Indie gaming is usually obsessed with two things right now: cozy farming or punishing soulslikes. Then comes Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo. It doesn't really care about your expectations. It’s a top-down action-adventure that feels like a fever dream sparked by a 90s Saturday morning cartoon. You play as a bat named Pipistrello. Your only weapon? A literal cursed yoyo.
It sounds goofy. It is goofy. But beneath the vibrant, pixel-art exterior is a mechanical depth that most AAA studios forget to include. Developed by the solo dev or small team (depending on which dev log you follow) at Fossil Games, this title has been quietly building a cult following. It’s not just a platformer. It’s a physics-based brawler that demands you actually learn how a yoyo moves in 2D space.
What exactly is Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo?
Most people see a yoyo in a game and think "oh, it’s just a whip with a different skin." Wrong. In Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo, the physics matter. You aren't just mashing a button to hit things in front of you. You have to manage the "return" of the yoyo. You have to think about the arc. Honestly, it's more like a boomerang-grappling-hook hybrid than a traditional weapon.
The plot is delightfully absurd. You’re trying to reclaim your family’s estate from four powerful crime families who have carved up the city. It’s essentially a "take back the streets" story, but everyone is an animal and the stakes involve ancient, mystical cursed toys. The world-building here is dense. You’ll find yourself wandering through neon-lit urban districts that feel lived-in, messy, and slightly dangerous. It’s got that "urban decay meets neon pop" aesthetic that shouldn't work but somehow does.
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The Mechanics of the Curse
Let's talk about the "Cursed" part of the title. This isn't just flavor text. The yoyo is a sentient, hungry thing. As you progress, you unlock different "tricks" that change your movement and combat styles.
- Walk the Dog: It’s not just a trick; it’s a ground-based area-of-effect attack that lets you clear out smaller enemies like literal pests.
- Around the World: This acts as your primary defensive maneuver, creating a 360-degree barrier that requires precise timing to maintain.
- The Warp: This is where the game gets "Metroidvania-lite." You can zip to wherever your yoyo is currently spinning, allowing for some of the fastest traversal I've seen in a top-down game.
The learning curve is steep. You will fail. You will miss a jump because you didn't account for the yoyo's weight. But when it clicks? It's magic. It feels like playing Zelda if Link had a caffeine addiction and a much better sense of style.
Why the "Indie" Label Doesn't Do It Justice
We use the word "indie" to describe everything from Stardew Valley to Hades. It’s a broad brush. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo fits into that weird middle ground of "high-effort, high-polish" games that feel like they belong on a GameBoy Advance but play like a modern PC masterpiece. The soundtrack is a massive part of this. It’s a mix of lo-fi hip hop and high-energy synth that reacts to what’s happening on screen.
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If you're looking for a game that respects your time, this is it. It doesn't have 40 hours of filler. It has 8 to 12 hours of pure, unadulterated "how did they think of this?" moments. The boss fights against the crime lords are genuine puzzles. You can't just brute force them. You have to use the environment, your yoyo’s current curse level, and a lot of twitch reflexes.
Why is everyone talking about the "Cursed" difficulty?
There’s a rumor—partially true, partially internet myth—that the game gets harder the more you use your "Cursed" abilities. It’s a risk-reward system. Use the curse to blast through a room? Fine. But don't be surprised if the enemies in the next room are faster, meaner, and have more health. It forces you to play smart. It’s not just about winning; it’s about managing the "corruption" of the yoyo.
Many players compare this to the "World Tendency" system in Demon's Souls, though it's much more localized. It’s a brilliant way to handle difficulty without just having a slider in the menu. It feels organic. It feels like the yoyo is actually fighting back against you.
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Getting Started: Actionable Advice for New Players
If you’re just picking this up, don't play it like a brawler. If you try to run into a group of enemies and mash the attack button, you’re going to die. Instantly.
- Master the Recoil: Your yoyo takes a split second to come back. That’s your window of vulnerability. Learn to use your dash during that window.
- Explore the Backalleys: Fossil Games hid a lot of the best upgrades in places that look like dead ends. If you see a cracked wall or a weirdly placed dumpster, use your yoyo on it.
- Talk to Everyone: The NPCs aren't just there for flavor. They give you "Tricks" which are essentially side-quests that unlock new movement tech.
- Don't Fear the Curse: You're going to want to hoard your curse meter. Don't. The game is designed for you to use it and deal with the consequences later. It’s much more fun that way.
The game is currently available on Steam and is making its way to consoles. It’s one of those rare titles that reminds you why video games are supposed to be fun in the first place—not just "content" to be consumed, but a weird, specific vision from a creator who clearly loves the medium. Go play it. Get frustrated. Master the yoyo. It’s worth every second.