Yoshi’s Crafted World Review – An Adorable Cardboard World

Yoshi’s Crafted World is a simple and delightful platformer that brings all the gorgeous elements you could expect from any game in the Yoshi franchise. Cute and colourful designs, inventive levels, and lots of egg throwing action, with pretty much every one of its 40+ levels coming up with clever new ways to test not only your platforming but also your ability to think outside the box.

So does Yoshi’s Crafted World still the lovely platformer after a couple years on the market? Or has this adventure taken a back seat to many of Nintendo’s releases since? Let’s find out!

Now, when I say this game is simple, I really do mean it. Yoshi’s Crafted World strips platforming down to the basic elements of jumping, walking, and then also the Yoshi elements of hovering, eating enemies to create egg ammo, and riding the occasional adorable poochie.

Although it could seem like this would make the game boring and repetitive, the constant introduction of creative new mechanics keeps gameplay fresh from start to finish.

Each level also has a fair degree of replayability. There are smiley flowers and red coins to collect, which are honestly pretty tricky to spot at times. Side quests are also available where you redo the level looking for specific decorations. Each level can also be replayed in its flip side (Basically you play it backwards) while you hunt for the three adorable poochie pups. Those parts are particularly fun!

Something that can’t possibly be ignored is this games unique hand-made charm. Adorable cardboard levels garnished with paper cup and sellotape decorations give the whole game the feeling of a diorama made in a child’s bedroom. Each world is tied together around a loose artistic theme, so I was always excited to see what creative new settings I was going to be playing through next.

Yoshi’s Crafted World also does excellently in the sound department. Not just in the upbeat and gorgeous soundtrack, but also the cute little sounds each character makes, such as the tongue sounds whenever you eat an egg or the adorable little yaps of poochie add such a nice extra touch.

I also feel I have to mention the couch co-op mode. I actually played the entire game cooperatively with my younger sibling, so most of my experience of the game comes from that. It’s very well made, and allows you still have the freedom of playing independently, in that there are no parts where you actually have to work cooperatively.

However, with the ability to ride each other’s backs and have one of you throwing eggs, it was very nice to be able to work on the harder levels together, usually with my Yoshi doing the platforming and my sibling’s doing the egg throwing.

Yoshi’s Crafted World is the perfect platformer to play solo or with someone else. The simple and forgiving premise keeps it fun to go through, and if you’re struggling there’s even a super simple “mellow mode” to make things even more accessible.

The consistent use of fresh ideas paired with creative and cute art and sound design meant I was always eager to pick up my Switch and play some Yoshi.

Yoshi’s Crafted World Switch Review provided by Nintendo Link
Publisher: Nintendo
Developers: Good-Feel
Release Date: March 29th, 2019
Price: $59.99, £49.99, €59.99
Game Size: 5.6 GB