Tongue-Tying Adventure: 3D Platformer “Big Hops” Leaps onto All Platforms Today

After six and a half years of development, Luckshot Games has officially released its highly anticipated 3D action platformer, “Big Hops,” today on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Combining the fluid movement of Super Mario Odyssey with the emergent problem-solving of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the game has already earned a 99% “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating from its Steam demo users.

🐸 Hop’s Quest: A Frog’s Journey Home

The game follows Hop, a young frog kidnapped by a mischievous spirit named Diss. To return home, Hop must help an old raccoon find airship parts scattered across diverse, vibrant worlds. From the treacherous hideouts of the “Gulley Gang” in the red desert to the oil rigs of “DrillCO” in the vast ocean, players will explore unique ecosystems and resolve local conflicts to pave their way back to their family.

👅 Master the Tongue and the “Veggie” System

Big Hops stands out for its incredibly deep movement and interaction mechanics:

• The Swiss Army Tongue: Hop’s tongue is a versatile tool used for swinging from grapple points, picking locks, rotating valves, and snatching items.
• Parkour Mastery: The movement system includes wall running, rail grinding, free climbing, and pole swinging, offering a level of freedom rarely seen in indie platformers.
• Creative “Veggie” Physics: Inspired by Spelunky and Zelda, players can use various “Veggies” (mushrooms, acorns, balloons, etc.) to create their own solutions. Need to reach a high ledge? Place a bouncy mushroom. Need to cross a gap? Use an oil ball. Once you unlock the Backpack, you can store and combine these items for even more complex maneuvers.

🎨 From VR Frustration to Indie Success

Director Chris Wade started the project in 2019 while working at Owlchemy Labs (Job Simulator). Frustrated by the movement restrictions of VR at the time, he set out to create the “exact opposite”—a game defined by total freedom of movement.

Following a successful Kickstarter campaign in June 2025, the game gained massive traction at GDC 2025, where critics praised its “emergent gameplay” that allows players to find their own “illegal” solutions to puzzles, much like Tears of the Kingdom.

Developer Luckshot Games

Luckshot Games, an independent development studio founded in 2015 by developer Chris Wade , has been gaining traction in the indie game scene with games that emphasize character individuality and unique physics-based movement. They’ve released three titles to date, and “Big Hops” in particular was the result of over six years of development and successful Kickstarter funding.