Big Hops Review: A Charming Froggy Platformer With Big Personality

Last year was a major coming out party for indies of all sizes and genre types. It was honestly an overabundance of riches, where it felt like at any time in a month you could point to something that was a standout title. Metroidvanias, 2D and 3D RPGs, action titles, puzzle games, even horror games too. Sadly, one of my favorite genres, the 3D platformer, was missing in action from all of the indie love in 2025. Thankfully, the early portion of 2026 looks to change that as director Chris Wade and the Luckshot Games team release Big Hops to the world.

Bringing with it not only the expected jumps and grand 3D spaces, but also blazing its own path in how its main character moves throughout the world and even using food as special items, Big Hops consistently provides delightful surprises throughout its runtime. Most of all, it’s the enjoyment in how it all comes together that makes this an absolutely memorable experience.

Game Name: Big Hops
Platform(s): PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC (Reviewed)
Publisher(s): Luckshot Games
Developer(s): Luckshot Games
Release Date: January 12, 2026

Meet Hop: A Frog Out of His Depth

Big Hops revolves around the main character, an adorable frog named Hop, who wakes up from a weird dream to find his sister waiting for him so they can race through the forest. After choosing something to eat, the trek through the forest begins. During this run, Hop is called by a mysterious voice to help them by finding hidden orbs. Once Hop finds them all, he’s pulled through a portal into a dark world called The Void, where platforms mysteriously curve around and an impish figure named Diss appears.

Hop makes it to the presumptive end of the area, where Diss reveals that Hop’s been separated from his family, with seemingly no way to get home again without meeting what Diss demands. Our reluctant hero then sets out on a journey across four different biomes to find crucial airship parts, so that he can hopefully get home to his family once again.

As is the case with most platformers, the narrative serves its purpose of stringing the player along as Hop traverses the game’s distinct worlds. The story itself is fine, but what captivated me the most was its vast array of animal characters Hop meets throughout the adventure. Diss’s mischievous role as the main antagonist works well, but once the gameplay takes hold, you’ll largely forget he’s there until it’s time for him to appear again.

A Moveset That Encourages Experimentation

As an avid platformer enjoyer, it doesn’t take long for Big Hops to immerse me in its expedition. Pretty quickly, Hop is introduced to a number of fruits and veggies that grow on trees throughout the biomes, which provide a number of power-ups. For example, mushrooms help Hop jump higher, acorns create expanding vines, apples help cross long distances, and so on. While some things, such as apples and switches, are purposely placed in the “correct spots,” what you use to get through these strategic points is totally up to you, providing a sense of freedom that’s much more akin to an adventure title like The Legend of Zelda than what you’d traditionally see in a Super Mario game.

The amalgamation of these two influences is the central cog that makes Big Hops truly special. Rarely is there a moment in the adventure where you are forced to get to the next area using only one method. If you’d rather use Hop’s tongue to swing on an apple, throw an acorn to create a vine, then jump off it and toss a cactus to create a balance beam, it can be done. Using the veggies along with Hop’s various moves keeps the ideas fresh and the movement flowing. I never tired of finding new ways to get Hop to his next destination, with froggy parkour being my favorite.

Perhaps it’s also because the game isn’t out to frustrate you as the player. In fact, it encourages you to explore and find a simple item, or even a failsafe if Hop takes a fall.

Outside of some slightly annoying moments where the camera couldn’t zoom out far enough, I was always having fun trying to figure out what a certain veggie did, like the red peppers that literally burn whatever they touch. The best moments in games are when interactivity is rewarded, and Big Hops does that in spades. Once Hop gets going and the moves all work in unison, it’s just a joy to play.

A Bright World With Personality

Another immense positive of Big Hops is how bright and colorful its environments are. The level design in each biome feels large, yet inviting, giving the sense that Hop is running through a cartoon, where The Void’s dark purple aesthetic contrasts sharply with the forest’s greens and blues. Somehow it all works together, making it a pleasure to venture through each section, always wondering what lies behind the next corner.

It also helps that the game is fully voiced, with each NPC speaking their lines. There’s an impressive voice cast on display in Big Hops, such as Steve Blum, Kat Cressida, and Ben Diskin, who all lend their talents to a number of characters. This adds so much to the experience, since it would have been easy to only have voices for the central characters and then text for the NPCs. But Luckshot Games went the extra mile to add life to the world, where any creature you meet has something to say with their own personality in tow.

Hop himself is full of expression at all times, and if you play the game with a touch screen, his tongue will follow your finger across the screen, which is just so cute.

What would a platformer be without a matching soundtrack? Big Hops delivers here as well, with catchy tunes such as the one you can hear while exploring Duster Bluffs. Other biomes, and even The Void, have their own succulent auditory selections that catch your ear and stick with you even when not playing.

Fun Collecting, Limited Backtracking

Mario has red coins, Sonic has rings, Donkey Kong has bananas, and Hop has Dark Drips? Of course, there is a collecting aspect in Big Hops and, as one would expect, it’s easy to see them, but not always easy to actually obtain them. Diss’s nefarious reasons for having Hop gather the purple orbs remain a mystery until later in the game, but you should have enough of them to progress the main tale without much issue.

However, for the completionist out there, it may be a different story, as proceeding through the narrative does gate collection and side quest progression. Once the story shifts to a different biome, Hop cannot return to the previous one, thus locking you out of obtaining anything left behind. I’m not sure if backtracking could be added in an update later on, but it is annoying for those that wish to 100% everything.

At least collecting in Big Hops doesn’t have to be taken super seriously, as the various veggies used throughout the adventure can also be cultivated as plants or purchased in shops. Hop also has a bag that can be expanded as the journey continues, allowing him to carry more items and have veggies available whenever the need arises.

There are also quite a number of insects to find throughout the world, too. Hop does an identifying mini-game when finding a new species, and then he can decide to eat it right then, or save it as a snack for later when health is low.

Big Hops Sticks the Landing

Luckshot Games have given us the first indie gem of 2026 in Big Hops. With its endlessly entertaining platforming, vibrant world, and constant surprises, it was an absolute pleasure to play through. The team did a wonderful job creating this adventure and, with how adorable Hop is, there may certainly be a franchise developing in the future for our froggy friend.

Review Disclosure Statement: A digital code for Big Hops was provided to us by Luckshot Games for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy for more details.