Super Yooka-laylee Kart Blends Retro Charm With Depth
WHO:
Nintendo Life - Gavin Price, Playtonic studio head
Nintendo Life - Lee Jackson, Playtonic's QA Manager
Nintendo Life - Ant Dickens, Hookshot CEO
Nintendo Life - Noah, son of the article's author
WHAT:
Nintendo Life - Playtonic is developing a racing game titled Super Yooka-Laylee Kart.
Nintendo Life - The game features a "rage meter" that builds up as players are hit by weapons, triggering a powered-up state.
Nintendo Life - Super Yooka-Laylee Kart allows up to eight-player split-screen racing.
Nintendo Life - Players can customize races by disabling the boost system, selecting weapons, or adjusting the number of laps.
Nintendo Life - The game includes a single-player Story Campaign and promises a variety of characters with unique performance capabilities.
Engadget - The game shifts the Yooka-Laylee series from platforming to arcade racing.
WHERE:
Nintendo Life - The game was tested at Playtonic's headquarters.
WHY:
Nintendo Life - Playtonic aims to create a game that fosters expressive gameplay mechanics and advanced racing techniques, similar to the original Super Mario Kart.
HOW:
Nintendo Life - The game employs rollback netcode for online races and includes input-based special moves.
Nintendo Life - Players can spend coins collected during races on perks, introducing a risk-versus-reward mechanic.
Nintendo Life - The game features a flat track design to keep racers visible to each other, enhancing competitive play.
(UPDATED June 6, 2026 01:37 UTC)
Playtonic is developing a new racing game called Super Yooka-Laylee Kart, which will allow up to eight players to compete in split-screen mode. The game features a unique "rage meter" that powers up players when they are hit by weapons, alongside customizable race settings and a single-player Story Campaign filled with diverse characters. Tested at Playtonic's headquarters, the game aims to blend expressive gameplay mechanics with advanced racing techniques, reminiscent of the classic Super Mario Kart.