With Nintendo’s Ocarina of Time remake still lacking a firm release date, Switch 2 players have another excellent top-down adventure to explore: Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo.
The 2025 indie favourite has received a new Switch 2 version, making this a timely opportunity to discover one of the strongest recent Zelda-inspired games. It sits comfortably alongside Mina the Hollower as a standout modern take on the classic formula.
A city adventure with a very unusual weapon
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo stars Pippit, a blue bat drawn into corporate conflict after rival companies attack his family’s business. His answer is not a traditional sword, but a giant mythical yoyo.
Developer Pocket Trap describes the game as a “yoyovania”, combining top-down adventure design with Metroidvania-style exploration. The yoyo is central to both combat and movement: Pippit can swing it at enemies, ride it, bounce it from walls and use it to activate distant switches.
That single tool effectively combines the functions associated with several familiar adventure-game items, including a boomerang and hookshot. Its changing uses give the game’s puzzles, battles and traversal a distinctive rhythm rather than simply repeating established Zelda conventions.
Exploration beyond the usual fantasy map
Instead of presenting a world of open fields and traditional dungeons, Pipistrello takes place in a busy urban environment. Alleyways, public parks and corporate headquarters form the spaces Pippit must investigate.
As new upgrades become available, previously inaccessible areas open up. This layered structure encourages players to revisit the city and look for alternate routes, hidden secrets and fresh ways through its corporate headquarters, which serve as the game’s dungeons.
The setting also gives the story room for pointed industrial satire. Its modern city backdrop helps the adventure feel separate from fantasy-focused genre peers while preserving the curiosity-driven design that makes this style of game so appealing.
What the Switch 2 version adds
The Switch 2 release offers several technical improvements. In handheld mode, the game can run at 120 frames per second, though resolution is limited to 1080p. When the console is docked, visuals can reach 4K.
HDR support is also included, which should complement the game’s bright, colourful art direction—particularly Pippit’s vivid blue appearance. Players who already own the Nintendo Switch version can download the Switch 2 Upgrade Pack at no additional cost.
For more details, visit the official Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo listing.
A strong pick for adventure fans
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo offers a colourful alternative while fans wait for more information about Nintendo’s Ocarina of Time remake. Its compact urban world, inventive weapon and upgrade-driven exploration make it more than a simple tribute.
If you enjoy games built around discovery, the same sense of experimentation can be part of an arcade room too. Browse RETROCADE’s arcade news and gaming coverage, explore the arcade machine collection, or use the arcade machine buying guide when planning a home setup. For hands-on projects, DIY arcade kits offer another way to build around your favourite games.
Its well-hidden secrets reward curiosity, while the yoyo gives every encounter and puzzle a playful twist. It may not replace a classic Nintendo adventure, but it is a clever reminder of why this formula continues to inspire new games.
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