Yooka-Replaylee

About

Yooka-Replaylee is a single player casual platformer game with a kids theme. It was developed by Playtonic Games and was released on October 9, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Yooka-Replaylee is a charming single-player kids platformer featuring Yooka and Laylee on a vibrant adventure to recover stolen Pagies across imaginative worlds. The game offers a perfect story, compelling gameplay, lots of humor, and outstanding music, though it requires plenty of grinding and suffers from some bugs. With double the content, new moves, and colorful characters, it delivers platforming fun with a nostalgic twist.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 717 reviews

graphics38 positive mentions

optimization12 negative mentions

Significant improvements over the original game, including better controls, graphics, and pacing.
The game feels more rewarding with a higher number of collectibles and engaging challenges.
The addition of fast travel and a map enhances exploration and navigation.

The game is much easier than the original, which may detract from the challenge for some players.
Having all abilities unlocked from the start removes the sense of progression and discovery.
Some collectibles are poorly hidden, leading to frustration in finding them.

graphics
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The graphics of the remastered game have received widespread praise for their vibrant colors, improved art style, and overall visual polish, making it a significant upgrade from the original. Many players noted the smooth performance and charming animations, although some expressed disappointment over limited graphical customization options. Overall, the visuals are considered a major highlight, enhancing the gameplay experience and bringing the environments to life.
- “The graphics are a massive step up, which is no surprise, since they moved to the Unreal Engine from Unity, and it's been about eight years since the original game came out, but technological improvements aside, I also really like the art direction they went for here.”
- “It's an absolutely gorgeous makeover visually, and it only takes comparing screenshots from the original to see that the graphics, attention to detail, lighting, and color are vastly improved.”
- “The visuals are much more vibrant with better art direction and colors, and the cutscenes and UI are also far better here.”
- “This game stuttered all the time for me, even when turning the graphics down.”
- “The graphics options are way too limited.”
- “I wish there were more graphics options and a proper performance mode toggle for weaker rigs.”
gameplay
117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
68%
3%
The gameplay of Yooka-Replaylee has been significantly improved over its predecessor, offering a more polished and fluid experience with all abilities unlocked from the start, enhancing exploration and pacing. Players appreciate the nostalgic elements reminiscent of classic platformers like Banjo-Kazooie and Super Mario Odyssey, while also enjoying new mechanics and quality-of-life improvements that make collecting and completing challenges more engaging. However, some critiques mention a lack of challenge and depth in certain gameplay aspects, as well as issues with collectible placement and the removal of some original mechanics.
- “For the money, you get 22 hours worth of a very solid platformer that offers a high degree of freedom in both your movement and your approach to every level, as well as a mechanic that allows you to make the game easier or harder in a variety of ways to suit your preferences.”
- “The gameplay and levels are very fun; it's very Banjo-Kazooie but also very Mario Odyssey. That's the level design's greatest strength; it's super satisfying completing challenge after challenge and watching your pagie count tick up as you complete everything.”
- “Yooka-Replaylee is a fantastic remake that keeps the spirit and feel of the original title while making many welcome quality of life changes to the gameplay, such as a drastically improved camera, updated visuals that don't lose the original charm, and entirely new mechanics that keep the game fresh for returning players.”
- “It checks the boxes of a Banjo-Kazooie type game, but if you play it, you’ll know what I mean... it lacks a level of mechanical polish and feels very unsatisfying to play.”
- “I was fine in the first world with that because you learn the mechanics, etc., but the last world kind of felt like a chore because of how repetitive and easy things had become.”
- “I wish the game was harder and more involved: I find myself either abusing movement mechanics to skip large swathes of challenges very easily, or disengaging slightly during the revamped mini-games since they're a lot easier now.”
story
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
76%
3%
The story of "Yooka-Replaylee" is described as lighthearted and whimsical, serving primarily as a framework for exploration rather than a deep narrative. While it retains the charm of its predecessor, improvements have been made to enhance character interactions and overall coherence, making it more engaging for players familiar with the original. However, some reviewers noted that the story remains simplistic and may not captivate those seeking a more complex plot.
- “The quest to reclaim the reality-altering book serves primarily as a framework to guide exploration and introduce eccentric characters, and the revised script adds polish and cohesion without overstaying its welcome.”
- “While the story is never the main draw, it effectively reinforces the charm and personality of the world.”
- “Yooka-replaylee is a streamlined remake of the original Yooka-Laylee that improves on many of its predecessor’s shortcomings by retelling the story through Yooka and Laylee’s embellished perspective, giving Playtonic a second chance to recapture the charm of Nintendo 64-era platformers.”
- “Narratively, Yooka-Replaylee remains lighthearted and self-aware, leaning into whimsical humor and exaggerated villainy rather than deep storytelling.”
- “The story and character personalities are nearly nonexistent, and having fully experienced the original, it just all feels a bit lackluster.”
- “The ending has been reduced from a proper ending with a proper conclusion to the story with full 3D scenes to a very short cutscene that basically only served to end the boss fight right into still images for like a minute, and then the credits roll.”
music
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising the orchestral arrangements that elevate the nostalgic themes crafted by renowned composers like Grant Kirkhope and David Wise. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to enhance the game's emotional depth and overall experience, while some note that it may feel a bit forgettable compared to the original. Overall, the updated music is seen as a significant improvement, contributing to the game's charm and immersive atmosphere.
- “The visual overhaul complements the enhanced soundtrack, which features fully orchestrated arrangements that elevate familiar themes into something grander and more expressive.”
- “Music plays a key role in shaping the game’s identity, and the updated score adds emotional range and energy that enhances both exploration and challenge-based sequences.”
- “The soundtrack makes me feel especially nostalgic, and the addition of orchestration makes Kirkhope’s music evoke such a magical and whimsical feeling.”
- “Speaking of bland, I couldn't hum any music from this game even though I'm typing this after completion.”
- “They addressed virtually every single critique he made, from the big stuff like all the tedious design from Banjo-Tooie, inconsistent graphic quality, unfun janky minigames, etc. to the super specific nitpicks like Hivory Towers being confusing and the music being grating.”
- “The graphics have obviously been improved, but the music felt pretty similar.”
humor
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
9%
The humor in "Yooka-Laylee" is characterized by its lighthearted, whimsical tone, featuring clever writing and playful dialogue that often breaks the fourth wall. Players appreciate the British irony and cheeky jokes, which evoke nostalgia for classic platformers while maintaining a fun and colorful atmosphere. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies in comedic timing and pacing, suggesting that while the humor is generally enjoyable, it could benefit from tighter execution.
- “The humor is right up my alley, in the writing and in other places, such as the name of a ship 'bat ship crazy.' The controls seem pretty good and I'm getting used to the different types of moves.”
- “With an arsenal of creative special moves and a cast of silly characters, Yooka-Laylee delivers an amusing romp through whimsical worlds with an edge of cheeky humor.”
- “The writing is pretty funny.”
- “The writing is dull and unfunny, and the timing on line delivery and speech bubbles feels off. A lot of scenes have large gaps between text bubbles that absolutely kill their pacing. The early scene with Capital B and Dr. Quack in their office comes to mind, when he tries to say three words one by one, but each one takes agonizingly long to appear on screen.”
- “The humor falls flat, relying on tired clichés and predictable punchlines that fail to elicit any genuine laughter.”
- “I expected a lot more from the comedic elements, but the jokes are stale and the delivery is awkward, making it hard to enjoy the intended humor.”
optimization
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews. While some players report solid performance and minimal stuttering, others experience significant issues such as frame drops, microstuttering, and poor performance on lower-end hardware. Many users express a desire for more graphics options and performance tweaks to enhance the experience further.
- “Solid performance on graphics, and tight controls that make the game feel so good to play and a better camera.”
- “The performance has been improved (running it at 4k on ultra settings and I get anywhere between 80-120 fps - magic!).”
- “I’m getting consistent performance with barely any stutters, and the lighting and texture work look fantastic.”
- “I have a GTX 1060 graphics card which allowed me to run the classic game with max settings without losing frames; however, in this remaster, I didn't see any optimization.”
- “The Switch 2 version is also riddled with performance issues and runs visually poor at 20-30fps max, which is why I got the Steam one.”
- “Microstuttering during motion, horrible aliasing, no anisotropic filtering, unusable mouse control, nonsensical navigation in menus with keyboard only, some of the textures are low res.”
stability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
76%
The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players reporting minor bugs and glitches, including crashes and soft locks, while others noted that it runs smoothly on platforms like PC and Steam Deck. Many users appreciated the improvements over the original game, although issues such as enemy spawn glitches and camera control problems persist. Overall, while there are stability concerns, frequent autosaves help mitigate progress loss, and many players still find the game enjoyable despite its flaws.
- “Pretty good platformer, cozy graphics, runs great, and a good spin on the old one.”
- “The graphics were amazing, everything looked very good, and no glitches for me while playing on PC either.”
- “A lot has been improved since the original game and it runs great on the Steam Deck!”
- “Multiple crashes and soft locks, visual glitches, etc. Poor and boring level design coupled with strange design choices.”
- “Lots of small game-breaking glitches exist, like if you get too close to a spawn spot then enemies can spawn inside of textures and they’re un-killable, preventing you from progressing without closing and restarting the game if you're in an area where you have to beat everyone to proceed.”
- “Buggy, clunky, inconsistent (especially on keyboard and mouse, which should be ideal for a 3D platformer!). There are many instances of the game awkwardly stealing camera control from you.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that while the remake of Yooka-Laylee has improved some aspects of exploration, it still suffers from tedious grinding, particularly in large worlds where players often feel compelled to search for collectibles after completing most tasks. Many users found certain minigames and achievements, like spending 10,000 coins in Vendi's shop, to be unnecessarily grindy, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Despite addressing various critiques from the original game, some elements remain frustratingly repetitive.
- “Considering how huge the worlds are, searching for these yourself becomes incredibly tedious when you've pretty much gathered everything else in the level.”
- “I'll admit that I’ve looked up the solutions only to the puzzle pieces and a few quills, and even that was tedious funnily enough.”
- “There is one problem that they bafflingly decided not to fix at all, and that's the slot machines and minigames in world 4... in fact, they added a new one which is just as tedious.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its charm and appealing designs, particularly for the main characters Yooka and Laylee, which are considered standout mascots in the platforming genre. While some players feel the new designs don't quite match the nostalgia of the original, the game's character design and costumes still contribute positively to the overall experience.
- “It is a really good collect-a-thon platformer with a ton of charm, some cool worlds, and lovable character designs.”
- “Thought this remake would be a good opportunity to get it and I'm glad I did - it very much follows the lead of those games and feels like the next game in the series - the character design, level design, music, and dialogue very much fit the Banjo-Kazooie mold.”
- “Character design is what I'm still not too keen on.”
- “I don't like the playable character designs as much as I like the old ones (mostly because the bat scores a zero on the smash meter compared to a certain bird with a 9.5).”
- “The character design and overall charm of the game feels significantly better than the original 2017 game.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is significantly enhanced by its evocative music and charming dialogue, which contribute to a sense of nostalgia and connection with the characters. Players report feeling a deep emotional engagement, with some even moved to tears, as the wholesome friendship between the protagonists and the game's overall charm evoke a sense of "magic" reminiscent of classic gaming experiences. Despite some concerns about gameplay mechanics, the emotional depth and character interactions have left a lasting impact on players.
- “Music plays a key role in shaping the game’s identity, and the updated score adds emotional range and energy that enhances both exploration and challenge-based sequences.”
- “This game made me cry like an anime fan on prom night.”
- “The dialogue is charming, the villains likable, and the friendship between Yooka and Laylee feels incredibly wholesome and genuine.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by brighter, more detailed environments and improved lighting and textures, creating distinct worlds. While some reviewers still have concerns about level design and overall presentation, the atmospheric quality, particularly in areas like the swamp, is noted as a significant improvement over previous titles.
- “Environments are brighter and more detailed, with improved lighting and textures that give each world a distinct atmosphere.”
- “Especially in the swamp, they create a beautiful atmosphere.”
- “I certainly still have my issues with the game (mostly with the level design and overall presentation/atmosphere), but this is much, much better than Yooka-Laylee.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers generally feel that the monetization strategy of the game is fair and not overly aggressive, dispelling initial concerns about potential cash grabs by the creators.
- “I was thinking that maybe the creators would just add a few things as a cash grab, but man was I wrong.”
- “The monetization in this game feels excessive and really detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls; it feels like the game is designed to squeeze money out of players.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
The game offers improved controls, graphics, and overall playability compared to its predecessor, enhancing the replay experience. However, attempts to emulate the latest 3D Mario games fall short, which may affect long-term engagement for some players.
- “The game is more playable than its predecessor; the camera is more agreeable, and the physics feel more fun and consistent.”
- “It's so much more playable with better controls, graphics, and all the other things that have been added, tweaked, or removed.”
- “The game is more playable than its predecessor, the camera is more agreeable and physics feel more fun and consistent, but in trying to emulate the latest 3D Mario, it fails every step of the way.”