New Super Lucky’s Tale on PS5 - A Return to One of the Most Underrated Modern Platformers

Mascots may not dominate the gaming landscape like they once did, but every so often a platformer comes along that reminds you why the genre became so beloved in the first place. New Super Lucky’s Tale is exactly that kind of game. Originally released as an enhanced reimagining of 2017’s Super Lucky’s Tale, this version doesn’t simply tweak a few mechanics and call it a day. Instead, Playful Studios rebuilt large portions of the adventure, adding new levels, improved controls, a fully controllable camera, expanded story elements, and previously released DLC content integrated into the main campaign.

The result is not just the best way to experience Lucky’s adventure, but one of the most charming family-friendly platformers available on modern consoles.

The story follows Lucky, an optimistic fox who must recover the magical Book of Ages after the villainous Kitty Litter threatens to use its power for their own ends. As Lucky travels through colourful worlds inside the book, he'll encounter quirky characters, solve problems, and face off against a cast of memorable feline troublemakers.

While the narrative isn't particularly deep, it succeeds because of its light-hearted tone and Saturday morning cartoon energy. The expanded story sequences and additional character interactions help make the world feel more alive than it did in the original release.

The writing is cheerful, the villains are entertainingly goofy, and the adventure never takes itself too seriously. It's the perfect setup for a platformer focused on exploration and fun rather than complex storytelling.

At its core, New Super Lucky’s Tale is a collectathon platformer inspired by classics such as Banjo-Kazooie, Crash Bandicoot, and Super Mario 64. Each world contains a variety of levels where players collect pages needed to progress, while also hunting for hidden collectibles, secret areas, and bonus challenges.

Lucky's moveset is simple. He can jump, double jump, burrow underground, spin attack enemies with his tail, and perform a variety of acrobatic moves that keep traversal enjoyable throughout the adventure. Burrowing remains one of the game's standout mechanics, allowing Lucky to uncover secrets and navigate around obstacles in creative ways.

The variety between stages is impressive. Traditional 3D platforming levels are mixed with side-scrolling stages, puzzle rooms, chase sequences, and mini-games. One moment you're exploring a colourful village searching for collectibles, the next you're racing through a fast-paced obstacle course or solving environmental puzzles.

The game rarely becomes difficult, but that's largely intentional. Its approachable design makes it ideal for younger players while still offering enough optional collectibles and hidden secrets to keep experienced platforming fans engaged.

The biggest strength of New Super Lucky’s Tale is that it doesn't feel like a simple remaster.

The most immediately noticeable improvement is the addition of a fully rotatable camera. One of the most common criticisms of the original game was its restricted camera system, and fixing this dramatically improves exploration and platforming precision.

Playful Studios also redesigned numerous levels while adding entirely new content. Several stages feature new layouts, fresh challenges, and additional platforming ideas that weren't present in the original version. Auto-running levels and other gameplay variations help keep the experience feeling fresh throughout.

Other improvements include:

• Reworked story presentation and expanded character interactions.

• Tighter controls and levels redesigned around those improvements.

• Updated visuals, animations, dialogue, and character designs.

• Inclusion of previously released DLC content within the main adventure.

• Rearranged world progression and updated hub areas.

• Additional challenge content available after completing the main game.

The cumulative effect is significant enough that returning players will regularly encounter surprises despite the adventure following the same overall narrative.

Visually, the game shines with bright colours, expressive character animations, and wonderfully imaginative environments. From spooky forests to vibrant fantasy landscapes, every world feels handcrafted with care.

The soundtrack complements the action perfectly, delivering upbeat melodies that reinforce the game's cheerful atmosphere. Combined with solid performance and quick loading times, it's an easy game to simply sit back and enjoy.

Pros

• Fully controllable camera greatly improves gameplay

• Charming worlds packed with variety

• Tight and accessible platforming

• Lots of secrets and collectibles to discover

• Includes redesigned levels and extra content

Cons

• Main story is fairly simple

• Low challenge level for experienced players

• Some mini-games are stronger than others

New Super Lucky’s Tale is an excellent example of how to improve an already good game. By addressing the shortcomings of the original release while adding substantial new content, Playful Studios created what feels like the definitive version of Lucky's adventure.

It may not revolutionise the platforming genre, and veteran players may find it a little too easy, but its joyful presentation, varied level design, and constant sense of fun make it difficult not to recommend.

Whether you're discovering Lucky for the first time or returning after playing the original Super Lucky's Tale, this revamped adventure proves that some platforming traditions never go out of style.

XPN Rating: 4 out of 5 (GOLD)

New Super Lucky's Tale is available now!