Yoshi's Crafted World is out today! Who's got the game or planning to pick it up? 8; Yoshi's Crafted World demo out now on the eShop 4; Yoshi's Crafted World coming to Switch March 29th - new.

• Yoshi Crafted Review
• Yoshi's Crafted World 60fps

I don’t take notes when I’m reviewing games. I used to, right when I got started, but I soon found I never used them. It turns out that if something about a game is especially good or bad, I’ll remember it. And then I write my reviews based on those things.

For Yoshi’s Crafted World, I almost wish I did take notes, because so little about this Switch platformer is memorable. Just like 2015’s Yoshi’s Wooly World for Wii U, Crafted World has similar gameplay mechanics to the classic Nintendo sidescroller Yoshi’s Island within a home crafts-inspired aesthetic.

I reviewed Wooly World back when came out. Reading that story now is bizarre, because I remember almost nothing about that game. Crafted World will have the same fate. It’s cute, but it’s so easy that nothing feels the least bit challenging.

Check out our Reviews Vault for past game reviews.

What you’ll like

It’s still adorable

The characters, the levels, the backgrounds, and the art are the best parts of Yoshi’s Crafted World. Levels look like something you could make yourself if you had an unlimited budget at Hobby Lobby, and it’s neat to see how Nintendo makes these stages out of things like milk cartoons and soda cans.

You can even go back through levels in reverse, which turns the camera around and shows you just how hand-made these levels are, exposing all the tape that’s keeping everything together. It’s a neat trick.

Above: Unlike with Yoshi’s Island, you can freely aim your eggs. That is part of what makes it too easy.

A chill experience

If you’re looking for an easy-going game, Yoshi’s Crafted World will make you happy. The game isn’t difficult, the music sounds like a collection of sleep-inducing lullabies, and everything looks super cute. It’s not a bad game to play if you’re in an awful mood, and you’re looking for something that isn’t the least bit stressful.

It’s like the video game equivalent of playing a background audio track of rainforest noises.

What you won’t like

Not challenging, not engaging

Of course, when I’m calling Crafted World chill, I also mean that it’s dull. You can progress through everything with the smallest bit of effort.

I wasn’t expecting a Yoshi’s Island-like experience. I understand that Nintendo now sees Yoshi as brand to target to younger, less experienced audience. It’s become the company’s second Kirby. But even Kirby is able to give us some platforming experiences that require a bit of brain power.

Above: Even neat stages like this become forgettable.

Crafted World became a game I would play while doing something else, like watching TV. I needed extra stimuli to get through it.

The game flirts with some cool ideas, like levels with branching paths that extend beyond the 2D plane and a series of puzzles involving magnets and tin cans, but none of these mechanics get the exploration they deserve.

Conclusion

Yoshi’s Crafted World may be a good fit for young children or other gamers interested in the cute-factor. But as someone who prefers more fast-paced sidescrollers, I was too bored to let the clever, crafted world put a smile on my face.

This is yet another Yoshi game that doesn’t come close to reaching Yoshi’s Island greatness.

Score:65/100

Yoshi’s Crafted World comes out for Nintendo Switch on March 29. Nintendo gave us a code for this review.

So, you're starting to wrap up your play-through of Yoshi's Crafted World, and maybe it felt a little easy to you. Sure, some of the collectibles are tricky to find, but just finishing the levels might have been a cinch, especially if you opted for Mellow Mode. But don't worry. If you were hoping for a bigger challenge, Good Feel has a few more mountains for you to climb...or rather, hills. Hidden Hills.

The game's most difficult levels are located in Hidden Hills. Here's how to unlock them.

What is Hidden Hills?

Hidden Hills is a short series of bonus levels at the end of Yoshi's Crafted World. Though most of the other levels in this game can be completed fairly easily (though their collectibles may prove much more of a challenge), Hidden Hills levels are tough as nails.

Two of them (the first and the third) are tricky platforming challenges with huge gaps, moving platforms, and very few 'safe' spots to rest, as well as the added caveat that if you fall anywhere in the level, it's game over and you have to start from the beginning (other levels just return you to the last safe spot you stood with a health penalty). The second Hidden Hills level is more of a dodging and collecting challenge as you rise on a magnet platform, avoiding security lights that will send enemies to attack you, and perform a final series of tricky jumps across flying enemies.

These levels can be difficult, even on Mellow Mode. Good luck!

Yoshi Crafted Review

How do you unlock Hidden Hills?

Hidden Hills will automatically appear on your overworld after you beat the normal final boss of Yoshi's Crafted World. However, in order to access it, you'll have to pay a hefty Smiley Flower price.

A Blockafeller at the entrance of the levels asks you for 30 Smiley Flowers to gain access, but that only unlocks a single level. There are three total levels in Hidden Hills, and you'll need 30 Smiley Flowers for each - 90 total. If you don't want to backtrack after every single level, I recommend returning to prior levels and stocking up on Smiley Flowers before you try to tackle these tricky platforming challenges.

There is also a 'secret' final boss lying in wait at the end of Hidden Hills, and far tougher than the regular final boss. You must beat all three levels to get to them. You'll also have to, once again, pay up. It's 50 Smiley Flowers to challenge them. On top of the 90 you already need for the Hidden Hills levels, you'll want a whopping 140 Smiley Flowers to clear the entirety of this zone.

Yoshi's Crafted World 60fps

What does the Blockafeller give you for 317 Smiley Flowers?

After beating the final boss in Kamek Kerfuffle, the Blockafeller you've been climbing the mountain with will ask you for 317 Smiley Flowers. This number is the amount of flowers remaining in the game after all other Blockafellers are fed and all levels are unlocked, which they should be at this point.

It's a daunting task to collect this many. You'll need to collect all Smiley Flowers in each level, plus all bonus flowers gained from 100 coins, 20 Red Coins, and 20 hearts. You'll also need to do every Flip Side level, finishing with all three Poochy Pups within the time limit, and go back and collect all souvenirs for the Blockafellers and complete all their scavenger hunts. That will amount to 317 extra Smiley Flowers, which you can then pay the Blockafeller for a bonus costume for Yoshi: The Sundream Stone costume.

Any questions?

Stuck on Hidden Hills? Let me know in the comments!

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