Yooka-Replaylee is essentially a reimagining of Yooka-Laylee. The origins of this project are quite fascinating, as the series began as a Kickstarter campaign that launched with significant excitement and nostalgia behind it. Despite the initial buzz, the franchise never quite reached the success many had hoped for. The game was created by Playtonic, a studio formed by former developers of Donkey Kong Country and Banjo-Kazooie, and it proudly carries that same lighthearted charm. It introduces two new protagonists — Yooka, a green chameleon, and Laylee, a purple bat — who serve as the spiritual successors to Banjo and Kazooie.
Having played the original release, I did not have high expectations going into this reimagining. The first noticeable change is the revamped opening sequence, which now includes a short tutorial that introduces the basic controls and mechanics. The cutscenes have also been enhanced with better animation and more dialogue, making the story flow more naturally. The most impressive improvement, however, is the visual overhaul. On the Nintendo Switch 2, which was my primary platform for this review, the game runs noticeably smoother and features HDR support. This addition makes a significant difference, as HDR brings out the vivid colors and playful art style beautifully, giving the world of Yooka-Replaylee a lively and more polished look.
The story remains largely the same as the original. The villain, Capital B, is once again attempting to steal all the world’s knowledge contained in books — but instead of using this knowledge, he plans to convert it into pure profit. During one of their treasure hunts, Yooka and Laylee discover one of the most valuable books in existence and bring it back to their home at Shipwreck Creek. In his attempt to seize it, Capital B accidentally destroys the book, scattering its pages across the world. These pages, known as “Pagies,” serve as the key collectible items that Yooka and Laylee must gather throughout their adventure.
The gameplay in this new reimagining has seen noticeable improvements alongside the narrative upgrades. The controls feel smoother, and Yooka and Laylee’s various moves flow together more naturally. It is difficult to pinpoint every change since it has been a while since I played the original, but there is definitely a new sense of precision and polish in how the characters move. The combat also feels more responsive, with attacks connecting more cleanly and adding a satisfying rhythm to the action.
One of the main criticisms of the original game was that, while it successfully captured the nostalgic spirit of N64-era 3D platformers, it also inherited many of their flaws — particularly with clunky controls and awkward camera movement. This reimagining addresses those issues effectively. The revamped camera system makes a major difference, giving players a better view of their surroundings and making platforming segments much less frustrating. On top of that, the developers have introduced new story content that expands upon the original concept, giving this version the feel of a “director’s cut” — essentially the definitive edition of Yooka-Laylee, with a wide range of improvements and additions.
In short, if you enjoyed the original Yooka-Laylee, this version feels like a polished and expanded upgrade — not quite a full remake, but much more than a simple remaster. There are plenty of new additions, including extra collectibles that nearly double the total count, as well as new areas and challenges. Many older levels have also been reworked to feel more refined. One of the most useful quality-of-life changes is the addition of a world map, which helps track objectives and locate collectibles more easily. The inclusion of a fast travel system further reduces the need for backtracking, making exploration smoother and more enjoyable overall.
The original game featured a soundtrack composed by industry legends Grant Kirkhope and David Wise, among others. For this reimagining, the entire soundtrack has been fully orchestrated, and several new compositions have been added. The result beautifully captures the nostalgic charm of classic 3D platformers while enhancing the emotional tone of each world. In my view, this is the best representation of a classic N64-style platformer created by an independent studio on modern hardware, which is quite an achievement. The game also includes new minigames, such as Rextro’s Arcade — an isometric platforming challenge that feels like a hidden gem within the main adventure. It is essentially a full mini-game tucked inside the world of Yooka-Replaylee.
However, I encountered noticeable performance issues while playing on the Nintendo Switch 2. Visually, the game looks great, especially with HDR enabled, but it is locked at 30 FPS. For a fast-paced platformer, this frame rate feels limiting, and a 60 FPS performance mode would make a big difference. Even at 30 FPS, I experienced minor performance dips during certain moments — such as navigating the world map, engaging in combat, or triggering heavy particle effects. These stutters were distracting and occasionally broke the flow of gameplay. I also tested the game on Steam Deck, where it similarly ran at 30 FPS and lacked any graphical settings to adjust performance. Just like on the Switch 2, it remained locked at 30 FPS, which was disappointing.
In the end, this reimagining is a perfect treat for fans who enjoyed the original Yooka-Laylee. However, if you did not care for it the first time around, this version may not change your mind. Still, for anyone who appreciates the charm of classic N64-era 3D platformers, Yooka-Replaylee stands as a heartfelt tribute — a modern love letter to the golden age of the genre.
Yooka-Replaylee Game Information
- Price: $29.99
- Publisher: PM Studios
- Developer: Playtonic
- Platform: Switch 2, PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
