
Release Date: January 12, 2026
A 3D platformer starring a jumping frog. In Big Hops we skillfully explore four worlds, creating paths with flora and using the frog's tongue to interact with objects or to swing on the tongue like a rope. All of this is presented using colorful and vibrant graphics.
The independent studio Luckshot Games has set itself the goal of modernizing the genre of 3D platform games, emphasizing freedom of movement and creativity in level progression. Started in 2019 and financially supported by the community, Big Hops is heavily inspired by the Super Mario series (64, Galaxy).
In the arcade game Big Hops, movement is the most important aspect, and it involves many surfaces. The character we control can roll, dive, jump, run on walls, climb, swim, slide on their stomach and on railings, walk on a rope, or swing on a bar. The primary tool for interaction is our tongue: with it, we open doors, draw objects to our amphibian hands, launch objects, and finally swing on it like Spider-Man.
Freedom in frog parkour is enhanced by creatively building paths using plant elements placed anywhere. For example, mushrooms serve as trampolines, balloons create temporary platforms, cacti shoot out ropes that allow us to get to the other side of a chasm, and thanks to apples, we swing on our long tongue. The expelled acorns produce vines around the walls and ceilings, helping to climb further.
Although we can only hold one item at a time, Hop is equipped with a backpack that can hold more and more useful objects. Opening the inventory slows down time, which helps in calmly planning the jumper's next moves.
We take on the role of Hop - a young frog kidnapped by a trickster named Diss. An old raccoon offers to help Hop return to his family home, but he will need parts for an airship to do so. To construct the aerostat, we must explore a forest, desert, ocean, and mountains. Our tasks include infiltrating a gang's hideout, rescuing oil rig workers, and sneaking into caves. Each of the four worlds in Big Hops offers a self-contained story, during which we encounter a large number of characters.
Big Hops is characterized by a vibrant, colorful visual style with distinct, sharp-edged models.
Platforms:
PC Windows
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 5
Developer: Luckshot Games
Publisher: Luckshot Games
System Requirements for Big Hops Video Game:
PC / Windows
Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i5 2.8 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 3 GB GeForce GTX 1060, 5 GB HDD, Windows 7 64-bit.
Game Ratings for Big Hops Video Game.
LadiesGamers.com: by James Luff
Big Hops is one of those games that simply makes you smile. It’s incredibly well put together, with movement that feels as good as anything else in the genre right now. The balance between story, exploration, and gameplay is spot on, and the sheer pleasure of moving through its worlds rarely wears thin. Plus, I was smiling the entire time I played it. It’s early in the year, but Big Hops has already put itself firmly on my radar as a game-of-the-year contender. It’s a reminder of how magical a great platformer can be when it gets the fundamentals right. Don’t let this one hop past your Steam library.
SteamDeckHQ: 4.5 / 5 by Michael Baker
Big Hops did something interesting today: it charmed a player who is terrible at platformers into liking it. The gameplay offers plenty of variety with its different mechanics, and I’ve found the story and characters charming. If you fancy a new platformer game with both charm and depth, this is a great way to kick off 2026! It isn’t perfect, of course, with some irritating camera bugs, a general lack of customization for game settings, and some very frustrating moments at times. None of these are dealbreakers, however, and I can heartily recommend Big Hops both as a solid game in its genre and a great addition to the Steam Deck library.
Final Weapon: 2 / 5 by Saras Rajpal
Big Hops is an experience rife with frustrating flaws. While it has elements that work well, such as the gameplay mechanics and narrative premise, it is undermined by a lackluster presentation, worlds that feel barren and empty, and numerous technical glitches. Further, because of these problems, I never wanted to find any of the collectibles. At the end of the day, it pales in comparison to other 3D platformers, whether indie or AAA.
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