The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf may have totally skipped your radar when it released for Xbox (and various other platforms) back in late October, but it's picking up quite a bit of steam at the moment thanks to its surprisingly impressive visuals.

Our friend and former Pure Xbox team member Daniel Hollis took to Twitter recently to show off the game in all its glory, calling it "ridiculously pretty", and the tweet ended up going viral with thousands of likes and hundreds of retweets:

Daniel went on to call the game "a decent and challenging platformer, and one of the biggest hidden gems of the year", even comparing it to Super Mario Sunshine. Other reviews haven't been quite so positive, but it's still packing a reasonable average of 68/100 on OpenCritic based on 20 reviews, and keep in mind some of those ratings are for the Nintendo Switch version which doesn't look as graphically impressive.

Here's a quick sample of a few of those reviews:

DVS Gaming (7.5/10)

"If you go into Project Vileaf expecting a life-changing game experience, um, you won’t get it. It’s lacking in long-term features to keep you hanging for too long. However, it’s got a pretty fun presentation, backed by gameplay that will keep you coming back for more. It could’ve used some better balancing with enemies in some places, along with possible multiplayer, but overall, we’re just Smurfed that the game ended up being more positive than expected."

GameSpew (7/10)

"Thanks to a colourful, well-designed world, challenging platforming sections and engaging gameplay, The Smurfs – Mission Vileaf solidifies itself as an example of one of the best children’s franchise tie-in games we’ve seen in recent years. It might be a bit too challenging for younger players by themselves, but it means it’s just as fun for adults, too. This is a commendable 3D platforming adventure that players of all ages will enjoy."

ZTGD (6.5/10)

"This is a game that just feels like it exists. I was drawn in thanks to my connection to the Smurfs from my childhood. Playing with my son he enjoyed the game, but had little interest in learning about the characters. It feels like the game is more built to tug at nostalgia instead of bringing in new interest. Even so the core game is enjoyable enough to recommend for parents looking to play games with their kids. It is easy enough to play while also not being too simplified for the sake of being a ‘kids’ game. Definitely worth checking out for parents and kids alike."

If you're interested in picking it up, The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf is actually on sale on the Microsoft Store right now for £26.79 / $31.99, serving as a discount of 20% on the RRP. It's also available in physical form if you prefer.

Have you played The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf yet? Tell us what you think of it in the comments.

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