When video games transitioned to full 3D, platformers were among the first genres to fully embrace this new dimension. Though they dominated several console generations ago, they’re hardly the most popular genre today, even with some recent titles receiving critical praise (and more on the way in 2026). The first major indie platformer of this year has just launched, and while it has some rough edges, Big Hops remains an excellent way to sharpen your platforming abilities.
You might have caught a glimpse of Big Hops during last year’s showcases. At those events, developer Luckshot Games presented a platformer that clearly draws inspiration from Super Mario 64, featuring a charming frog protagonist who uses his tongue as a grappling hook to traverse levels. Beyond standard platforming moves like crouch-jumps, slides, and wall-runs, the game showcased a distinctive system allowing players to utilize items to forge their own routes through environments, distinguishing Big Hops from other platformers.
Big Hops eschews traditional level structures in favor of expansive open-world zones that contain smaller, isolated areas you’ll navigate at key story moments. In these open-world segments, your primary goal is to hunt for Dark Drips. According to the game’s thin narrative, the main character Hop must gather these Dark Drips to return to his forest home after being whisked away by his cosmic rival Drip.
Dark Drips are hidden in difficult-to-access spots, motivating you to explore the environment using your movement skills. You’ll gather smaller pieces that merge into complete Drips, and you can also acquire Drips by finishing concealed challenge rooms, which present more concentrated obstacle courses to challenge your platforming prowess.
These open-world zones function like playgrounds where you can freely experiment with Big Hops‘ varied movement capabilities. Nearly every challenge offers multiple approaches, letting you choose which combination of jumps and wall-runs to employ. This is where Big Hops‘ item system truly excels. As you progress, you’ll discover numerous plant types that enable you to cultivate climbable vines, release grabbable bubbles, and otherwise modify the environment to create your own routes.
Discovering the most efficient (or enjoyable) method to traverse the open world is thoroughly entertaining, provided the game doesn’t hinder your experience. While the majority of Hop’s abilities feel responsive, a handful feel rigid and aggravating. Swinging from grapple points constitutes a major gameplay element, yet it proves problematic throughout. You must leverage Hop’s momentum to swing from these anchors, but based on your approach distance and angle, you’ll frequently find yourself hanging helplessly like a hooked fish, and regaining momentum once lost is temperamental.
Aiming with Hop’s tongue presents another significant issue. When multiple objects are within range, you have virtually no control over which one Hop will latch onto, and an occasionally cumbersome camera exacerbates the difficulty. This primarily becomes an issue in more confined spaces, where your freedom to tackle challenges is severely limited. These areas often demand a specific solution, causing the broad movement options available in the open world to feel considerably more restricted.
Although it doesn’t fully embrace its freeform level design philosophy, Big Hops largely succeeds as a distinctive platformer. Creating inventive routes through environments feels rewarding, delivering the gratifying feeling of outsmarting the game through strategic item usage. While the narrative largely serves as padding, it features pleasant voice acting, humorous lines, and endearing characters. Despite its flaws, Big Hops offers a fresh approach to 3D platforming that’s definitely worth experiencing.