Playtonic Games announced their next game in the Yooka-Laylee series: Super Yooka-Laylee Kart. That’s right, not a platformer this time, but a kart racer.
It features a throwback art-style reminiscent of Super Mario Kart that almost looks like the 2D-HD visuals you see in Octopath Traveler and Triangle Strategy. Playtonic is promising skill-based kart-racing that rewards players for mastering the game’s mechanics. In fact, in their developer commentary video, Playtonic makes a statement saying they believe the kart racing genre has strayed away from what made it originally great, and they’re hoping to remedy that with Super Yooka-Laylee Kart. They’re promising the most complete and advanced kart racer ever.
Features include a Rage Meter that builds when you’re on the receiving end of items that you can unleash to turn the tide of a race, and a deep story campaign with tournaments. Online multiplayer and 8-player local multiplayer are planned as well, plus a plethora of customization options.
Given the history and pedigree of the developers at Playtonic Games, it makes sense they would release a kart racer as their next game. They have experience in the genre, as they worked on Diddy Kong Racing for the Nintendo 64 during their time at Rare. Granted, that was many years ago, but it’s still considered one of the greatest kart racers ever. Fingers crossed that Super Yooka-Laylee Kart is not the rush-job that the original Yooka-Laylee was and it’s given all the development time it needs.
Super Yooka-Laylee Kart will release for PC and consoles in 2027, and Playtonic is currently accepting playtest requests on Steam. Check out the announcement trailer and developer commentary below:
REVENGE FUELLED RACING
Every setback is another chance to strike back.
As rivals knock you around, your Rage builds. Once unleashed, devastating revenge abilities can flip the race in an instant, turning frustration into brutal payback and near-impossible comeback opportunities for players who never give up the fight.
KARTING EVOLVED
Super Yooka-Laylee Kart is the most complete and advanced karting game yet, full of the genre’s most beloved features, ramping them up and packing all-new punches and surprises that take karting to all-new levels of skill and replayability.
MORE MASTERY THAN EVER BEFORE
The game serves up its unique brand of karting with special moves, all-new advanced techniques and different ways to utilise each weapon.
Combined with tight controls for pixel-perfect precision, this creates the most high-stakes, high-skill racing for players seeking every possible advantage.
CREATE YOUR OWN RACES, RULES & RIVALRIES
Player-created chaos starts here.
Want homing projectiles only? Insane speed? METEOR SHOWERS?
Create custom race setups, rules and tournaments from a ton of options to serve up your own brand of chaos or competition that will test everyone to their limits… or just have outlandish fun!
REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED IN MANY WAYS
Go online and take on the world, create dedicated lobbies, or dominate the sofa with up to 8-player local split-screen multiplayer built for fierce rivalries, settling scores, and immediate rematches.
Take on the story campaign to develop your skills and learn new ones across a variety of challenges against crazy CPU racers and rivals… and unlock a secret or two…
NEW WAYS TO WIN: ADAPT YOUR STRATEGIES & RISK IT ALL
Of course, coins make you go faster, but they can also be spent on powerful perks between each race to gain the edge on your rivals. Should you spend like crazy, maintain a high top speed, or build up a war chest for the final race? Choose your strategies and adapt as you go!
YOO-KART-LAYLEE
Yooka and Laylee, plus fan-favourite friends and foes, come together to settle scores in a vibrant world bursting with arcade energy, personality, and competitive chaos. Ditching platforms for tracks across worlds old and new, Yooka and Laylee are off on a unique karting adventure that will see even the firmest friendships tested to the limit.
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