[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fPvZSEryoCG121Ubn5KsfvXcsyuQRoud8aBpmU-g5nf0":3},{"game":4,"reviews":20},{"id":5,"name":6,"summary":7,"cover_image":8,"header_image":9,"release_date":10,"created_at":11,"updated_at":12,"igdb_id":13,"slug":14,"is_published":15,"trailer_url":16,"category":17,"avg_score":18,"steam_app_id":19},62478,"Yoku's Island Express","Yoku’s Island Express is an open world\u002Fmetroidvania-style pinball adventure, Seamlessly blending platform navigation with pinball mechanics across a large open world. Yoku the dung beetle sets foot on the beach of Mokumana Island, ready to take on the duties as the new postman. But the ancient island God is trapped in a restless sleep and the islanders are plagued by quakes and storms brought forth by its nightmares. Yoku's Island Express is a unique and quirky adventure with handcrafted visuals, where you'll soar through the air, vacuum explosive snails, fight a Screetch, feed starving lemurs, discover the mystery of the Fruit Altar, wake an old god, and hopefully help tiny Yoku rebuild the island post-office.","62478\u002Fco26hb_webp","62478\u002Ftjjhywz2s8p6m1piqwff_webp","2018-05-29","2024-09-13T21:28:18.96416-04:00","2026-03-27T17:11:15.757774-04:00",27367,"yokus-island-express",true,"https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FWsm8YfW9C90",0,84.57,334940,[21,53,79,118,146,172,195,221,248,269,294,316,342,367],{"id":22,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":23,"author":24,"original_score":32,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":34,"review_date":35,"summary":36,"created_at":37,"updated_at":37,"author_id":25,"last_edited_at":37,"outlet":38},139066,146,{"id":25,"bio":26,"name":27,"avg_score":28,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":29,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":30,"claim_token":26,"article_count":31,"claimed_by_user_id":26},11534,null,"David Kemp",80.88235294117646,"2025-04-30T07:39:44.795077-04:00","2026-06-02T04:39:26.274749-04:00",17,"8.5",85,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.keengamer.com\u002Farticles\u002Freviews\u002Fps4-reviews\u002Fyokus-island-express-review-fun-friendly-frivolity-is-worth-checking-outps4\u002F","2023-06-23","Yoku's Island Express is an enjoyable experience from the moment you step foot on the island. The combination of gameplay styles makes for a unique experience. Coupled with its’ relaxing tone and brilliant presentation, it is a real joy to explore Mokumana. There are a few niggles but in terms of enjoyment, Yoku sticks the landing.","2025-04-30T07:58:17.56154-04:00",{"id":23,"logo":39,"name":40,"slug":41,"tags":26,"bluesky":42,"twitter":43,"youtube":44,"facebook":41,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":45,"website_url":46,"score_format":47,"average_score":48,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":51,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":52,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fkeengamer-logo.png","KeenGamer","keengamer","@keengamer.com","KeenGamerCom","@KeenGamerCom","KeenGamer is your favorite place to read everything not just about video games.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.keengamer.com\u002F","10",78,"UTC","2025-07-04T09:28:49.429906","Ostrava","Czech Republic",{"id":54,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":55,"author":56,"original_score":63,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":64,"review_date":65,"summary":66,"created_at":67,"updated_at":67,"author_id":57,"last_edited_at":67,"outlet":68},55574,45,{"id":57,"bio":26,"name":58,"avg_score":59,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":60,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":61,"claim_token":26,"article_count":62,"claimed_by_user_id":26},4637,"Thomas Hughes",75,"2025-01-23T19:49:02.918057-05:00","2025-02-10T15:23:15.187039-05:00",49,"8.50","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamegrin.com\u002Freviews\u002Fyokus-island-express-review\u002F","2018-08-13","With only a few small niggles to complain about, Yoku’s Island Express successfully merges pinball and platforming without ever making the former feel like a gimmick. Its beautiful presentation and fun, engaging exploration blend together to create a truly unique experience.","2025-01-23T19:49:09.609354-05:00",{"id":55,"logo":69,"name":70,"slug":71,"tags":72,"bluesky":73,"twitter":70,"youtube":70,"facebook":70,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":74,"website_url":75,"score_format":47,"average_score":76,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":77,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":78,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGameGrin%20Logo.png","GameGrin","gamegrin","[  \n  'independent',\n  'online_media'\n  ]","gamegrin.com","Check out GameGrin for a great community, with gaming news, reviews, previews and articles!","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamegrin.com\u002F",77,"luz_victoria@staff.gamegrin.com","andrew@gamegrin.com",{"id":80,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":81,"author":82,"original_score":89,"normalized_score":90,"review_url":91,"review_date":92,"summary":93,"created_at":94,"updated_at":94,"author_id":83,"last_edited_at":95,"outlet":96},1214,1,{"id":83,"bio":26,"name":84,"avg_score":85,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":86,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":87,"claim_token":26,"article_count":88,"claimed_by_user_id":26},31,"Alex Santa Maria",70.28846153846153,"2024-10-07T11:43:29.873999-04:00","2025-07-08T15:25:56.295997-04:00",160,"9.5",95,"https:\u002F\u002Ftechraptor.net\u002Fgaming\u002Freviews\u002Fyokus-island-express-review-multiball-madness","2018-07-05","Yoku's Island Express is the perfect mixture of pinball and video games. Taking the best of both worlds and dropping it into a charming setting filled with likable characters makes for a relaxing romp that shouldn't be missed.","2024-10-07T18:57:33.112916-04:00","2024-12-29T20:20:33.816897-05:00",{"id":81,"logo":97,"name":98,"slug":99,"tags":100,"bluesky":101,"twitter":98,"youtube":102,"facebook":98,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":103,"claimed_at":26,"description":104,"website_url":105,"score_format":47,"average_score":106,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":107,"stats_updated_at":108,"headquarters_city":109,"news_editor_email":110,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":111,"reviews_this_month":112,"active_authors_count":112,"headquarters_country":113,"reviews_editor_email":114,"editor_in_chief_email":115,"published_authors_count":116,"published_reviews_count":117},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FTechRaptor%20Logo.png","TechRaptor","techraptor","[  \n  'independent',\n  'online_media',\n  'ingestion_pending'\n  ]","techraptor.net","@techraptor","https:\u002F\u002Fmuckrack.com\u002Fmedia-outlet\u002Ftechraptor","TechRaptor is a gaming website that covers topics around video games and tabletop games for gamers.  Whether it is news, reviews, features, or guides – we're your source for high quality game coverage since 2013.","https:\u002F\u002Ftechraptor.net",74,"2026-04-16","2026-04-21T12:25:16.686278","Indianapolis","jallen@techraptor.net","8df87287-e31d-40dd-bd62-4fe839efbe0e",5,"United States","sam@techraptor.net","aotton@techraptor.net",144,1466,{"id":119,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":120,"author":121,"original_score":128,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":129,"review_date":130,"summary":131,"created_at":132,"updated_at":132,"author_id":122,"last_edited_at":95,"outlet":133},31529,35,{"id":122,"bio":26,"name":123,"avg_score":124,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":125,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":126,"claim_token":26,"article_count":127,"claimed_by_user_id":26},1117,"Chris Schilling",80.51351351351352,"2024-11-27T14:49:26.510187-05:00","2026-08-03T10:31:41.066696-04:00",37,"85","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pcgamer.com\u002Fyokus-island-express-review\u002F","2018-06-08","Adventure and pinball combine to captivating effect.\n","2024-12-06T13:51:21.886351-05:00",{"id":120,"logo":134,"name":135,"slug":136,"tags":137,"bluesky":138,"twitter":139,"youtube":139,"facebook":140,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":141,"website_url":142,"score_format":143,"average_score":144,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":145,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FPCGamer-Logo.jpg","PC Gamer","pc-gamer","[  \n  'corporate_owned',\n  'online_media',\n  'ingestion_pending'\n  ]","pcgamer.com","pcgamer","pcgamermagazine","The global authority on PC games.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pcgamer.com\u002F","100",76,"editors@pcgamer.com",{"id":147,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":148,"author":149,"original_score":156,"normalized_score":157,"review_url":158,"review_date":159,"summary":160,"created_at":161,"updated_at":161,"author_id":150,"last_edited_at":161,"outlet":162},67281,10,{"id":150,"bio":26,"name":151,"avg_score":152,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":153,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":154,"claim_token":26,"article_count":155,"claimed_by_user_id":26},1866,"Kevin McClusky",76.55172413793103,"2024-12-01T14:48:07.941311-05:00","2025-01-29T08:09:40.69007-05:00",29,"\n\t\t\t9\t\t",90,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.destructoid.com\u002Freviews\u002Freview-yokus-island-express\u002F","2018-05-31","Yoku’s Island Express is a delight, plain and simple. It’s gorgeous, plays beautifully, and I hope it’s the start of a new franchise, because I want to play a lot more of this.","2025-01-29T07:55:42.323628-05:00",{"id":148,"logo":163,"name":164,"slug":165,"tags":166,"bluesky":167,"twitter":165,"youtube":168,"facebook":164,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":169,"website_url":170,"score_format":47,"average_score":106,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":171,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FDestructoid-Logo.png","Destructoid","destructoid","[  \n  'corporate_owned',\n  'inactive',\n  'online_media'\n  ]","destructoid.bsky.social","@DTOID","Destructoid is a Webby Award-winning video game-focused blog that was founded in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzales.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.destructoid.com","chriscarter@destructoid.com",{"id":173,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":174,"author":175,"original_score":182,"normalized_score":183,"review_url":184,"review_date":159,"summary":185,"created_at":186,"updated_at":186,"author_id":176,"last_edited_at":187,"outlet":188},99283,137,{"id":176,"bio":26,"name":177,"avg_score":178,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":179,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":180,"claim_token":26,"article_count":181,"claimed_by_user_id":26},8921,"A.J. Maciejewski",74.77928193054738,"2025-03-25T13:44:29.804291-04:00","2026-08-19T13:06:46.111292-04:00",1699,"8.9",89,"https:\u002F\u002Fvideochums.com\u002Freview\u002Fyokus-island-express","Metroidvania pinball is definitely an unorthodox concept for a video game. However, Yoku's Island Express presents one of the most original and addictive indie game formulas ever so get your flipper fingers ready and prepare for a memorable adventure.","2025-03-25T14:19:59.474103-04:00","2025-03-25T15:20:50.464389-04:00",{"id":174,"logo":189,"name":190,"slug":191,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":192,"youtube":26,"facebook":26,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":193,"website_url":194,"score_format":47,"average_score":144,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FVideo-Chums.jpg","Video Chums","video-chums","VideoChums","Video Chums brings you great video game reviews and fun top 10 lists for new and retro video games.","https:\u002F\u002Fvideochums.com\u002F",{"id":196,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":197,"author":198,"original_score":205,"normalized_score":206,"review_url":207,"review_date":208,"summary":209,"created_at":210,"updated_at":210,"author_id":199,"last_edited_at":210,"outlet":211},61232,61,{"id":199,"bio":26,"name":200,"avg_score":201,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":202,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":203,"claim_token":26,"article_count":204,"claimed_by_user_id":26},4961,"GameCentral",68.54779411764706,"2025-01-26T16:02:55.860502-05:00","2026-08-16T12:06:31.845312-04:00",547,"8",80,"https:\u002F\u002Fmetro.co.uk\u002F2018\u002F05\u002F30\u002Fyokus-island-express-review-flipping-great-metroidvania-7589292\u002F","2018-05-30","A strangely successful mix of genres that plays both a mean pinball and a highly competent game of Metroidvania, and all wrapped up in some utterly charming presentation.","2025-01-26T16:31:09.702045-05:00",{"id":197,"logo":212,"name":213,"slug":214,"tags":215,"bluesky":26,"twitter":200,"youtube":216,"facebook":217,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":218,"website_url":219,"score_format":47,"average_score":220,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGameCentral-Logo.jpg","Metro GameCentral","metro-gamecentral","[  \n  'corporate_owned',\n  'online_media'\n  ]","@GameCentralMetro","GamecentralMetro","The home of Metro's gaming news, features and reviews!","https:\u002F\u002Fmetro.co.uk\u002Fentertainment\u002Fgaming\u002F",69,{"id":222,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":223,"author":224,"original_score":231,"normalized_score":157,"review_url":232,"review_date":208,"summary":233,"created_at":234,"updated_at":234,"author_id":225,"last_edited_at":235,"outlet":236},93186,133,{"id":225,"bio":26,"name":226,"avg_score":227,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":228,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":229,"claim_token":26,"article_count":230,"claimed_by_user_id":26},7995,"Aron Gerencser",82.85714285714286,"2025-03-17T11:03:10.052219-04:00","2025-03-17T11:03:30.789594-04:00",21,"9.0","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamewatcher.com\u002Freviews\u002Fyokus-island-express-review\u002F13031","Yoku’s Island Express brought something to the table few games, even among those I enjoyed, have managed to recently - a true sense of freshness. It really is unlike most games on the market, and it manages to grow beyond this defining gimmick, nailing almost every other aspect. Between the fantastic gameplay, lovely presentation and endearing characters, minor faults like excessive backtracking and a somewhat flat main storyline are negligible.","2025-03-17T11:03:11.866982-04:00","2025-03-24T11:27:05.382676-04:00",{"id":223,"logo":237,"name":238,"slug":239,"tags":26,"bluesky":240,"twitter":241,"youtube":242,"facebook":238,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":243,"website_url":244,"score_format":47,"average_score":48,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":245,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":246,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":247,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGameWatcher-Logo.jpeg","GameWatcher","gamewatcher","gamewatcher.com","GameWatcherCom","@GameWatcher-Strategy","GameWatcher is a games media site focusing on Strategy and Horror Games.","https:\u002F\u002Fgamewatcher.com","bogdanrobertmates@gmail.com","United Kingdom","Jamie@gamewatcher.com",{"id":249,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":220,"author":250,"original_score":205,"normalized_score":206,"review_url":257,"review_date":10,"summary":258,"created_at":259,"updated_at":259,"author_id":251,"last_edited_at":259,"outlet":260},72975,{"id":251,"bio":26,"name":252,"avg_score":253,"outlet_id":220,"created_at":254,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":255,"claim_token":26,"article_count":256,"claimed_by_user_id":26},5588,"Tom Marks",78.625,"2025-02-06T08:41:09.29354-05:00","2025-09-14T17:04:51.488135-04:00",56,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ign.com\u002Farticles\u002F2018\u002F05\u002F29\u002Fyokus-island-express-review","Yoku’s Island Express is a novel Metroidvania-pinball hybrid that stands out as something wholly unique. It blends those clashing genres with a beautiful island style, and its satisfying flippers and bumpers make uncovering its wide island a ton of fun. Retreading completed areas while hunting for secrets can occasionally get stale, but Yoku’s Island Express has a refreshingly positive attitude that kept me smiling the whole way through.\n\nYoku's Island Express is out today.","2025-02-06T10:33:06.009828-05:00",{"id":220,"logo":261,"name":262,"slug":263,"tags":215,"bluesky":264,"twitter":262,"youtube":265,"facebook":262,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":266,"website_url":267,"score_format":47,"average_score":144,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":268,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":113,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FIGN-logo.jpg","IGN","ign","ign.com","@IGN","We're all about video games, movies, TV, and comics!","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ign.com\u002F","Los Angeles",{"id":270,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":256,"author":271,"original_score":278,"normalized_score":279,"review_url":280,"review_date":10,"summary":281,"created_at":282,"updated_at":282,"author_id":272,"last_edited_at":282,"outlet":283},77917,{"id":272,"bio":26,"name":273,"avg_score":274,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":275,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":276,"claim_token":26,"article_count":277,"claimed_by_user_id":26},5576,"Dominic L",77.00348432055749,"2025-02-05T21:50:11.095343-05:00","2026-06-24T08:32:58.966528-04:00",291,"7.0",70,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thesixthaxis.com\u002F2018\u002F05\u002F29\u002Fyokus-island-express-review\u002F","Yoku’s Island Express is a beauteous, aurally delightful treat that riffs off the Metroidvania template and pinball tables in a smart and playful manner. It’s somewhat tempered by the dual frustrations of the pinball mechanic’s need for constant precision and a lacklustre fast-travel system that leaves you having to cover the same ground over and over, ultimately taking what could have been an amazing game, and making it a good one.","2025-02-10T14:12:24.047312-05:00",{"id":256,"logo":284,"name":285,"slug":286,"tags":100,"bluesky":287,"twitter":285,"youtube":286,"facebook":285,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":288,"website_url":289,"score_format":47,"average_score":290,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":291,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":292,"editor_in_chief_email":293,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FTheSixthAxis-Logo.jpg","TheSixthAxis","thesixthaxis","thesixthaxis.bsky.social","All the latest videos gaming news, reviews, guides, and opinion.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thesixthaxis.com\u002F",73,"aran@thesixthaxis.com","dom@thesixthaxis.com","teflon@thesixthaxis.com",{"id":295,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":296,"author":297,"original_score":205,"normalized_score":206,"review_url":304,"review_date":10,"summary":305,"created_at":306,"updated_at":306,"author_id":298,"last_edited_at":306,"outlet":307},47364,63,{"id":298,"bio":26,"name":299,"avg_score":300,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":301,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":302,"claim_token":26,"article_count":303,"claimed_by_user_id":26},4083,"John Cal McCormick",63.898305084745765,"2025-01-19T09:51:11.699334-05:00","2026-01-09T02:03:49.353302-05:00",59,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pushsquare.com\u002Freviews\u002Fps4\u002Fyokus_island_express","Because many video games lean on familiar gameplay loops, archetypal characters, and genre conventions, when you're reviewing them it can sometimes feel like you're saying exactly the same thing about a game that you already wrote about previously. But every now and again you'll have to write a sentence during a review that you know you've never written before, and you'll likely never have to write again. This is one of those times. Yoku's Island Express is a 2D, open world, Metroidvania, pinball game starring a dung beetle postman dragged into a battle for the fate of the world on his first day on the job. Beat that.","2025-01-19T10:07:47.553992-05:00",{"id":296,"logo":308,"name":309,"slug":310,"tags":72,"bluesky":311,"twitter":312,"youtube":312,"facebook":312,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":313,"website_url":314,"score_format":47,"average_score":315,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FPush-Square-Logo.jpg","Push Square","push-square","pushsquare.com","pushsquare","All the very latest PS5 \u002F PSVR2 \u002F PlayStation Plus \u002F PS4 news, reviews and features. Do you Push Square?","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pushsquare.com\u002F",71,{"id":317,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":318,"author":319,"original_score":326,"normalized_score":206,"review_url":327,"review_date":10,"summary":328,"created_at":329,"updated_at":329,"author_id":320,"last_edited_at":330,"outlet":331},147922,152,{"id":320,"bio":26,"name":321,"avg_score":322,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":323,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":324,"claim_token":26,"article_count":325,"claimed_by_user_id":26},8054,"Richard Walker",75.47151277013752,"2025-03-17T11:09:04.392078-04:00","2025-05-27T18:47:33.738128-04:00",627,"80","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.xboxachievements.com\u002Fgame\u002Fyokus-island-express\u002Freview\u002F","A cool hybrid of platforming, puzzling and pinball, Yoku's Island Express is a bit of a one-off, and therefore well worth seeking out.","2025-05-08T10:47:31.477109-04:00","2025-05-08T11:02:52.1035-04:00",{"id":318,"logo":332,"name":333,"slug":334,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":335,"youtube":336,"facebook":337,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":338,"website_url":339,"score_format":143,"average_score":144,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":340,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":246,"reviews_editor_email":340,"editor_in_chief_email":341,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fxbox-achievements-logo.jpg","Xbox Achievements","xbox-achievements","XboxAchs","reseronetwork","XboxAchievements","Your number #1 non-stop Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One & Xbox 360 resource site.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.xboxachievements.com\u002F","rich.walker@reseronetwork.com","dan.webb@reseronetwork.com",{"id":343,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":344,"author":345,"original_score":352,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":353,"review_date":10,"summary":354,"created_at":355,"updated_at":355,"author_id":346,"last_edited_at":355,"outlet":356},104462,141,{"id":346,"bio":26,"name":347,"avg_score":348,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":349,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":350,"claim_token":26,"article_count":351,"claimed_by_user_id":26},9098,"Andrew Reiner",79.43548387096774,"2025-03-26T08:05:12.751913-04:00","2025-03-26T08:21:36.222752-04:00",93,"8.50\u002F10","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gameinformer.com\u002Fgames\u002Fyokus_island_express\u002Fb\u002Fxboxone\u002Farchive\u002F2018\u002F05\u002F29\u002Fyoku-39-s-island-express-review.aspx","If you can wrap your brain around what developer Villa Gorilla calls an “open-world Metroidvania pinball adventure,” and you don’t mind playing as a spry dung beetle, you’re in for a unique and wholly satisfying treat. Yoku’s Island Express turns the simple action of hitting a ball with a flipper into a joyous journey through a world filled with quests and secrets galore. This odd mash-up of genres works better than you might think.\n\nThe player assumes the role of Yoku, who happens to be tethered to a ball of petrified feces. As disgusting as this object may sound, Yoku uses it as a means of locomotion. He’s tied to it via a short rope, and he mostly has to hold on for dear life. Yoku has just taken on the role of Mokumana Island’s postman, and he needs to cover ground quickly if he wants to deliver mail before the island god brings torrential rain and quakes. Yoku can freely push the ball to the left or right, but can’t jump or do much of anything other than blow on a whistle. When stacked up against the Samuses and Alucards of games of this ilk, he’s easily the weakest and most useless of the lot. Thankfully, the world itself is filled with colored flippers that can propel Yoku and his ball wherever he needs to go.","2025-03-26T08:14:31.308256-04:00",{"id":344,"logo":357,"name":358,"slug":359,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":360,"youtube":361,"facebook":362,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":363,"website_url":364,"score_format":47,"average_score":365,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":366,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":113,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fgameinformer.jpg","Game Informer","gameinformer","GameInformer","@gameinformer","officialgameinformer","Over 30 years celebrating the best of games in print and online.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gameinformer.com\u002F",79,"Minneapolis",{"id":368,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":369,"author":370,"original_score":378,"normalized_score":157,"review_url":379,"review_date":10,"summary":380,"created_at":381,"updated_at":381,"author_id":371,"last_edited_at":381,"outlet":382},63840,27,{"id":371,"bio":26,"name":372,"avg_score":373,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":374,"profile_id":375,"updated_at":376,"claim_token":26,"article_count":377,"claimed_by_user_id":375},3923,"Kim Snaith",74.45797807551766,"2025-01-17T06:40:44.005933-05:00","9831ce29-32fc-40dc-b7d6-342d11d31842","2026-08-19T14:09:20.565917-04:00",821,"9\u002F10","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamespew.com\u002F2018\u002F05\u002Fyokus-island-express-review-pinball-love\u002F","It’s rare a game is as endlessly joyous as Yoku’s Island Express. It’s a game without stressors; without any grinding annoyances that get in the way of your enjoyment. Devoid of any real combat, it’s a laid-back experience that lets you approach it at your own pace. Once I picked it up I found it very hard to put down, and for good reason. Yoku’s Island Express oozes charm and love from every pixel; it’s plain to see how much care Villa Gorilla, the game’s developer, has put into this. It’s a very simple idea, yet a very clever one. Two very distinct gameplay styles have come together perfectly to create something that anyone can enjoy. I challenge you to play Yoku’s Island Express without a smile on your face. Go on. I bet you can’t.","2025-01-27T04:51:36.882077-05:00",{"id":369,"logo":383,"name":384,"slug":385,"tags":386,"bluesky":387,"twitter":385,"youtube":388,"facebook":389,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":390,"website_url":391,"score_format":47,"average_score":59,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":392,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":246,"reviews_editor_email":392,"editor_in_chief_email":392,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGameSpew-Logo.jpg","GameSpew","gamespew","[  \n  'independent',\n  'women_led',\n  'online_media'\n  ]","gamespew.com","UChqYxsfGxsXwrZ76wm7_bWQ","officialgamespew","Your independent site for gaming news, reviews, features, guides and more. For gamers, by gamers.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamespew.com","hello@gamespew.com"]