‘Lucky is a charmer second time round’
Developed and published by Playful Studios, New Super Lucky’s Tale is a reimagined and expanded version of the original 2017 release, bringing a classic platforming experience to modern consoles with fresh polish and charm
You play as Lucky, an energetic and optimistic young fox training to become a Guardian. The story kicks off when the mischievous villain Jinx and his group of feline henchmen—known as the Kitty Litter—attempt to steal the powerful Book of Ages. In the chaos, Lucky is pulled into the book itself, setting off on a magical adventure across vibrant worlds to recover its missing pages, defeat Jinx, and find his way home. At its core, New Super Lucky’s Tale is a platformer that blends both 2D side-scrolling sections and open 3D exploration. This mix works well and helps keep the gameplay from feeling repetitive, as levels regularly switch things up.
The worlds are bright, colourful and well-designed, each with a clear theme. From the sunny, tropical vibes of Gilly Island to the eerie atmosphere of Hauntingham, every location feels distinct and alive. The cartoon-inspired visuals perfectly match the game’s lighthearted tone, making it especially appealing for younger players while still charming seasoned gamers. The soundtrack is whimsical and adventurous, complementing the game’s tone throughout. Music dynamically shifts depending on the environment and gameplay—expect bouncy tunes in farmland areas, upbeat rhythms on Gilly Island, and faster-paced tracks during time trials to build tension. It’s a small touch that adds a lot to the overall immersion. The game leans fully into its cozy, family-friendly aesthetic with a cast of intentionally cute and quirky characters. Jinx’s Kitty Litter includes memorable bosses like Master Mittens, Tess the Tinker, General Buttons, Lieutenant Fluffinstuff, and Lady Meowmalade. Each serves as a world-ending boss, adding variety and personality to your progression. Supporting characters such as golems, farming worms, and yetis populate the different worlds, each hoping Lucky can restore peace to their homes. Frequent cutscenes help build the narrative and provide context, giving the adventure a satisfying sense of progression.
Each level offers multiple objectives, including collecting coins, gems (which are converted into coins), the letters to spell “LUCKY,” and the all-important Book of Ages pages. This layered system provides up to four opportunities per level to earn progress, making the game accessible for beginners and children while still offering completionists plenty to chase. There are also mini-games and puzzles scattered throughout, many of which will feel familiar to fans of classic platformers like Super Mario series. A standout feature is the use of motion controls—certain puzzles require tilting the controller to guide Lucky through challenges, adding a unique twist to gameplay. The game uses themed hub worlds—like Veggie Village and Gilly Island—as central areas where players can explore, access levels, and discover hidden puzzles. Progression is tied to collecting clover pages, which unlock new portals and worlds. Each world ends with a boss fight against a member of the Kitty Litter, giving a clear sense of progression. The improved camera system is a big plus, allowing players to zoom in and out freely. This makes exploration smoother and helps when searching for hidden items. In maze-based levels, the camera automatically adjusts to simplify navigation.
The PS5’s haptic feedback adds another layer of immersion—you’ll feel every spin, jump, and burrow, making the controls more tactile and engaging. The main drawback is the lack of a clear progress tracker, which can make it difficult to see how far you’ve come or what you’ve missed—especially for completionists aiming for 100%. New Super Lucky’s Tale is a charming and accessible platformer that successfully blends nostalgia with modern improvements. Its colourful worlds, varied gameplay, and approachable design make it ideal for younger players and newcomers, while its collectible-driven structure offers enough depth for completionists. While it doesn’t reinvent the genre and lacks detailed progress tracking, its joyful presentation and polished gameplay make it a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Thank you to PQube for the PS5 Review Code.
