Big Hops Review – A Cozy 3D Platformer That Leaps High but Doesn’t Always Stick the Landing

A while back, I played Lil Gator Game, a charming mascot-style platformer that felt like a cozy creature adventure with open-world exploration reminiscent of Breath of the Wild. On paper, that mashup sounded odd—but it worked. So when I discovered Big Hops, a similarly styled 3D platformer starring an adorable frog instead of a gator, I was instantly intrigued.

Now, I’ll admit: I often love the idea of 3D platformers more than actually playing them. My questionable platforming skills and frequent accidental plunges into the abyss can turn excitement into frustration quickly. Still, in my ongoing quest to find the best indie game of 2026, I knew I had to see how Big Hops stacked up.

And honestly? I’m glad I did.

Narrative

Big Hops follows a young frog named Hop, who lives a quiet life in the forest with his mother and sister. That peace is disrupted when a mysterious voice calls him to a shrine. There, he encounters a strange entity known as Diss, who pulls Hop through portals into other worlds.

Diss tasks Hop with collecting “Dark Drips” while also searching for airship parts that could help him return home. What begins as a simple woodland adventure quickly veers into the supernatural. That tonal shift genuinely caught me off guard—in a good way. The stakes expand, the world opens up, and suddenly you’re navigating vibrant new realms in pursuit of both freedom and understanding.

There are four major biomes, including the Red Desert, Open Ocean, and Shattered Mountain. Each has its own mini-story, local characters, and unique problems for Hop to solve. While these smaller arcs are enjoyable, you don’t build especially deep or lasting connections with the characters once their quests conclude.

Still, the voice acting elevates everything. Hop radiates childlike innocence, and the supporting cast delivers performances that feel straight out of a well-produced Saturday morning cartoon. It’s not just the volume of voiced lines—it’s the quality. The performances add personality and warmth to every interaction.

Gameplay

If Big Hops succeeds anywhere unquestionably, it’s in movement.

On Steam Deck especially, the game feels right at home. With full controller support and smooth performance, traversal feels responsive and satisfying. I didn’t even need to check the FPS counter—it ran consistently well.

At its core, Big Hops embraces traditional 3D platforming:

• Jumping between platforms

• Climbing walls with a limited stamina bar

• Diving mid-air to extend jumps

• Reaching tricky collectibles hidden in open spaces

But what makes Big Hops stand out is Hop himself.

As a frog, Hop uses his long, sticky tongue as a multi-tool. It can latch onto surfaces to swing across gaps, grab distant levers, pick locks, and even create light graffiti. It’s a creative traversal mechanic that keeps exploration feeling fresh.

Then there’s the plant system. Throughout the game, you’ll use various fruits and vegetables that alter traversal in clever ways. Mushrooms function as bounce pads. Cacti grow temporary rope crossings. Flux plants generate low-gravity zones. Some of these tools are biome-specific, encouraging experimentation in each new region.

Shops allow you to expand your stamina bar, increase backpack capacity, upgrade your wallet, and purchase cosmetic items like outfits and dyes. You’ll also collect mixtapes that unlock new tracks from what is genuinely a fantastic soundtrack. Gathering Dark Drips unlocks trinkets that provide tangible upgrades like additional hearts and stamina boosts.

All of this combines into a game that feels joyful to move through. Traversal rarely grows stale.

However, it’s not flawless.

Certain areas feel oddly empty—large stretches of space dotted with scattered collectibles but little meaningful interaction. Some puzzles can be frustrating, and progression occasionally felt accidental rather than earned. There were moments where I couldn’t tell if I had mastered a challenge or simply stumbled into the solution by luck.

Add in a few technical issues—falling through the stage geometry, occasional crashes, reliance on autosave only—and the experience isn’t always smooth. None of these issues were rage-inducing, but they were noticeable.

Pros

Big Hops is an incredibly charming and thoughtfully designed 3D platformer that nails the feeling of movement. Traversal is fluid, expressive, and satisfying, especially when combining tongue mechanics with plant-based tools to solve puzzles in creative ways. The biomes are visually distinct and bursting with color, blending a cel-shaded cartoon style with nostalgic PS2/N64-era character platformer vibes in a way that feels both modern and comforting.

The voice acting across the board is exceptional, elevating what could have been a simple cozy adventure into something genuinely memorable. Hop’s personality shines, and the supporting cast delivers performances that feel energetic and heartfelt. The soundtrack ties everything together beautifully, with upbeat themes that make exploration consistently enjoyable.

On a technical level, performance on Steam Deck is excellent, with smooth gameplay and strong controller support. The upgrade systems, collectible hunts, and customization options provide satisfying long-term goals that give players reasons to keep exploring beyond the main objectives.

Most importantly, Big Hops is simply fun. It’s the kind of game that makes you smile while playing.

Cons

Despite its strengths, Big Hops isn’t without shortcomings. Some environments, while visually appealing, can feel sparse or underpopulated. Large open spaces occasionally lack meaningful interaction, which can make exploration feel less rewarding than intended.

Certain platforming challenges may frustrate players, especially those who struggle with precision jumping. At times, progression feels unclear, and there were moments where advancement seemed more like luck than skill. For die-hard platformer veterans, the mechanics may not feel refined enough to stand alongside the genre’s legendary entries.

Technical hiccups also hold it back. Falling through geometry, minor glitches with items, a few crashes, and the absence of manual saves can disrupt immersion. While none of these issues are game-breaking, they are noticeable enough to mention.

Overall – Should You Play Big Hops?

Big Hops doesn’t reinvent the 3D platformer, but it doesn’t need to.

What it delivers is a cozy, colorful, personality-filled adventure with movement that feels fantastic and a presentation that radiates charm. While it has occasional technical flaws and moments of frustration, the overall package is polished, heartfelt, and easy to recommend.

If you’re a fan of cozy 3D platformers with creative traversal mechanics and lighthearted storytelling, Big Hops is absolutely worth checking out. It may not dethrone the giants of the genre, but it leaps confidently into 2026 as one of the year’s most delightful indie adventures.