Big Hops, a new indie 3D platformer from Luckshot Games, has launched to acclaim for its fluid controls and innovative mechanics. Players control Hop, a young frog using a versatile tongue and special fruits to navigate vibrant worlds. The game emphasizes exploration and creativity over combat, delivering eight hours of engaging content.
Released on January 12, 2026, Big Hops is available on PS5, PC, Switch, and Switch 2. In the game, players guide Hop, a talking frog dreaming of adventure beyond his forest home. The story begins with a hike alongside his sister, serving as a brief tutorial, before a mysterious voice pulls him into another dimension. Hop's journey spans three worlds, where he collects pieces to return home.
Core to the experience is Hop's long tongue, enabling grappling, swinging, opening chests, flipping levers, and even a unique lock-picking mini-game. This mechanic integrates seamlessly, feeling as natural as basic jumps and rolls, without relying on constant prompts. The tongue elevates platforming, allowing creative solutions in massive semi-open worlds populated by characters like pirate otters and punk rock bats.
Variety comes from collectible fruits with effects, such as creating rope bridges, starting fires, or forming grapple points with sticky apples. Players can store multiple fruits in an expandable backpack, encouraging experimentation—even in unintended areas. This freedom lets users skip sections or solve puzzles unconventionally, often uncovering hidden collectibles as rewards.
Big Hops avoids traditional combat, focusing 90 percent on platforming, exploration, and puzzles, with minor exceptions like chasable bugs and simple boss fights. Visually, it features cel-shaded aesthetics with crisp colors, running at a mostly locked 60 frames per second on PS5 for snappy performance. The soundtrack evokes classic PS1 and N64 platformers, while voice acting enhances the adventure.
Though some performance issues and glitches appear, the game's strengths in controls, visuals, tongue mechanics, and music make it a standout. As the back-of-the-box quote notes: “Hop does what Mario won’t: Licking everything useful he sees.” Reviewers suggest it offers lessons for major developers in rewarding player creativity.
