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Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is consistently engrossing and creative. It’s packed with variety and inventive gimmicks that have never been done before in similar games, elevating it from being just another retro throwback fan game. Its novelty is only surpassed by its charming characters and deft audio/visual design.

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.

It can be a tad too tricky for its own good, but the charming presentation, quick-witted writing, and creative use of its standout feature make it more than worth the occasional swear. To put it simply - yoyo need to play this.

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a masterclass in retro Zelda-like game design, expertly fusing classic mechanics with creative new ideas to make for a thoroughly memorable and worthwhile experience. Occasional difficulty spikes aside, we'd highly recommend you pick up Pipistrello at the next available opportunity, especially if you're a Zelda fan who prefers the top-down design of games such as The Minish Cap. Much like its title character, this one has a lot of cool tricks up its sleeve.

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.

Taking the game as a whole, it's hard not to be massively impressed by what Pipistrello manages to do with the toolkit it gives itself. Every piece works together to make for a distinctive adventure game that will grab you from the very first minute and refuse to let go. While I might take some convincing on the "Yoyovania" as a genre, it's clear that there's an unparalleled creative vision here that should be admired.

Folks, Gordon Gekko had it wrong. It’s not greed that’s good, but the yoyo, which “clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.” And if those words sound as hyperbolic as they do in Wall Street, just wait until you get your hands on Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo and see how gloriously right this weird, wonderful yoyo-centric adventure is.

Pipistrello and the Cursed YoYo is not only a loving tribute to classic GBA games, but a serious elevation of the style.

Old-school-infused pixeltastic 2D top-down Yoyovania

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a 2D adventure game that should be on everyone's wishlist. Who doesn't want to play a retro-inspired yoyovania?

You likely won't have played anything like Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo before. Combining puzzles, combat and adventuring, this game is an utter joy — and using a yoyo as both a weapon and a tool never gets old. Well written and incredibly accessible thanks to its difficulty options, this is a true indie gem.

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.

Walking the fine line that distinguishes metroidvanias from Zelda-likes, Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo nails the fun of adventure and displays a strong identity of its own, which is shown both in its irreverent satire style, as well as in the gameplay of ricochets and yo-yo tricks.

This is a brilliantly designed top-down adventure that is one of the best 2D Zelda-esque indie games of the entire Switch era. My teeny-tiny complaints only lie with the combat, but the delightful puzzles and joyous yoyo parkour more than make up for some occasionally tiresome battling. We might be days away from the Switch 2, but be sure not to miss this absolute gem of a game.

One of the best indie games of the year with tons of great features, from its unusual plot twists to its addictive gameplay.

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is an absurdly great indie Zelda-like that even rivals iconic overhead action adventure games with its charming world, incredibly satisfying gameplay, and oodles of extras that are always exciting to discover. 🪀

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a metroidvania with art direction reminiscent of 1990s handheld games and a huge map packed with puzzles, secrets, and backtracking. The system of upgrading via contracts is original and introduces significant strategic choices, while yoyo tricks offer a variety of approaches to exploration and combat. The level design is precise and the badges allow you to deeply customize your play style. A brilliant game, with attention to detail and full of nerdy humor, it doesn't revolutionize the genre, but enhances its features.

But when it’s nailing its concept it really nails it, and making your way through the adventure feels like an endearing throwback to the time of WarioWare, Zelda: The Minish Cap, and Mother 3, without being bogged down by loud, boilerplate references. Plus, the 3D handheld thing rules.

Many indie titles have a formal understanding of retro pixel-bit graphics, chiptune soundtracks, and Metroidvania design, but few of them successfully build a nuanced and complete template around said formula. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is one of those rare occasions. For whatever design quibbles may lightly diminish the end result, Pocket Trap has nevertheless crafted one of this year’s best games.

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.