Kukoos: Lost Pets

Kukoos: Lost Pets is a fantastic 3D platformer that uses its environmental designs. Vibrant in style and fantastic in gameplay, Kukoos: Lost Pets is a joy I didn’t expect from 2022, and I wish I had played it while in Early Access.

Kukoos: Lost Pets is a fun and charming 3D platformer with a ton of charm and weirdness that can’t be found in other titans of the genre. So while its story and performance could use some work, everything else that it gets right more than makes up for it.

It’s not going to redefine what it means to be a 3D platformer, but Kukoos: Lost Pets is a pleasant enough addition that fans of the genre will enjoy. Bright and colourful, and with a nice mixture of collecting, platforming and puzzles, there’s plenty here to keep you invested. It’s just a shame that co-op is held back by some technical issues and its visuals aren’t quite as sharp as they ought to be.

It’s not the most accomplished platformer available on the market, but Kukoos: Lost Pets has that magical formula of generally decent platforming, co-op play and impressive presentation that could make it a favorite this festive season.

Deep in the vastness of space exists a planet covered entirely in water. A single, solitary island serves as a home to the Kukoos. These bipedal creatures love using a magic tree on their island to send them to faraway places. What they love even more, however, is their pets. The Kukoos share a connection with their fuzzy friends and love showing them off during Pet Day celebrations. Little do they know that their idyllic life is about to turn upside down! Developed by Petit Fabrik, Kukoos Lost Pets is a cartoony platformer reminiscent of classic, genre-defining PlayStation 2-era adventures.

With all of that said, as the game went on, I did have some moments of fun — they were just sandwiched between a very cumbersome opening and finale. I made it through the whole game in under three hours, but for a 100% completionist ending, you are looking at closer to 8-12 hours. It’s a decent enough platformer if you enjoy the genre, but it just might be worth waiting for a good deal before grabbing it.

Kukoos is not particularly story-driven, but what story it does have is simple and weird, with a goofy off-beat tone present from start to finish. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it has some silly humor. The game can be beaten in only a handful of hours, but you can add a few more hours to your time if you want to seek out every collectible. A few new levels are unlocked near the end as well, to offer new challenges.

Kukoos: Lost Pets has personality, some funny dialogue, and looks gorgeous, but can’t seem to find its footing as a new platformer with its myriad of issues. Its intended audience will enjoy how pretty it is and will definitely enjoy using the Kukoos’ pets to traverse the various areas, but the game's technical issues will chase everyone else away. Fighting through the crowded 3D platformer category, its graphics and local multiplayer will only be able to carry it so far, which is unfortunate since the Kukoos could be a breath of fresh air in a genre that can always use new faces.