.”
- “The soundtrack is absolutely fantastic, the level design is clever, the change of pace of the overworld is really nice to have, and the game made me laugh for real a couple of times.”
- “Music makes me feel like I'm playing a game for three year olds.”
- “It's little things like annoying enemies, irritating collectible placements, and a soundtrack that seemed to lack its own identity (hub theme excluded) in paying homage to classic tunes that keep me from recommending this title.”
- “Very little about the game's art direction, characters, story, level design, or music stands out as especially unique, creative, or excellent.”
graphics
142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The graphics in "Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair" are widely praised for their vibrant and charming 2.5D visuals, which evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic platformers like "Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze." However, some reviewers note a lack of variety in level aesthetics, as many locations appear similar, and there are criticisms regarding the reliance on cosmetic filters that do not enhance gameplay. Overall, the game's visuals are considered beautiful and well-executed, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “The graphics are really nice with gorgeous 3D environments and character models despite the limitations of a 2D perspective, and is comparable to DKC Tropical Freeze, which is great as this is probably the closest you'll ever get to a game like that on Steam.”
- “The graphics are bright and beautiful, the story and characters are endearing, and the level design is excellent.”
- “The game is a joy to play, the music is fantastic, and the graphics pop out to build a beautiful experience.”
- “Despite my praise for the graphics, there isn't that much variety to the visuals as a lot of locations look very similar to each other.”
- “Yooka-Laylee (both the original and Impossible Lair) feels very aesthetically bland.”
- “It is like the game has no distinct personality of its own, coming off more as a mishmash of common mascot platformer aesthetics.”
humor
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
6%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and whimsical nature, appealing to both children and adults with its quirky dialogues and clever puns. Many players appreciate the self-referential jokes and the engaging interactions with NPCs, although some find the meta-humor off-putting and immersion-breaking. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's enjoyable atmosphere, making it a standout feature alongside its nostalgic and challenging gameplay.
- “The humor has this hilarious Adult Swim twist that makes it so children and adults can find something to love and laugh about.”
- “It's hilarious how self-aware the developers are that their first game wasn't the best it could be, as they sprinkle in jokes about it every so often as you progress.”
- “Oh, also, the wacky dialogues are back full force, with some ridiculous British humor and bad puns that put a smile on my face.”
- “The dialogue is a bit annoying and not funny.”
- “The humor falls flat and often feels forced.”
- “I expected more laughs, but the jokes just didn't land.”
story
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
57%
9%
The game's story is generally viewed as simplistic and lacking depth, with a thin plot involving a generic villain and a side story about a bee kingdom that fails to engage players fully. While some appreciate the lighthearted, cartoonish tone and find the characters endearing, many feel that the narrative is overshadowed by the gameplay and level design, which are the main draws of the experience. Overall, the story serves more as a backdrop than a focal point, with players often prioritizing gameplay over narrative investment.
- “Each level dubbed 'chapters' will have two sides of the story.”
- “A worthy successor to Donkey Kong Country, the music is incredible, the story made me laugh out loud numerous times, and the collectibles are fun to collect.”
- “It's a cute story with just the right amount of Saturday-morning-cartoon motivation to kick the player into action.”
- “This version feels very restricted, not only in gameplay, but in story development too.”
- “The story just starts partway in with no lead-up or explanation as to why the duo even knows something is happening.”
- “Very little about the game's art direction, characters, story, level design, or music stands out as especially unique, creative, or excellent.”
grinding
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the need to replay levels and boss fights after losing lives, which can feel repetitive and drawn out. The requirement to collect golden quills for tonics and the grind for 100% completion adds to the overall sense of monotony, with many levels overstaying their welcome. While some appreciate the exploration and varied gameplay styles, the grinding elements often detract from the enjoyment, making progression feel like a chore.
- “Every single time you lose a life, which is going to be often, you must replay a tedious and easy boss fight.”
- “Not to mention you need to find these tonics first by playing through the game normally and then buy them by grinding the golden quills you find in the levels, which requires going through the very same levels I already don't like for multiple attempts.”
- “Overall, getting through the stages feels like a tedious drag.”
optimization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
47%
20%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its solid performance and technical polish, with many users noting it runs smoothly without framerate drops. However, some players experienced stuttering issues when vsync was enabled, despite the game reporting a stable 60 FPS.
- “Very polished platform game with great performance.”
- “- technically spotless, no framerate drops or other performance issues.”
- “The game was stuttering quite badly with VSync on, despite Steam saying that it was a solid 60.”
- “The final point I want to touch on, and this one is important, is the performance.”
- “Performance is well-optimized.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from a significant number of frustrating glitches and bugs, including freezing issues that require players to restart levels and awkward interactions with game mechanics, such as sliding on ice and getting stuck in unintended areas. While these issues are often annoying rather than game-breaking, they undermine player trust in the game's controls and overall stability.
- “Sometimes the game freezes after breaking the honeycomb, which forces you to alt+f4 and replay the same level again.”
- “This game has a ton of largely frustrating bugs and glitches that can make you not trust your tools and movements anymore.”
- “There were some awkward glitches throughout the game, like when taking a hit and being stuck in a place I imagine you couldn't get to, and even some enemies not being as threatening occasionally (e.g. the circular bots that emit fiery lasers don't work).”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
Character development in the game is highlighted by strong character designs and movement, which many players appreciate. However, some reviewers criticize the overall polish and animation quality, suggesting that while the character design is commendable, it is overshadowed by frustrating gameplay mechanics and accessibility issues. Overall, the character progression is noted as solid, but the execution may leave some players wanting more.
- “The devs really nail the character movement, character design, movement, and collectibles!”
- “Fantastic character design, good progression, and solid minigames (with a few exceptions).”
- “One of my many issues with the first game was that it felt very amateurish with its lack of polish in the animations, world, level, and character designs.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “The characters seem one-dimensional and their growth throughout the game is minimal, leaving me disappointed.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with a standout soundtrack that, while not easily enjoyed outside the game, perfectly complements the in-game situations and enhances immersion. Each layer of the audio contributes to a unique and captivating environment that deeply engages players.
- “The soundtrack is great, not very listenable outside the game, but very atmospheric and fitting for the situations in the game nonetheless.”
- “Every layer has its own unique atmosphere that sucks you in instantly.”
- “The tunes really stick to your mind and make playing extremely atmospheric.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mixed emotional response to the game, noting that while it can be frustrating due to challenging elements, successfully solving its secrets provides a rewarding sense of accomplishment. However, those sensitive to difficult challenges may find the experience emotionally taxing, suggesting that the game may not be suitable for everyone. Overall, the game is perceived as fair, with predictable mechanics that contribute to a balanced emotional experience.
- “Moral of the story; don't buy this game if near impossible challenges in games destroy you emotionally.”
- “The secrets are plentiful in this game and made me feel pretty damn smart for solving some of them.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players highlight the game's impressive replayability, especially for fans of platformers and the DKC series, noting that it offers significantly more content and gameplay than anticipated for its $30 price tag.
- “If you're a fan of platformers or enjoyed any of the DKC games, this game is genuinely a must-play and offers far more gameplay and replayability than you'd expect from a $30 price tag.”

84%Critics’ scoreBased on 28 critic reviews

Buy Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

20h Median play time

31h Average play time

18-78h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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