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New Super Lucky’s Tale – 3D Platformer Love Letter
An improved reimagining of the original platformer with a fixed camera and expanded content. Rated 7.9/10 for its charming 3D design and collectathon gameplay.
Game Info
Verdict
Charming, accessible 3D platformer with improved camera and delightful level design that respects player time.
Pros
- Vastly improved camera system from original
- Gorgeous colorful environments rewarding exploration
- Excellent variety in level design and gameplay styles
- Perfect for families and platformer enthusiasts
- Integration of all previous DLC with quality improvements
- Reasonable price point at $39.99
Cons
- Relatively short main story (6-8 hours)
- Some sliding puzzles feel obtuse and frustrating
- Abundant loading screens especially on Switch
- Limited challenge for experienced platformer players
- No multiplayer features whatsoever
Performance Notes
Excellent optimization across platforms; 60fps on PS5/Xbox Series X; 1440p on PS4; 1080p docked on Switch at 30fps. PC scales from 1080p to 4K depending on hardware. Minimal loading on modern consoles; noticeable but acceptable on Switch.
New Super Lucky’s Tale stands as a triumphant example of developer persistence and refinement. This enhanced remake of the 2017 original platforms expertly balances nostalgia with modern design sensibilities, offering a genuine love letter to classic 3D platformers from gaming’s golden age. The game’s critical reception has improved dramatically from its predecessor, with reviewers praising the revamped camera system, expanded level design, and integration of previous DLC into the main narrative. Players seeking a wholesome, joyous adventure without artificial difficulty spikes will find exactly what they’re looking for here.
How to Play New Super Lucky’s Tale
New Super Lucky’s Tale employs a straightforward control scheme centered on three core mechanics: jumping, burrowing, and tail swiping. These three moves form the foundation of all platforming challenges throughout the game’s expansive worlds.
- Controls – Standard Xbox controller layout with responsive jump mechanics and easy-to-master burrow mechanics. The learning curve is gentle, making it accessible to players of all skill levels within minutes.
- Progression – Players collect clovers from each stage (earned through story completion, coin collection, letter discovery, and secret finding) to unlock new hub worlds. Gathering all clovers unlocks boss encounters that advance the narrative.
- Combat/Mechanics – Lucky uses a tail swipe attack to defeat enemies and interact with objects. The core loop involves exploring vibrant environments, discovering hidden collectibles, and solving environmental puzzles that reward both casual players and completionists.
- Tips – Take your time exploring each level thoroughly; secrets are rewarded generously. Don’t stress over difficulty—harder challenges are optional. Focus on collecting clovers at your own pace rather than speed-running through stages.
Who Should Play New Super Lucky’s Tale
This game targets families and platformer enthusiasts seeking wholesome, engaging content without brutal difficulty spikes. Its charm and accessibility make it appealing across generations.
- Platformer Purists – Fans of classic 3D collectathons (Banjo-Kazooie era) will appreciate the level design philosophy and genuine gameplay variety that respects player agency.
- Families – The PEGI 3 rating and joyful presentation make this perfect for younger players and adults playing together. No violence, no time pressure, pure fun.
- Completionists – With hundreds of collectibles, secret areas, and multiple costumes to unlock, there’s genuine long-term engagement for those seeking 100% completion.
- Skip if – Hardcore platformer veterans seeking punishing difficulty or speedrunning challenges will find this too forgiving. Anyone allergic to charming anthropomorphic characters might want to look elsewhere.
New Super Lucky’s Tale Platform Performance
New Super Lucky’s Tale delivers consistent performance across all platforms with particularly strong results on PS4 and Xbox. PC performance varies based on GPU capabilities, while Switch requires accepting reduced load times compared to home consoles.
| Platform | Resolution | FPS | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC (High-end) | Up to 4K | 60+ | Scales well with hardware; minimal optimization issues reported |
| PlayStation 5 | 4K | 60 | Enhanced with faster loading; smooth performance throughout |
| Xbox Series X | 4K | 60 | FPS Boost enabled; superior to original Xbox One version |
| PlayStation 4 | 1440p | 60 | Vastly reduced load times compared to Switch; occasional minor frame dips |
| Xbox One | 1080p | 60 | X Enhanced version; solid stable performance |
| Nintendo Switch | 1080p docked / 720p handheld | 30 | Frequent loading screens; minor performance fluctuations during intensive moments |
New Super Lucky’s Tale System Requirements
PC versions require modest modern hardware. Even budget gaming PCs from 2012-2014 can run the game comfortably at 1080p. Recommended specs ensure 4K capability and maximum frame rates on current-generation gaming monitors.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7 64-bit | Windows 10/11 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-3550 @ 3.3 GHz / AMD FX-6300 | Intel Core i5-4570 @ 3.2 GHz / AMD FX-8350 or newer |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660/570 / AMD Radeon R7 370 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 / AMD Radeon R9 290X or newer |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 8 GB available space (SSD recommended) | SSD Required for optimal loading times |
Similar Games to New Super Lucky’s Tale
Several titles share New Super Lucky’s Tale’s DNA of colorful 3D platforming with substantial collectible content. Each offers unique mechanics while maintaining that beloved collectathon spirit.
- Spyro Reignited Trilogy – Charming dragon platformer with similar hub-world structure and collectible focus; arguably the closest modern equivalent with more challenging combat.
- Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time – Modern take on classic 3D platforming with higher difficulty ceiling; shares Lucky’s level variety and costume collection mechanics.
- Psychonauts 2 – Quirky 3D platformer with elaborate world-building; offers more narrative depth and creative level design alongside platforming challenges.
- A Hat in Time – Indie 3D platformer collectathon with Luna’s Lens offering similar exploration-based gameplay and secrets discovery mechanics.
New Super Lucky’s Tale vs Competitors
When positioned against other modern 3D platformers, New Super Lucky’s Tale emphasizes accessibility and charm while competitors prioritize either challenge or narrative complexity. Price-to-content ratio heavily favors Lucky’s offering.
| Feature | New Super Lucky’s Tale | Spyro Reignited Trilogy | Crash Bandicoot 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch Price | $39.99 | $59.99 | $59.99 |
| Main Story Length | 6-8 hours | 8-10 hours | 10-12 hours |
| Completionist Hours | 15-20+ hours | 20-25 hours | 25-30 hours |
| Multiplayer | No | No | No |
| Difficulty Modes | Single (forgiving) | Multiple options | Multiple options with assists |
| Metacritic Score | 79 | 82 | 76 |
| Platform Exclusivity | Multi-platform (6+) | Multi-platform (5) | Multi-platform (4) |
New Super Lucky’s Tale Story and World
Lucky Swiftail embarks on an epic quest to protect the Book of Ages, a magical artifact that holds portals to wondrous worlds. The narrative follows the young fox as he confronts Jinx and his villainous family, the Kitty Litter, across gorgeously realized environments. Each world feels distinct—from lush jungles to icy peaks to enchanted castles—with environmental storytelling that rewards exploration. The tone remains consistently wholesome and joyful, never resorting to cynicism or dark humor. Character interactions brim with personality, particularly Lucky’s expressive animations that convey emotion without excessive cutscenes. The story serves its purpose as motivation for continued exploration rather than demanding attention, allowing players to engage at their own pace. Themes of friendship, courage, and perseverance weave throughout without becoming preachy.
New Super Lucky’s Tale Multiplayer and Online
New Super Lucky’s Tale focuses entirely on single-player experiences with no competitive or cooperative multiplayer features. This design choice allows developers to craft exclusively single-player level progression and story pacing without online infrastructure requirements.
- Single-Player Campaign – Full story-driven adventure with complete narrative arc and boss encounters. Designed for solo play from start to finish.
- Replay Value – Multiple collectibles per level encourage replaying for 100% completion. Challenge-based extra levels reward skilled players.
- Costume Unlocks – Discovering hidden costumes provides cosmetic variety and incentive to explore thoroughly.
- Offline Only – No online connectivity required; works perfectly offline on all platforms including Xbox Game Pass.
New Super Lucky’s Tale DLC and Expansions
New Super Lucky’s Tale fully integrates all post-launch content from the original game directly into the main experience. Previous standalone DLC packs have been seamlessly woven into the narrative and level structure, providing completeness without additional purchases.
- Gillie’s Island – Tropical-themed world previously released as separate DLC; now fully incorporated into main campaign progression with new integration challenges.
- Guardian Trials – Challenge levels from original DLC included; accessible once players reach appropriate story milestones.
- No Additional Paid Content – Unlike the original Super Lucky’s Tale, this version includes all content in the base purchase; no additional DLC planned post-launch.
- Free Updates – Developer continues supporting the game with occasional patches and quality-of-life improvements based on community feedback.
New Super Lucky’s Tale Community and Support
Playful Studios maintains active communication channels with the community despite the game’s moderate size compared to AAA franchises. Fan communities thrive on multiple platforms with consistent patch support demonstrating long-term commitment.
- Official Channels – Playful Studios website and social media provide official news; supportive team responds to community inquiries regularly.
- Community Forums – Reddit communities at r/playstations and r/NintendoSwitch actively discuss Lucky content; developers occasionally participate directly.
- Content Creation – The game appeals to family-friendly streamers and content creators; consistent clips circulate showing joyful playthroughs and discovery moments.
- Patch Support – Regular updates address technical issues and balance concerns; most recent patches focus on Switch performance optimization.