90
Pipistrello and The Cursed Yo-Yo is a must-play for anyone who loves Metroidvanias or classic Zelda-style adventures. It's full of heart, brimming with quirk, and clearly made with love. The visuals are gorgeous, the world is rich, and every mechanic feels thoughtfully crafted. It's absolutely time well spent.
90
With charming pixel art, clever level design, and a unique yo-yo-based mechanic that evolves throughout the game, this adventure blends social satire and humor into a well-paced experience, though it suffers from occasional unclear objectives and a couple of weaker levels.
tbd
If you’re feeling nostalgic for the pixel graphics and blaring horns of GBA games, Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo scratches that itch — and has some clever new ideas, too. It won’t actually make you better at using a yo-yo, but it’s pretty darn fun to have one in a video game.
10
One of the very, very few games I ever played that I wouldn't change a thing about. From tone of voice to pacing to difficulty, everything just fits.
8
A fun and challenge filled adventure. The mechanics work well together and there are some real tough platforming challenges. I was a couple more fails away from giving up on the last boss due to how much of a marathon it is.
10
Tremendous game, honestly. It feels like Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past meets Minishoot Adventures. Really entertaining, great progression, just the right amount of hidden bonuses. Some puzzles were surprisingly hard.~16 hours for an 80% complete run. I won't play NG+ right away, but I will certainly recommend this game to friends.
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo
Released On:
May 28, 2025
Metascore
Generally Favorable
87
User score
Generally Favorable
8.3
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
88% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
13% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
May 28, 2025
95
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a marvel of a little game that wins at being a “yoyovania.” The yoyo combat and progression are superb, its level design utilizing novel traversal elements without repetitious fluff, and its charm is off the charts. It’s no walk in the park, but it’s worth the payoff if you want a game that is a nostalgia bomb of classic Zelda fused with a yoyo thematic.
Jul 6, 2025
90
With charming pixel art, clever level design, and a unique yo-yo-based mechanic that evolves throughout the game, this adventure blends social satire and humor into a well-paced experience, though it suffers from occasional unclear objectives and a couple of weaker levels.
User score
Generally Favorable
84% Positive
43 Ratings
43 Ratings
8% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
8% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
Jan 22, 2026
10
One of the very, very few games I ever played that I wouldn't change a thing about. From tone of voice to pacing to difficulty, everything just fits.
Jul 13, 2025
10
Tremendous game, honestly. It feels like Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past meets Minishoot Adventures. Really entertaining, great progression, just the right amount of hidden bonuses. Some puzzles were surprisingly hard.~16 hours for an 80% complete run. I won't play NG+ right away, but I will certainly recommend this game to friends.
Jun 4, 2025
90
If you’re jonesing for a fresh action adv…yoyovania, then Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo will absolutely fit the bill. The game steadily grants you new abilities as you traverse a charming contemporary world which I would dare compare to the one found in Nintendo’s Earthbound. As the adventure heads to its conclusion, it becomes a test of all the skills you’ve accrued along the way. Thorough players will find every badge, pay off every contract, conquer every mini-game and collect every Rose and BP shard, but even if you don’t, at least you’ll be treated to a grand story about an unlikely hero with a heart of gold.
May 28, 2025
90
Pispistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a fantastic top down adventure game that deserves to be considered in the same echelon as classic Nintendo titles. It takes the traditional Zelda framework and reimagines it to create a world that is incredibly fun to explore. The thrill of nailing the yoyo traversal mechanics remains throughout and while the combat can be a little repetitive at times, this is equally the case with Link's various adventures. All in all, this is peak indie gaming and comes very highly recommended.
May 28, 2025
90
Packing tricks and treats in equal measure, Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo will no doubt be the talk around New Jolt City with its new school old school cool.
May 29, 2025
80
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a faithful tribute to the Game Boy Advance era and avoids typical neo-retro errors with a lot of flair. From the soundtrack to game mechanics, and from clever puzzle design to random complexity spikes, older players will feel right at home while younger people will discover a difficult-yet-rewarding time capsule.
May 28, 2025
70
While the core gameplay loop of Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo feels dated, there’s a lot to enjoy in the retro-inspired experience that Pocket Trap have crafted. The level design and puzzles, badge and upgrade system, and art design make it worth a look if you’re craving an old-school adventure. There’s a great game in here, but it’s sometimes held back from shining through.
Jun 17, 2025
10
Great game. Fun, beautiful, perfect gameplay. A must have. Pipistrello is a hidden gem for action puzzle lovers.
May 31, 2025
10
Tried this game on a whim, I didn't knew what to expect but it looked nice from the trailers. And I must say, the trailers don't do it justice. This game is incredible, I wasn't expecting to be amazed this much by a game I basucally never of heard before buying. Great pixel art, great puzzle design overall, fun, challenging without being frustrating and engaging. This game truly is a gem.
Jun 6, 2025
9
It’s an old-school, Zelda-style game with beautiful visuals that really capture the look of the GBA’s golden age. Honestly, what’s not to like? I really appreciate indie developers for keeping these kinds of games alive, especially when big studios have moved on from them. This is a gem.
Jun 2, 2025
9
A nicely done take on the Zelda formula. Instead of a medieval fantasy world, there is a fun urban setting to explore with beautiful pixel art visuals, full of personality, humor and very clever puzzles to solve with the yoyo that the main character use as a weapon. It also features dungeons, but differently from the usual fire/forest/ice themes, there are very fitting choices like a mall, a soccer stadium and a **** can be a bit too challenging sometimes playing with the default settings, but thankfully the challenge can be customized to better fit the player skill.
Jul 13, 2025
8
A fun and challenge filled adventure. The mechanics work well together and there are some real tough platforming challenges. I was a couple more fails away from giving up on the last boss due to how much of a marathon it is.
SummaryTighten up that string, and bust out the yoyo moves! In this 2D top-down adventure you'll explore a sprawling urban landscape, reinterpreting your surroundings through your mastery of yoyo tricks. Solve puzzles, fight the city's rival crime lords, and regain the influence of the Pipistrello family! Combine old and new yoyo tricks to c... Read More
Platforms:
- PC
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 4
Initial Release Date:May 28, 2025
Developer:
- Pocket Trap
Publisher:
