Yooka-Replaylee Reviews – Playtonic’s Remake Redeems 2017 Flop With Major Improvements, Scores 78 Average

A Second Chance Done Right

Yooka-Replaylee, Playtonic’s ambitious remake of their divisive 2017 3D platformer, launches October 9, 2025, with critical reception significantly warmer than the original. The game holds a 78 average score on OpenCritic from 31 reviews, earning a ‘Strong’ rating and placing in the 75th percentile of all games on the platform. Individual scores range from CGMagazine’s critical 6/10 to DualShockers’ enthusiastic 9.5/10, with most outlets awarding 8/10 or equivalent scores. Critics universally acknowledge this goes far beyond a simple remaster, representing a genuine attempt to fix fundamental design problems that plagued Yooka-Laylee at launch.

The remake features completely redesigned levels that are more compact and focused, tighter controls with all abilities unlocked from the start, doubled collectible content, improved camera systems, fast travel, an actual map, enhanced graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5, and a re-orchestrated soundtrack. These changes address nearly every major complaint from 2017 while maintaining the charm and nostalgic appeal that won the original Kickstarter campaign massive support. For critics who bounced off the original’s rough edges, Yooka-Replaylee represents what the game should have been eight years ago.

Top Scores – Critics Who Love the Remake

DualShockers awarded Yooka-Replaylee 9.5/10, calling it “one of the finest collect-a-thons reminiscent of the Nintendo 64 era, enhanced with modern polish.” Reviewer Ethan Krieger praised the stunning aesthetics, exceptional orchestral score, and abundance of activities, stating “Playtonic has truly elevated their 2017 foundation into a top-tier platforming experience.”

Multiple outlets gave the game 9/10, including Loot Level Chill (“overflowing with charm, a lovable cast, and countless collectibles”), Manual dos Games (“exemplifies how remakes should be done”), and GameBlast (“provides a second chance to a game that hadn’t fully realized its potential”). These reviews emphasized how comprehensively Playtonic addressed criticisms while preserving the game’s identity as a love letter to Banjo-Kazooie and the N64 collectathon era.

Push Square’s Endorsement

Push Square’s John Hansen awarded 8/10, stating: “In short, Yooka-Replaylee is a brilliant remake of the original game. It expands and improves upon so many areas that it leaves the original release in the dust. It took a long wait, but Yooka and Laylee finally have a 3D platformer worthy of the Banjo-Kazooie comparisons.” This sentiment echoes across positive reviews – that Playtonic finally delivered what was promised in the 2017 Kickstarter campaign.

Mid-Range Scores – Acknowledging Improvements With Reservations

The bulk of reviews landed in the 7.5-8/10 range, recognizing substantial improvements while noting persistent flaws. Nintendo Life’s Mitch Vogel (8/10) praised the remake as “largely what Yooka-Laylee always aspired to be” but mentioned technical issues on Switch 2, particularly the 30fps cap and performance dips that prevent perfection. Twisted Voxel’s Ali Haider echoed these concerns, calling it “the definitive edition” while criticizing the locked framerate and performance problems.

Game8’s Allisandra Reyes (76/100) captured the ambivalence many felt: “Yooka-Replaylee finally embodies the expansive, polished platformer it was meant to be, celebrating the genre’s heyday. The worlds are more intricate, controls are refined, and its charm is undeniable, but a flimsy narrative and dated quirks keep it from reaching true greatness.” This perfectly summarizes the remake’s position – significantly better than the original but still carrying DNA from 2017 that feels somewhat dated in 2025.

Critical Voices – When Fixing Problems Creates New Ones

IGN’s 6/10 review from an unnamed critic provided the most skeptical take among major outlets: “Yooka-Replaylee aims to overhaul a platformer that was rife with frustrating issues, and while it does feel better for it, none of its changes do enough to bring it close to the 3D platforming standards of today.” The review acknowledged improvements to movement, camera, graphics, and the removal of ability unlocking, but argued these changes introduced new problems.

Specifically, IGN criticized how streamlining the progression “chopped up” the story unsatisfyingly and made finding Pagies (the game’s main collectibles) feel “too easy” with so many crammed into each area. The review concluded: “Unless your nostalgia for this kind of 3D platformer is particularly strong, there aren’t a ton of compelling reasons to revisit this one.” This represents the minority opinion that while Yooka-Replaylee is better than the original, better doesn’t necessarily mean good enough.

CGMagazine’s Jordan Biordi similarly gave 6/10, stating the remake “introduces several necessary enhancements over the 2017 original but doesn’t completely resolve the core issues that previously divided opinions.” GamingBolt’s review noted that despite “smooth controls and stunning visuals,” the game suffers from “annoying humor, haphazard levels, and underwhelming challenge,” describing it as balancing improvements against persistent fundamental flaws.

What Changed From 2017 to 2025

Understanding what makes Yooka-Replaylee different requires context about the original’s problems. Yooka-Laylee launched in 2017 following an incredibly successful Kickstarter that raised over £2 million, promising a spiritual successor to Rare’s beloved Banjo-Kazooie series from actual ex-Rare developers. The hype was enormous – fans were starving for classic 3D platformers after a decade-long drought.

The game that shipped was passionately crafted but deeply flawed. Levels were massive but empty, with collectibles spread too thin across sprawling environments. Movement felt sluggish and imprecise compared to the N64 games it emulated. The camera system fought players constantly. Abilities unlocked slowly through purchase, meaning early gameplay felt restricted. Backtracking was tedious without fast travel or maps. These issues divided the community – some loved the nostalgic throwback despite rough edges, while others found it frustratingly outdated.

Major Changes in Yooka-Replaylee

• **All abilities unlocked from the start** – No more grinding to purchase basic moves
• **Redesigned, more compact levels** – Denser content, less empty space
• **Doubled collectible count** – Twice as many Pagies and challenges per world
• **Improved controls and movement** – Tighter, more responsive character handling
• **Fixed camera system** – Better angles, smoother tracking
• **Fast travel and map systems** – Quality-of-life improvements for navigation
• **Unreal Engine 5 graphics** – Complete visual overhaul
• **Re-orchestrated soundtrack** – Enhanced audio by Grant Kirkhope, David Wise, and Steve Burke
• **New challenges and content** – Fresh gameplay scenarios throughout
• **Extensive customization options** – More ways to personalize characters

The Debate Over Level Design Philosophy

One area where critics remain divided is whether the more compact, densely packed levels improve or harm the experience. Positive reviews argue this fixes the original’s empty-feeling worlds by ensuring constant engagement – you’re always near something interesting to discover. Nintendo World Report noted that in the original, “you simply wander into absolutely massive levels with no real structure,” encountering random difficulty spikes with no sense of progression.

However, IGN’s review suggests this creates opposite problems. With so many collectibles crammed into each area and abilities available immediately, the challenge and sense of accomplishment diminishes. Part of the N64 platformer appeal was meticulously searching environments for hidden secrets – if everything is obvious and easily accessible, does it still feel rewarding to collect? This represents a fundamental tension in modernizing retro game design – what feels archaic versus what’s genuinely valuable to preserve.

Technical Performance – The Switch 2 Controversy

Multiple reviews criticized Yooka-Replaylee’s technical performance on Nintendo Switch 2, particularly the locked 30fps framerate and noticeable performance dips even at that modest target. Twisted Voxel’s Ali Haider specifically noted the game is “frustratingly held back by being locked at 30 FPS and suffering from noticeable performance dips on Switch 2.” Nintendo Life similarly mentioned “technical issues prevent it from achieving perfection, particularly on the Switch 2 at launch.”

This is particularly unfortunate given that Switch 2 is the platform where 3D platformers traditionally find their most enthusiastic audience. The combination of portability and Nintendo’s platformer legacy makes it the natural home for games like Yooka-Replaylee. PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC versions reportedly perform better, but the Switch 2 version – likely to be the best-selling edition – disappoints technically despite gameplay improvements.

Comparing to the Original’s Reception

The original Yooka-Laylee held a 73 Metacritic average on PC, with similar scores on consoles. Reviews ranged from glowing (GameInformer’s 9.25/10) to harsh (Polygon’s 5/10), reflecting deep division about whether slavishly recreating N64-era design philosophy worked in 2017. Many critics who loved Banjo-Kazooie found Yooka-Laylee disappointingly outdated, while nostalgic players appreciated its authenticity despite rough edges.

Yooka-Replaylee’s 78 average represents meaningful improvement – about five points higher than the original. More importantly, the critical consensus is more unified. While scores still range from 6/10 to 9.5/10, most reviews cluster around 7.5-8.5/10 rather than splitting between extremes. This suggests Playtonic successfully addressed enough pain points to win over previously skeptical critics without alienating fans who loved the original despite its flaws.

Is This a Remake, Remaster, or Reimagining?

Reviews debate what category Yooka-Replaylee actually fits. It’s clearly more than a remaster – the level redesigns, doubled content, and fundamental control changes go far beyond improved graphics and framerates. However, it’s not quite a full remake in the Resident Evil 2 or Final Fantasy VII Remake sense where core systems are rebuilt from scratch.

Perhaps the best term is “reimagining” – Playtonic kept the original game’s structure, story, and identity while re-examining every design decision through eight years of perspective and player feedback. Nintendo Life called it “debatable whether this qualifies as a full-blown remake” but noted “it’s immediately apparent that this goes far beyond a mere remaster.” The cheeky title “Replaylee” (replay + Yooka-Laylee) suggests Playtonic themselves view it as something between categories.

The Nostalgic Appeal Question

Multiple reviews questioned who exactly Yooka-Replaylee is for in 2025. Fans who loved the original’s retro sensibilities will appreciate the improvements but may not need to replay it. Players who bounced off the original’s issues will find a better game but one still rooted in design philosophies that feel dated. Younger players with no nostalgia for N64 collectathons may wonder what the fuss is about when modern platformers like Super Mario Odyssey exist.

Daily Mirror’s Aaron Potter (3/5) captured this ambivalence: “Despite its fresh elements, Yooka-Replaylee still feels slightly outdated. However, this is largely forgivable due to its improved accessibility and charm as a 3D platforming homage.” The game succeeds as a nostalgia trip for a specific audience while struggling to justify itself to players outside that demographic.

Positive Consensus Points

Despite varying scores, certain improvements received universal praise. Every review mentioned tighter, more responsive controls as a major upgrade. The visual overhaul powered by Unreal Engine 5 impressed across the board, with vibrant colors, improved lighting, and better character models. The re-orchestrated soundtrack by Grant Kirkhope (Banjo-Kazooie composer), David Wise (Donkey Kong Country), and Steve Burke (Kameo) earned consistent acclaim.

The decision to unlock all abilities from the start was universally applauded as removing unnecessary artificial progression barriers. Fast travel and map systems similarly received praise as obvious quality-of-life improvements that should have been in the original. The doubled content meant even players who completed the 2017 game have substantial new challenges and collectibles to discover.

Persistent Criticisms

Conversely, certain issues persisted despite improvements. Multiple reviews mentioned the story remains weak and poorly integrated, with characters lacking depth and narrative progression feeling disconnected from gameplay. The humor continues to divide critics – some find the dialogue charming and funny, while others describe it as annoying and trying too hard to replicate Rare’s style.

Enemy variety and combat depth received criticism as shallow, with few enemy types and limited tactical options making later encounters repetitive. The shop system where players buy cosmetics and upgrades was described as underwhelming, with lackluster options making purchases feel less meaningful. These represent areas where even extensive reworking couldn’t overcome fundamental design limitations.

Community Response – Redemption Earned

The r/Games Reddit thread shows community sentiment significantly more positive than 2017’s launch. Top comments express genuine happiness that Playtonic took criticism seriously and delivered meaningful improvements rather than defensive justifications. Players who bounced off the original appreciate having a version that addresses their concerns, while fans who loved it despite flaws now have the definitive edition.

The $29.99 price point earns consistent praise as reasonable for the scope of improvements. Some players debated whether those who purchased the 2017 version should receive discounts, but most agreed the extensive reworking justifies treating this as a new product rather than just an update to existing owners.

FAQs

What is Yooka-Replaylee’s average review score?

Yooka-Replaylee holds a 78 average on OpenCritic from 31 reviews, earning a ‘Strong’ rating and placing in the 75th percentile of games on the platform.

Is Yooka-Replaylee better than the original?

Yes, critics universally agree Yooka-Replaylee improves upon the 2017 original with tighter controls, redesigned levels, doubled content, and numerous quality-of-life improvements. The original averaged 73 versus the remake’s 78.

What platforms is Yooka-Replaylee available on?

The game launches October 9, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store). It’s not available on last-gen consoles.

How much does Yooka-Replaylee cost?

The game is priced at $29.99 across all platforms, which reviewers generally consider reasonable for the scope of improvements over the original.

What’s the biggest improvement over the original?

Critics cite unlocking all abilities from the start as the single most impactful change, eliminating artificial progression barriers and allowing full moveset enjoyment immediately.

Are there performance issues on Switch 2?

Multiple reviews criticized the Switch 2 version for being locked at 30fps with noticeable performance dips, while PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC versions perform better.

Should I play this if I didn’t like the original?

Reviews suggest if you bounced off the original’s specific issues (bad controls, empty levels, forced ability unlocking), Yooka-Replaylee addresses those problems and may win you over. However, if you disliked the fundamental N64 collectathon structure, improvements won’t change that.

Is this a remake or remaster?

It’s somewhere between – more than a remaster with extensive level redesigns and doubled content, but not a full ground-up remake. Playtonic describes it as a reimagining.

Conclusion

Yooka-Replaylee represents one of gaming’s most ambitious attempts at self-correction, with Playtonic genuinely listening to criticism and investing years into fixing a game that disappointed many in 2017. The 78 average score and ‘Strong’ OpenCritic rating validate this effort – critics who panned the original now acknowledge meaningful improvements, while fans who defended it despite flaws finally have the polished version they always imagined it could be. The remake doesn’t revolutionize 3D platforming or completely shake off its 2017 DNA, but it successfully transforms a divisive curiosity into a legitimately good game that justifies comparisons to the Banjo-Kazooie legacy it sought to honor. Technical issues on Switch 2, persistent story weaknesses, and design choices that feel dated in 2025 prevent it from achieving greatness, but for players starving for classic collectathon experiences with modern polish, Yooka-Replaylee finally delivers what was promised eight years ago. Whether that’s enough depends entirely on how much nostalgia matters to individual players – for those seeking pure N64-era vibes modernized thoughtfully, this is exactly what they wanted, while those expecting contemporary platforming standards will still find it lacking compared to genre leaders like Super Mario Odyssey or Ratchet & Clank.