A Yooka-Laylee sequel that swaps 3D for 2D platforming inspired by the great Donkey Kong Country. The title stage, replayed in altered form, is the masterstroke. Colourful, demanding and far stronger than its predecessor.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer1 player3+
Description
Yooka and Laylee roam a sprawling 3D overworld to free a bee queen and tackle one giant, ever-shifting trap. Published by Team17, released worldwide in 2019. Side-scrolling stages altered by overworld exploration, bees to rescue, tight platforming, bubbly humor and a catchy soundtrack.
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Bringing together Grant Kirkhope, David Wise and Matt Griffin summons the golden age of platformers: playful Banjo-style melodies, watery moods inherited from Donkey Kong Country, all fizzing with optimism. Every level has its own catchy refrain, and you keep humming these themes long after putting the pad down.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Surprising in its clever structure, this sequel drops 3D for a punchy 2D platformer in the Donkey Kong Country mold, paired with a hub where you alter levels to retraverse them differently. The level design is inventive, the scrolling responsive, and the final lair, playable from the start, makes a smart through-line. A few spikes frustrate and the visual identity is thin, but the platforming rigor ages very well.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Running through impeccably precise 2D platform levels, then exploring a puzzle-strewn 3D hub, marries two complementary joys. Each alterable stage replays from a fresh angle, rewarding curiosity at every turn. A buoyant pace, flawless controls and a fiendish final challenge make for a generous, sunlit platformer.
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾2 GB📅08/09/2019
Published by Team17
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair (Nintendo Switch) price, value & rarity
Marrying 2D platforming with a 3D overworld, this title peaks in its Impossible Lair, a single titanic boss level with no checkpoints. The challenge lies in flawless command of everything the game has taught you, condensed into a relentless test of precision. Cartoon charm and a catchy score lighten a fearsome difficulty where every jump truly counts.
An underrated gem
Many wanted a full 3D revival, so its swerve into 2D levels threw off those hoping for another Banjo. That's where it shines: clever design where you reshape stages from the overworld, capped by a brutal single-life finale. Lost a little between bigger platformers, it wins over anyone who loves demanding yet sunny platforming and a catchy score.
Is Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair still worth playing in 2026?
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair surprises with its clever structure. Rather than the 3D of the first game, it returns to snappy 2D platforming in the Donkey Kong Country mould, paired with an overworld hub where you alter levels to replay them differently. The level design is inventive, the scrolling responsive, and the titular lair, playable from the start, acts as an ingenious through-line. The humour stays light and the soundtrack is catchy. A few difficulty spikes frustrate, and the visual style lacks identity. But for fans of demanding, well-crafted platforming, it ages very gracefully.
