Penny's Big Breakaway Critic Reviews

Aside from a few issues, I have no complaints with Penny’s Big Breakaway. It is a joy from start to finish with its sublime gameplay, superlative soundtrack, and gorgeous visuals. Playing it on Steam Deck OLED at 90fps made me not want to bother with the other versions at all. Not only is it a great fit for portable play, but having an uncompromised version with no technical issues elevated Penny’s Big Breakaway further. I can’t wait to replay it regularly throughout the year. This is my favorite 3D platformer since Super Mario Odyssey and I hope the soundtrack gets a vinyl release in the future.

3D platformers can still be done well, it turns out. All you have to do is focus on the action, fix the camera in place, and fine-tune the controls. Things like the narrative still need your attention, just not as much of it. I was pleasantly surprised by this game. Penny’s adventure is well-crafted, colorful, and tons of fun. The challenge level gets pretty high, sure. And the controls are still built for speed. But this is all part of the package. If you’re looking for a new 3D platformer, Penny’s Big Breakaway should be at the top of your list.

Penny´s Big Breakaway is a surprisingly solid jump into the 3D realm by the creators of Sonic Mania, brimming with color and energy and sporting a surprisingly good soundtrack.

Penny’s Big Breakaway proves that the art of busking is never easy, but it is always worth it. Those that can wrangle Penny and Yo-Yo’s tricks – and not get caught up in the strings – will enjoy going around the world for a high score.

Penny’s Big Breakaway is the closest somebody that isn’t Nintendo has gotten to making 3D platforming feel perfect, and that’s a huge achievement in itself. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s hard not to love something that’s made with such passion for retro 3D platforming.

A creative fusion of familiar platformer elements that improves with time and investment, and proof that Evening Star is more than just the Sonic Mania crew.

I know that this game has some downsides, especially in its subpar beginning stages, but the latter ones are so polished, so fun to play, and work so well with the incredible platforming skills and controls of the game, that I just must go with my heart here and give it one of the highest praises I can give a game: It's just so much fun.

An ingenious combo-driven challenge that's speedy and fun.

A lively platformer with inventive, albeit sometimes somewhat cumbersome game mechanics, but with plenty of challenges and lots to discover.

A compelling game lies at the heart of Penny's Big Breakaway. If you're willing to give it the proper staging and some time to practice, it will put on a great show as a speedy platformer with a fun learning curve. However, getting to that point requires seeing past its many distracting elements. I enjoyed my time with Penny, but if we're being honest, I think she needs to polish her act.

Penny's Big Breakaway isn't one of the genre's greats, but it's a very unique and fun 3D platformer.

But then, even a hazy, dreamlike story could be interpreted as a tribute. Penny's Big Breakaway is a loving tribute to a bygone era, warts and all. Its new and inventive ideas, like the acrobatic yo-yo mechanic or the penguins hot on your tail, show a level of cleverness, but it is also a sweet, earnest throwback. I'd like to see Penny return, though maybe next time, this lost-gem motif can be applied to a less restrictive era in 3D platforming.

There’s a great game somewhere inside Penny’s Big Breakaway, and it’s entirely possible we’ll see it one day, but right now, it’s just not there yet.

Penny's Big Breakaway is a fun 3D platformer with great locomotion, but a whole host of bugs and checkpoint issues spoil the good time.

It's clear there is a lot of love and passion put into it. The good, for the most part, outweighs the bad as it is quite charming and fun when you're not fighting against the wonky camera or frustrating glitches. I would recommend Penny's Big Breakaway only to fans who love the genre. If Evening Star can take what they've learned here and iron out the kinks, then I think they could make something truly spectacular.

In depicting a bold move that goes dreadfully awry, that opening cinematic proves unfortunately prescient.