Heck Deck
Heck Deck
Game
Game2024
Penny’s Big Breakaway
Developer Evening Star
Penny's Big Breakaway is a 2024 platform game developed by Evening Star and published by Private Division. It was released on February 21, 2024, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. The game was announced during a Nintendo Direct presentation which aired on June 21, 2023. The game follows Penny and her yo-yo, who must evade Emperor Eddie and his army of penguins after causing a stir. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
424 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Nov 4, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
74
Fresh
146 positive · 51 negative
95% range 68–80%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 146 | 51 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 82 | 10 | 105 |
| Mastodon * | 6 | 1 | 23 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
918 of 1,153 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
74% recommend · 142 yes, 51 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 193 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (1,059 of 1,323 positive).
Many players praise the vibrant art style and soundtrack. [1][2][3] Some reviewers find the controls clunky and the game buggy. [4][5][6] Several players note a high learning curve but rewarding gameplay. [7][2][8]
Liked
Representative posts
- [15]
This game has huge potential to be fantastic. The artstyle is great. The music is great. The character is very expressive and endearing. The movement *almost* feels really good. but unfortunately there are a couple problems that, collectively, prevent me from recommending this game, which pains me to say cause I can feel how much love was put in to this game. But, it's the truth. First is the camera. You have …
- [7]
The game is actually good if you spend more than 30 minutes learning the controls and actually engage with the moveset. Anybody calling it clunky is impatient or stupid. The bosses do kinda suck and the penguins are annoying. Overall I enjoyed it a lot.
- [4]
The movement starts off feeling clunky. You're barely rewarded for going fast, if you want high scores you're better off looping the same 2 tricks without moving forward to max out your combo. Clipping through or getting stuck in terrain was too common for a normal playthrough, the attempt at a story is still half baked and the stage-finish minigame gets repetitive fast, among other problems. The way I see it, …
- [10]
i cannot comprehend the negative reviews of this game. Penny's Big Breakaway is crack cocaine. it is one of the most kinetic and fun to play in platformers i have ever played. everything about it feels SO good, and the way the developers have intuited the intentions of the player in what can become slightly chaotic movement is marvelous. i found myself immediately discovering combos that helped build speed and bring …
- [1]
i saw the review stats of this game and i feel i need to leave a review this game is amazing the fluid control of the movement is super good and the artstyle is great 9/10
Summarised from 34 of the 379 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 10, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
74% of the 193 Steam reviewers we collected recommend Penny’s Big Breakaway. The complaint that keeps coming up: controls feel clunky or slippery. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Penny's Big Breakaway received "generally favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received strong approval, being recommended by 63% of critics. Tomas Franzese of Digital Trends praised the game for its unique controls and yo-yo mechanics, noting that they were inspired by skateboard video games. However, Franzese criticized its difficult bosses. While acknowledging that the game "was hard to put down", he opted that "frustrations with these boss fights are what caused me to end my play session and come back later." Reviewing the Switch version, Mitch Vogel of Nintendo Life praised the game for its…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 424 · most liked firstIt's Penny's first birthday! Penny's Big Breakaway launched on February 21, 2024! And, Evening Star now has a BlueSky account! Wow! To celebrate the occasion, Penny's Senior 3D Artist @oddrobot.com has prepared a papercraft Penny! You can print it out and build one yourself with these links:
neutral · AI labelView post →Yo, yo! Doodle of Penny from a while back 😊 #art #fanart #pennysbigbreakaway @eveningstar.studio
neutral · AI labelView post →In terms of the vibe of Penny's Big Breakaway, it's pretty chill! Each area in the game has its own unique setting and vibe, but across the board it's a relaxed and upbeat game 😊 the graphics are really cool as well, I love the cartoon look of em, and they're very colorful as well! It's a nice vibe!
positive · AI labelView post →The next game that I'll be playing is Penny's Big Breakaway! ngl I don't know too much about this game, but I do know that it's a 3D platformer that was made by the same devs that made Sonic Mania! That's pretty much all I know about the game, but I loved Sonic Mania, so I'm excited for this game!
positive · AI labelView post →Penny's Big Breakaway has a ton of awesome worlds that you get to visit throughout the game! This is World's Edge, and I love the mysterious and wondrous feel that they created with the world! The blend of space and library vibes is really cool, and the music is a bop! It's a fun world to explore!
positive · AI labelView post →Banger OST time! This is one of the boss themes in Penny's Big Breakaway! This track goes crazy! The track features a ton of instruments, all of which contribute to creating an awesome sound! My favorites are the trumpets and saxophone, they sound absolutely amazing 🥹 it's an incredible boss theme!
positive · AI labelView post →I absolutely love the vibes of this beach world in Penny's Big Breakaway 🥹 it's super chill! The color palette that they chose for the world is really pleasant, and the scenery is so beautiful! I also love the music for the world, it's nice and relaxed 😊 it's my favorite world in the game so far!
positive · AI labelView post →Finally played a bit of Penny's Big Breakaway and I'm loving it so far! The art direction is amazing, it looks like a cross between a storybook illustration and the old-school promotional renders for a lost playstation classic.
positive · AI labelView post →Banger OST time! This track plays on the level select screen in Penny's Big Breakaway! This track is bumping, the piano, guitar, synths, and drums are very upbeat and vibrant! The track has a somewhat nostalgic sound to it, it sounds like it could've been from an early era 3D platformer! It's a bop!
positive · AI labelView post →Penny's Big Breakaway is a wrap! Took around 9 hours to beat. This game was a blast! The gameplay was so much fun, the yo-yo was really cool and made the platforming fast and satisfying! The OST was a bop as well, and I enjoyed the comfy vibes of the game 😊 this one was awesome, I really enjoyed it!
positive · AI labelView post →Chill OST time! This track plays in Tideswell in Penny's Big Breakaway! This track is so beautiful 🥹 the relaxed vibes are amazing, and the synths, drums, guitar, and organ all sound fantastic! My favorites are the vibraphone and melodica, they add such a unique sound to the track! It's a bop!
positive · AI labelView post →Some Penny's Big Breakaway love in my @MAGFest set video by @jogurtfm.bsky.social
neutral · AI labelView post →This chase scene in Penny's Big Breakaway was a ton of fun! The scene totally fits the vibe of the game cuz it's so goofy, you're outrunning a big ball of penguins 🤣 it is tense at points tho! The ball of penguins can sneak up on you if you're moving too slow 😅 it was a blast to play through!
positive · AI labelView post →This track is called "Mano-e-Yo-Yo"! Penny's Big Breakaway was a totally awesome game! The platforming was a ton of fun, and the yo-yo mechanic added a unique twist to traversing the levels! The game also had a bumping OST, and the vibes were chill as well! It was a wonderful experience 😊
positive · AI labelView post →Penny's Big Breakaway
neutral · AI labelView post →This track is called "Hello Macaroon"! Penny's Big Breakaway was an awesome game! The gameplay was a ton of fun, the movement felt fantastic and the worlds were colorful and well crafted! The vibes were very comfy as well, it was nice 😊 hopefully the developer will make another game at some point!
positive · AI labelView post →Re-replaying Penny's Big Breakaway again (because of course I am) and these are definitely my new favorite lesbians.
positive · AI labelView post →This track is called "Refracting Feelings"! Penny's Big Breakaway was such an awesome game 🥹 the platforming was solid, and the yo-yo mechanic added a bunch of fun ways to approach traversing the levels! The game also had colorful graphics, and the vibes were nice 😊 it was a blast to play through!
positive · AI labelView post →been thinking about how much talk about games compulsively veers towards reversion to the mean. Ninja Gaiden 4's camera "no longer fights the player" because it is now like every other game, unlike the first three, whose camera system is bespoke. God Hand, Kirby Air Ride, Penny's Big Breakaway, etc
neutral · AI labelView post →Proper intro... I'm Hunter Bridges. Game creator who does lots of stuff. Some credits: - Sonic Mania - Programmer, Project Manager - Penny's Big Breakaway - Game Director, Technical Director - Zero Zero: Perfect Stop - Creator I also write music, and have written tracks on several game OSTs!
neutral · AI labelView post →Penny's Big Breakaway (Steam) is $15.71 on Gamebillet buff.ly/3CALsTo $17.99 XBL buff.ly/498XjEE Deck verified
neutral · AI labelView post →Penny's Big Breakaway (Steam) is $14.83 on Gamebillet buff.ly/ok8a01K Deck verified
neutral · AI labelView post →Penny's Big Breakaway (Steam) is $14.67 on Gamebillet buff.ly/F3zrojf $14.99 US eShop buff.ly/GjG6DFm $14.99 US PSN buff.ly/XboTRgs PS5/XSX physical $51 at VGP buff.ly/5RbqAkx Deck verified
neutral · AI labelView post →Penny's Big Breakaway is $9.99 on US eShop buff.ly/jHbs3Ny (Steam) $8.93 on GMG XP Offer buff.ly/6ZBl7PI #ad physical at VGP buff.ly/CvBmaXl
neutral · AI labelView post →I'll be speaking at #GDC, discussing how Penny's Big Breakaway became the first ever commercial title to ship using the Beef programming language! It will be a fun dive into developer ergonomics, language boundaries, and finding bugs in 64-bit disassembly
neutral · AI labelView post →Was replaying a bit of Penny's Big Breakaway. Every time I come back to this game, it gets better and better. Man this game is fun
positive · AI labelView post →#5: PENNY'S BIG BREAKAWAY I spent all night replaying some favorites, trying to decide which game would take this spot, and ultimately went with the one I found hardest to put down! My personal epitome of, "Companies don't make video games, PEOPLE do." Thank you, Evening Star!
positive · AI labelView post →One of the best indie 3D platformers now forever preserved is pretty great to have. Thanks, Evening Star and @limitedrungames.com! #PennysBigBreakaway
positive · AI labelView post →I've kinda slacked on games this year. I need to finish Prince of Persia still, very fun game. Slay the Princess looks really cool. I bought Animal Well and Crow Country. Almost done with Dread Delusion, I think? Played a few stages of Penny's Big Breakaway, which was so cool.
positive · AI labelView post →I love you Penny's Big Breakaway (we all say in unison)
positive · AI labelView post →After getting distracted by Ninja Gaiden back in the Spring, I finally finished Penny's Big Breakaway! Lotta names I recognized in the credits, including this one under the Special Thanks.
positive · AI labelView post →Penny's Big Breakaway (Steam) is $12.37 on PlanetPlay w/ code WARIO25 buff.ly/dEQqgwA Deck verified
neutral · AI labelView post →Fun detail: that collar thingy my character Aster has is directly inspired by NiGHTS' design! Also Penny from Penny's Big Breakaway ^^
neutral · AI labelView post →It hasn't been three months and Penny's Big Breakaway is already on sale on every platform with a playable demo now. I can't recommend the game enough for folks that want a platformer that doesn't guard rail you everywhere. I have it on PC but always wanted to see how it works on Switch.
positive · AI labelView post →So uh, saw this character Mr Q in Penny's Big Breakaway and been kind of stuck on his design, for reasons. Thanks to @yepperspeppers.bsky.social for doing this TF art of me into him.
neutral · AI labelView post →Finished Penny's Big Breakaway Utterly charming music and Sega Saturn inspired graphics but for a game that's all about maintaining speed and momentum to keep up a combo, the controls seem to actively fight against you. When they work, it's a terrific feeling, but they often leave you wanting
neutral · AI labelView post →Penny's Big Breakaway (2024) Did another revisit to this game over the course of several nights. A slow, overly scrutinizing trip where I looked at everything in closer detail, read all the dialogue, took notes, etc. What a pleasure! /K
positive · AI labelView post →I need to finish Penny's Big Breakaway. Game was very fun and maybe the closest to an actually good 3D Sonic since the Adventure games, though at times it was a little obtuse to control and the bosses were hit or miss. LOVED replaying the stages though, it was so addictive. Need to get back on it.
neutral · AI labelView post →Taboo Artist from Penny's Big Breakaway (2024), has little to no Rule34; As requested by an Anonymous background noise maker.
neutral · AI labelView post →And a world record live on stream! GG @debeaunairvt.bsky.social! Up next, @mildew.bsky.social with Penny's Big Breakaway! twitch.tv/speed4live
neutral · AI labelView post →Penny's Big Breakaway is a vibe.
positive · AI labelView post →[Update] Added Penny (Penny's Big Breakaway).
neutral · AI labelView post →Penny's Big Breakaway was fun! Loved the Treasure-core aesthetic. Continuing with Epic Mickey Rebrushed
positive · AI labelView post →Penny's Big Breakaway developer Evening Star has had to cut its staff mynintendonews.com/2024/09/14/p...
neutral · AI labelView post →Take the stage today with Penny & Yo-Yo to Swing, Whirl, Ride, & Soar your way across the vibrant world of Macaroon! Showcase your catalog of tricks in this easy-to-play, difficult-to-master 3-D platforming game. #PennysBigBreakaway is available now on #NintendoSwitch! youtu.be/f8wjN2E8NmA?...
neutral · AI labelView post →The game is actually good if you spend more than 30 minutes learning the controls and actually engage with the moveset. Anybody calling it clunky is impatient or stupid. The bosses do kinda suck and the penguins are annoying. Overall I enjoyed it a lot.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🤜SCHEDULE🤛 no more spooktober... But it lives on in The King in Yellow! We're also starting Penny's Big Breakaway for real this week Hell Yeah, PLUS Bionicle Mata Nui Online Game and Paper Mario continuations yahoo :>
neutral · AI labelView post →Penny's Big Breakaway gives me *such* a particular vibe, it's the only game that's ever made me WANT to try playing it with this:
positive · AI labelView post →I have a problem with AstroBot however, and it's the music. Great, produced, cute, dynamic, in sync with the game. But it's so streamlined, undaring and predictable it bores me to death. Any song from Penny's Big Breakaway blows those milquetoast chord progressions and grooves out of the water.
positive · AI labelView post →Man, Penny's Big Breakaway is such a good example of "game I wanted to like a lot more than I did" So much heart and charm but also missteps...
negative · AI labelView post →(COLLEGE) Funky ass flower. Inspired by Penny's Big Breakaway. #art #3dart #blender #y2k
neutral · AI labelView post →I liked Penny's Big Breakaway alot :)
positive · AI labelView post →More Sonic fans need to play Penny's Big Breakaway methinks
positive · AI labelView post →Feeling reminiscent on how much fun I had on my first playthrough, I downloaded Penny's Big Breakaway and went for a second. I regret it. Let's go over why: The Good: + Visuals: Very bright but pleasing, filled with popping pastel colors and inventive ways they catch your eye, ranging from the poles you swing around to the platforms you bounce on to even the designs of the characters. Speaking of, the characters are a smorgasbord of fun shapes and colors, and any dialogue they get gives them…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Banger OST time! This track plays during one of the Star Globes bonus stages in Penny's Big Breakaway! This track is funky! The track features various synths, all of which sound awesome! The trumpets sound amazing as well, and the keyboard and guitar are totally grooving! It's an absolute bop!
positive · AI labelView post →Something I always wondered is why was Penny's Big Breakaway shadowdropped for its release?
neutral · AI labelView post →LIVE playing Penny's Big Breakaway! Come on in and lets vibe hoppers! I'm ready to hear more absolute bangers from this wonderful game! www.twitch.tv/neonharper #vtuber #vsky
neutral · AI labelView post →Not as fun, fast, or fluid as it looks. Kudos to the devteam for taking the risk to try something totally unique but the current build is not it. The yoyo feels totally inconsistent: overly-floaty to control when riding, snappy when gripping spinning launch poles. This interrupts the feeling of carried inertia when building combos. Instead of introducing all these gimmicks they should have polished the feel of the basic controls. Nice art style throughout referencing the bubbly charm of a Sonic…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game has huge potential to be fantastic. The artstyle is great. The music is great. The character is very expressive and endearing. The movement *almost* feels really good. but unfortunately there are a couple problems that, collectively, prevent me from recommending this game, which pains me to say cause I can feel how much love was put in to this game. But, it's the truth. First is the camera. You have absolutely no control over it at all. It often puts the level at a kind of 45ish…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🤜SCHEDULE🤛 - we'll DEFINITELY continue Penny's Big Breakaway I HOPE. PLEASE. - Battle Shapers, the most Zosephine Gauntletqueen looking game I've ever come across so like. I Gotta. - Watching the christmas classic Hogfather in the discord - Having a community VRchat hangout! K see yall there~
neutral · AI labelView post →
Posts are quoted from public profiles with links to the original. Want yours removed? Contact us.