Back in 2017, Yooka-Laylee tried to bring back that old Banjo-Kazooie-style collect-a-thon magic from the Nintendo 64 days. It had the charm and humour down, sure, but that clunky camera and uneven world design held it back. It just never hit the same mark as its inspirations.
Now it’s 2025, and Yooka-Replaylee steps up to fix the rough edges and finally give this series another shot. Playtonic rebuilt it from the ground up, and it really shows. The controls are tighter, the visuals look cleaner, and everything just feels better tuned to that nostalgic 3D platformer rhythm so many of us grew up with.
It’s not a simple remaster, either. You can tell the team took another crack at every system — movement, exploration, collectibles, even combat. They didn’t try to reinvent it; they just made it work the way it should’ve years ago.
If you ever spent hours hunting Jiggies or chasing golden bananas, Yooka-Replaylee hits that same feeling right away. It’s familiar, but not stuck in the past. Playtonic found the sweet spot between old-school design and smoother, modern play. And yeah, it’s rare to see a remake that actually pulls that off.
Let’s talk about what’s changed, how it plays, and why this one finally feels right.
Pagies, Pranks, and a Proper Do-Over
Yooka-Replaylee sticks to the same setup as the 2017 game, but this time it feels way more focused. You’re still following Yooka and Laylee, that chameleon-and-bat duo, as they track down the missing pages of a magical book that can make anything written inside it come true. It’s a simple idea, but honestly, that’s what makes it work. It fits the goofy, old-school collect-a-thon style perfectly.
The fun twist is how the pair end up helping the bad guy without even knowing it. Capital B and his assistant, Dr. Quack, trick them into doing all the hard work for them. It’s a clever setup that gives the story a bit more personality, even if it never pushes that angle too far. Still, the writing hits better this time. The jokes land faster, and the pacing between cutscenes and gameplay doesn’t drag the way it used to.
Yooka stays calm and collected, while Laylee fires off the snark and one-liners. Their banter feels pulled straight from the Banjo-Kazooie days, and you can tell Playtonic still has that tone down. I caught myself laughing a few times, mostly at Laylee being a total menace.
The story keeps things light, never trying to be more than it needs to be. It gives you enough reason to jump between worlds and just enjoy the ride. It’s a cleaner, more confident take on the original setup. One that finally gives this quirky duo and their over-the-top villain the fun pacing they deserved from the start.
Smooth Moves and Sharper Platforming
You can tell right away that Yooka-Replaylee plays better than the 2017 version. The controls feel tighter, movement’s smoother, and the camera finally keeps up instead of fighting you every few seconds. Rolling with Yooka or gliding with Laylee just feels right now. It’s easy to move around and start experimenting since every ability is unlocked from the start. That alone makes each world feel a lot more open and fun to explore.
Combat still keeps things simple, and that’s okay. You spin, slam, and tongue-whip enemies mostly to break up exploration. It’s quick, it works, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome. The platforming and small puzzles carry most of the fun here, giving you enough to think about without ever feeling punishing.
Collectibles are still the main draw, but they finally have real purpose. Pagies open new areas, Quills pull you toward hidden paths, and tonics shake things up in small ways. There’s even a fast-travel system for quick backtracking, though I barely used it. The new world layout just flows better and keeps you moving naturally.
At one point in Capital Cashino, I was bouncing between platforms and dodging slot-machine traps while Laylee threw out her usual sarcastic comments. It’s chaotic, funny, and just flat-out fun.
That’s what Yooka-Replaylee nails now. Everything works together, the movement, the collectibles, the flow. It finally feels like the platformer fans wanted back in 2017, only this time it really clicks.
Brighter Worlds and Bigger Sounds
Yooka-Replaylee really does look and sound better than ever. Everything pops more now , the colours, the lighting, the little details you probably missed back in 2017. The animation work gives Yooka and Laylee way more personality, and the worlds feel properly alive this time. From the icy peaks of Glitterglaze Glacier to the noisy, flashing chaos of Capital Cashino, it all looks fantastic. On Xbox Series X, the game runs smoothly at 60 frames, with short load times and only the odd tiny dip when things get extra busy.
The soundtrack deserves its own spotlight. Grant Kirkhope, David Wise, and Steve Burke came back to re-record everything, and it sounds incredible. Those familiar tunes now have a full orchestral punch that fits each level perfectly. The brass in Tribalstack Tropics bounces with energy, while the strings in Galleon Galaxy soar in that big, adventurous way fans of Rare will instantly recognise.
The smaller sound details pull their weight too. Laylee’s squawks, Yooka’s cheerful chirps, and the hum of each environment tie everything together. You notice it most when you slow down for a second — slot machines clinking in the background, lava bubbling nearby, or leaves brushing past as you move. It all sounds hand-tuned, and it works.
Even with all the new polish, Yooka-Replaylee still feels like the same game at heart. It keeps that cartoonish, goofy energy the series is known for. Only now, it finally sounds as good as it looks.
Yooka-Replaylee Proves Second Chances Can Work
After finishing Yooka-Replaylee, you can really see how much Playtonic has learned since the first release. This isn’t just a quick touch-up of Yooka-Laylee; it’s a full rebuild that finally delivers on what those early trailers promised back in 2017. The tighter controls, smoother camera, and better world flow make exploring feel easy and satisfying in a way the original never quite managed.
What’s cool is how it balances nostalgia with modern tweaks. You can tell the team wanted to keep that N64-era spirit alive without being trapped by it. The improved movement, faster transitions, and orchestral soundtrack pull everything together so naturally that it feels like a brand-new game, just one that still knows where it came from.
There were times I stopped collecting just to move around and take it in. Everything feels smoother now, and honestly, that alone makes a huge difference. The combat’s still simple, and you’ll catch a few tiny hiccups here and there, but nothing that ever gets in the way.
What matters is how it all comes together. Yooka-Replaylee doesn’t try to reinvent the genre, and that’s exactly why it works. It’s a second chance that actually pays off, a proper do-over that nails what the first game was aiming for. If you skipped the original or bounced off it years ago, this is the one to play.
Yooka-Replaylee
Summary
Yooka-Replaylee rebuilds the 2017 original from the ground up with smoother controls, sharper visuals, and a tighter world design. It keeps the lighthearted humour and classic collect-a-thon spirit while fixing the rough edges that once held it back. The orchestral soundtrack and cleaner performance make it feel like a proper modern platformer that still respects its roots. It’s not revolutionary, but it finally delivers the fun fans were hoping for the first time around.
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Great review Jon. Arthur and I are enjoying this this game quite a lot.