When video games first moved to full 3D, platformers were among the first titles to take full advantage of this newfound dimension. While 3D platformers were all the rage a few console generations ago, they’re far from the most popular genre these days, despite some earning widespread acclaim in recent years (and even more promising ones coming in 2026). This year’s first big indie platformer has just arrived, and despite some undercooked ideas, Big Hops is still a great way to dust off your jumping skills.
You may have seen Big Hops during last year’s Day of the Devs: The Game Awards Edition. There, developer Luckshot Games showed off a clearly Super Mario 64-influenced platformer starring an adorable frog who uses his tongue like a grappling hook to zip around levels. On top of a suite of expected platforming maneuvers like crouch-jumps, slides, and wall-runs, it also displayed a unique system that lets players use items to make their own paths through environments, setting Big Hops apart from every other platformer out there.
