Yooka-Laylee official artwork

I am a big fan of serious games with mature storytelling, but every once in a while I like to take things easy and just relax alongside a lovely collectathon. There is just something truly blissful about running around in a massive world, completely carefree and only worried about the amount of shiny items you've collected so far. Unfortunately, the genre has pretty much become extinct in recent years, a far cry from the popularity it once held worldwide.

There is some hope on the horizon, however, as Playtonic's Yooka-Laylee seems to be exactly what the genre needs in order to get back on its feet. Not only is it a spiritual successor to the excellent Banjo-Kazooie, but it also appears to be an equally excellent game in its own right! If you're wondering what that might look like, here's the recently posted gameplay video showcasing 25 minutes of Yooka-Laylee action. Skip to around 2:20 if you're just interested in the gameplay:

The more observant among you may have noticed that the world feels a bit... empty, especially when compared to how crowded some Banjo-Kazooie levels could get. According to Sony all of this is caused by the simple fact that the demo is currently missing around 50% of the planned content, and that everything will be in place once we get closer to release.

And speaking of which, if you would like to talk to the two-eyed trouser snake you will be able to do so at some point in early 2017 as that is when Yooka-Laylee will be making its debut for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Wii U. You can find out more over at the official website.

Yooka-Laylee screenshot showcasing Capital

Yooka-Laylee screenshot of a minecart