Yoku’s Island Express

Adorable game. I played through this during a period of loss, and the charming atmosphere and cast of characters really helped alleviate my grief. Pinball-vania was a refreshing gameplay gimmick, as well.
I’d play a sequel if it ever happens.

I didn't recognize this game until recently, this one is an amazing game, here are why:

pros
- most innovative metroidvania ever
- amazing art, sound, gameplay, overall great production
- the map is big and the exploration is fun as hell
- no corpse runs or any other fake timesinks
- fast travel system, once you get the hang of it, is incredible and opens up a lot of possibilities
- lots of side quests to do

neutral
- this is an easy game, you simply don't die
- therefore doesn't last long but it's ok
- controls are usually great but you can't slowly press the flippers
- the story isn't super original but it's cute as hell and there's a big plot twist.

cons:
- too few boss fights, essentially 3. I mean it's ok but boss fights are tense and fun.
- too few different upgrades.

Pros:
-Post game free roam.
-Simple collectibles.
Cons:
-Forced 60Hz and you cannot display mode unless your monitor is set to 60Hz as well. They probably do this to make sure the physics is not affected for the pinball game so you don't get stuck in strange places, but still there should be a better solution for this.
-You cannot change keybindings.

Spent way too long backtracking the whole game and post game just because the devs didn't want to implement quick warp back to the post office. Some pinball stages felt hellish to fully complete due to bad oversight. Really needed a toggable post game secrets revealer. Otherwise it was an incredible time.

This is a fun, clever Metroidvania that changes things up, but there are a number of quibbles and frustrations that keep it from being top-tier MV in spite of the smart pinball mechanic. I wish there was an upgrade that let you activate a brief burst of slow motion to better line up shots and slingshots, for one, and I generally would have liked to see more/better ways of getting around the island fast. The story, while cute, also seems halfbaked, and the final boss battle doubly so: it was over very quickly and didn't seem to require much in the way of skill, but neither was it easy but cathartic because the antagonist hadn't really been set up much. All in all, this is the kind of game that makes me wish the developers had had a chance at iterating on the first game. Super Yoku's Island Express, anyone?

Few games feel this original without forgetting to be fun
Yoku's Island Express surprised me with how naturally it blends pinball, exploration, and light metroidvania progression into one cohesive adventure. I liked that moving across the island always felt playful, because every flipper, bumper, and shortcut turned exploration into part of the core appeal rather than a gimmick. The tropical setting, colorful art, and relaxed tone give it a lot of charm. It is also a fairly easy game overall, and if I wanted a tougher platformer, I could see it feeling a bit too gentle.
I enjoyed it because it offered something genuinely different without becoming awkward or overdesigned. For me, it worked best as a cheerful and low pressure adventure that kept rewarding curiosity with new paths, quests, and small surprises. I would still warn that players who dislike pinball physics may not connect with it in the same way. I recommend it to anyone who wants a creative and lighthearted exploration game, but not to someone seeking combat or a serious challenge.

I got this game in a bundle a grillion years ago so I figured I'd try it even though I don't like pinball... and it didn't change my opinion. But it's objectively a well-made game.