Any new features which allow runtime bendable sprites?

Is setting up a bunch of hinge joints still the best way to make a bendable sprite? A sausage for example.

Or have we progressed to something a bit more advanced?

i’m thinking this could work (have never actually tried it though)

I used this system for my last released game Paladin. But didn’t come across any kind of physics-based malleability, I could have missed it though. Thanks for the suggestion!