I am a simple man; I see a colourful 3D platformer with a delightful hero, or duo, and I want to play it. Teeto fits this description to a T, and while it may not be redefining or pushing the envelope of the genre, it offers an excellent gameplay experience that both platformer aficionados and newcomers will thoroughly enjoy, just like I did.
Developed by New Zealand-based Eat Pant Games and published by Super Rare Originals and CouchPlay Interactive, Teeto is a 3D platformer collect-athon. A mysterious event has made all humans disappear, animals and objects sentient, and malevolent shadow creatures that now terrorize this mixed-up world. A white bunny called Nory creates the player character Teeto, a blue blob-like figure with the power to defeat the shadows, and they set off together to save the world.
From the wacky setup to the cute character designs, Teeto reminds me a lot of the shows and cartoons my kids would watch when they were younger. The game is broken up into four Acts with six levels each, with a bunch of interconnected islands floating above the clouds acting as a hub. While each level is accessed by individual portals, they do lead from one to the next, with a narrative throughline punctuated by cutscenes that drop hints to what caused the events leading up to the game. I enjoyed the light layer of mystery this added to the game, and while it wasn’t the driving factor to progress, I appreciated its inclusion and looked forward to finding out what happened.
I want to quickly highlight the game’s writing, which walks a clever tightrope of sounding like a child-friendly adventure and delivering some tongue-in-cheek adult gags throughout. There was more than one occasion when I was caught off guard by a character interaction or a piece of environmental detail, including one of my favourite tropes, the alternative film/videogame posters. Even the silly stuff got me, and I chuckled every time Teeto was shot across the hub on a springboard, only to slam in slapstick fashion into that Act’s star-shaped sign. It never gets crude or expletive, but it toys with the mature in a way that reminds me of classic Pixar animated films, captivating younger and older audiences with jokes meant for both.
Teeto has a fun slate of platforming moves from the beginning, including a double-jump, dodge roll/dive, and the ability to produce a small parachute and float down when holding the jump button, but it does take getting used to. I noticed that when jumping, Teeto rotates around a point behind them, as opposed to themselves, leading to some early frustrations before I got the hang ot it. It doesn’t ruin the experience, and is something that could be updated post-launch, but it was noticeable.
The ace up this jovial jelly man’s sleeve is their ability to take on certain traits from objects found in each level, from bits of cardboard to flickering flames. Teeto can have one of these equipped at a time, with each bestowing a unique ability, like magnetizing metal objects to move them and using a long vine to swing on certain points in a level. Each of these powers is used frequently across the game, not only to reach the end of each level and find the game’s various collectibles, but also during the boss encounters that bookend the four Acts. I really enjoyed using these abilities to traverse and solve puzzles; they felt good to use and self-explanatory, with only one or two moments where the solution wasn’t immediately obvious.
What makes Teeto’s gameplay feel so good, switching between different powers and exploring every nook and cranny, is the game’s level design. There is a healthy variety of levels, including linear levels with side paths, various interconnected zones, and even large open areas, giving each level its own feel and flow. Some levels even feature set pieces, shifting perspectives for chase sequences towards the camera or classic sidescrolling platforming sequences. Working in tandem with the level design are the numerous points to access powers scattered across each level, making it easy to find what you need with very little searching or backtracking.
Teeto features combat, but it certainly isn’t a focus of the game, which is evident by the lack of enemy types. Every shadowy foe is defeated with a single hit from one of Teeto’s abilities or spin attacks, and acts as more of a nuisance than a genuine threat. Teeto does have health, represented by three hearts, but dying just sets you back to the beginning of the level, and there is the option in the settings menu to turn off damage. The boss fights are fun and creative, especially the final boss, and they make good use of Teeto’s transformative powers.
Thankfully, the collect-athon side of Teeto is well serviced, with several types to find in each level. Teeto can collect stars to fill a bar, similar to what the LEGO games do with their studs, and they can be used to purchase costumes for Teeto back in the hub. There are also small blue blob creatures, previous attempts by Nory to make you, called Michaels. Yes, Michaels. Finally, there are purple, multifaceted crystals called Vionite that can be found hidden in each level or are earned by completing certain tasks. These are tracked in the UI and pause menu during levels, as well as above the portal to each level, and your total amounts are found in the hub, making it easy to find ones you may be missing.
Teeto is a cavalcade of colours, whether you are deep down in the sewers or running through an autumnal forest, and collectibles stand out, with stars often used to guide the player in certain directions. You visit several locations during the adventure, and each stands out, with its own quirks and activities to discover. The game’s kooky cast of animals and objects adds more flair to the game’s already vibrant world, with many charging Teeto and Nory with tasks in exchange for Vionite. There is also a great deal of animation work, and each of Teeto’s actions looks great, with the camera keeping the duo in frame the whole time.
Some of my favourite voice acting this year has come from Teeto, often due to the quirky delivery that can only be achieved by having a cast made up mainly of New Zealanders. It adds a fun, subversive nature to some of the side activities you find yourself doing, and I looked forward to meeting every character along the way, whether they were a pair of adorable muchrooms or a giant spider with a questionable haircut. The game’s soundtrack is bouncy and varied, with some pretty epic tracks for those more intense gameplay sections and boss fights, but I did find the game’s sound design a bit underwhelming given the cartoonish nature of the world, and feel the devs could have gone a bit harder to match the visuals.
Final Thoughts
Teeto is a delight, from its wacky world, characters, and humour, to its creative power-based puzzles and platforming. Though the sound design and enemy variety may be lacking, its polished gameplay and thoughtful design create a thoroughly enjoyable 6-8 hour 3D platforming experience that feels right at home in 2026 as it would have done in 1996.
Teeto releases on July 15th across PC, PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
Teeto was reviewed on PlayStation 5.
We would like to thank Eat Pant Games for the review key.
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