The joyous momentum of 16-bit Sonic is finally recaptured in 3D thanks to Penny's Big Breakaway, once you learn its fantastic and unique controls

GamesPlatformerThe joyous momentum of 16-bit Sonic is finally recaptured in 3D thanks to Penny’s Big Breakaway, once you learn its fantastic and unique controlsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesPlatformerThe joyous momentum of 16-bit Sonic is finally recaptured in 3D thanks to Penny’s Big Breakaway, once you learn its fantastic and unique controlsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Evening Star) If the popular discourse is to be believed, Sonic The Hedgehog – the 90s 16-bit icon himself – had a rough time transitioning from a 2D to 3D. It’s partially true. Concessions had to be made to take the speedy hero from the 2D plane of slopes and loops to run around 3D worlds. The main problem with that wasn’t actually to do with speed at all, butmomentum– which was just as vital a consideration, if not more so, in thoseSegaGenesis classics. Leave it to the excellent retro throwback Sonic Mania developer Evening Star, for their first original project, to solve the design problem even without the blue blur around. After all, take one look at Penny’s Big Breakaway and it’s immediately clear that this is a love letter to the 90s with its high contrast, clashing colors, vaporwave-like piping, and Y2K-core aesthetic. But it’s wholly modern in how it plays thanks to some incredibly slick running and jumping as you control Penny, a jester-like figure, as she attempts to save her kingdom while also evading capture from its penguin police force (there was an… incident… involving the King’s undies). Takes ages (Image credit: Evening Star) DARK TIMES(Image credit: Sega)Recent Sonic games have been quite good as well. After all,Shadow Generations features some of the best levels in Sonic’s 3D history! DARK TIMES (Image credit: Sega)Recent Sonic games have been quite good as well. After all,Shadow Generations features some of the best levels in Sonic’s 3D history! (Image credit: Sega) Recent Sonic games have been quite good as well. After all,Shadow Generations features some of the best levels in Sonic’s 3D history! It’s not just the occasional onslaught of penguins who swarm to arrest Penny that spurs you on, but almost every surface. From curves steep and gentle to trampolines, there’s constantly something teasing you to keep the flow going. Able to chain moves together, Penny can ride her yo-yo like a big ball to pick up speed, and perform no less than three types of double jump in the air. One pings the yo-yo straight ahead which Penny can then snap to, another holds the yo-yo in place mid-air for Penny to arc a swing from, and yet another is the more standard extra flip in the air. Combining them all together, mixing in additional power-ups, is where things get really fun – zipping up half-pipes to get air, twisting and turning as you skip a whole chunk of the stage, or even skipping across bodies of water. Extra gimmicks for each area, from water spouts that shoot you forward to poles to swing from give new ways to build this momentum. Each new region is brimming with personality thanks to their unique color palettes, toe-tapping soundtracks (from veterans in the retro-styled space like Tee Lops, Sean Bialo, and Christian Whitehead), and low-poly citizens who add fun, tongue-in-cheek color to the off-kilter and gamey world, somehow making the absurd kingdom feel lived in. (Image credit: Evening Star) Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more The only grumbles I have with it are the bosses, which do force you to slow down a little and can feel a bit annoying in the process – but these only form a small part of the six hours or so of playtime for a first run through. This might seem breezy to some, but it’s formidable for this kind of speedy platformer, and with a hefty amount of stages on offer, it’s hard to resist returning to beat your times and scores – or just bask in the incredible crisp 90s vibes of it all. Penny’s Big Breakaway manages to land its trick well, and feel incredibly unique. While that can be off-putting at first, it’s worth sticking with as, thanks to its canny design that ensures you Gotta Go Fast, it recaptures an old school magic in an entirely new school way. Who can forget the feeling in Sonic The Hedgehog of running down a hill and pressing down on the d-pad to tuck into a ball and ride the waves of a stage? Penny’s Big Breakaway captures that feeling again and again in 3D, and makes it look effortless – and that’s worth a whole crowd’s applause. Penny’s Big Breakaway is out now on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Switch. For more recommendations, head on over to ourIndie Spotlightseries. Or if you’re just looking for thebest platformer games, give that a read as well! TOPICSIndie Spotlight TOPICS CATEGORIESPC GamingXbox Series XPS5Nintendo SwitchPlatformsXboxPlayStationNintendo CATEGORIES More about platformer"We were honouring Sonic’s holistic history which includes both designs": 13 years on, Takashi Iizuka reveals why Sonic Generations need twice the ‘hogsTeam Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastLatestI can’t lie - my Christmas plans including using this 480Hz monitor to play Overwatch 2 at ridiculous speedsSee more latest► More about platformer"We were honouring Sonic’s holistic history which includes both designs": 13 years on, Takashi Iizuka reveals why Sonic Generations need twice the ‘hogsTeam Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastLatestI can’t lie - my Christmas plans including using this 480Hz monitor to play Overwatch 2 at ridiculous speedsSee more latest► More about platformer"We were honouring Sonic’s holistic history which includes both designs": 13 years on, Takashi Iizuka reveals why Sonic Generations need twice the ‘hogsTeam Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s past More about platformer “We were honouring Sonic’s holistic history which includes both designs”: 13 years on, Takashi Iizuka reveals why Sonic Generations need twice the ‘hogsTeam Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s past “We were honouring Sonic’s holistic history which includes both designs”: 13 years on, Takashi Iizuka reveals why Sonic Generations need twice the ‘hogs “We were honouring Sonic’s holistic history which includes both designs”: 13 years on, Takashi Iizuka reveals why Sonic Generations need twice the ‘hogs Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s past Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s past LatestI can’t lie - my Christmas plans including using this 480Hz monitor to play Overwatch 2 at ridiculous speedsSee more latest► Latest I can’t lie - my Christmas plans including using this 480Hz monitor to play Overwatch 2 at ridiculous speeds I can’t lie - my Christmas plans including using this 480Hz monitor to play Overwatch 2 at ridiculous speeds I can’t lie - my Christmas plans including using this 480Hz monitor to play Overwatch 2 at ridiculous speeds See more latest► Most PopularWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding"Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over ChristmasSpy x Family season 3: Everything we know so farOne of 2024’s best anime shows subverts all expectations, but that’s its biggest strengthHow Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the futureI’m proclaiming 2024 to be the year of outstanding indie puzzle gamesThe Inside Out 2 panic attack scene is one of the best depictions of anxiety ever – and something Pixar director Kelsey Mann is incredibly proud of: “I couldn’t be happier"Marvel Rivals has what it takes to shake up the PvP shooter genre if it can maintain its hero fantasy while also making balance changesForget AAA: this year, all I wanted to do was optimize my conveyor belts in Satisfactory2024 was the year The Legend of Zelda lived up to its name, and the result was a bit like mixing rock salt and floral nectar Most PopularWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding"Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over ChristmasSpy x Family season 3: Everything we know so farOne of 2024’s best anime shows subverts all expectations, but that’s its biggest strengthHow Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the futureI’m proclaiming 2024 to be the year of outstanding indie puzzle gamesThe Inside Out 2 panic attack scene is one of the best depictions of anxiety ever – and something Pixar director Kelsey Mann is incredibly proud of: “I couldn’t be happier"Marvel Rivals has what it takes to shake up the PvP shooter genre if it can maintain its hero fantasy while also making balance changesForget AAA: this year, all I wanted to do was optimize my conveyor belts in Satisfactory2024 was the year The Legend of Zelda lived up to its name, and the result was a bit like mixing rock salt and floral nectar Most PopularWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding"Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over ChristmasSpy x Family season 3: Everything we know so farOne of 2024’s best anime shows subverts all expectations, but that’s its biggest strengthHow Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the futureI’m proclaiming 2024 to be the year of outstanding indie puzzle gamesThe Inside Out 2 panic attack scene is one of the best depictions of anxiety ever – and something Pixar director Kelsey Mann is incredibly proud of: “I couldn’t be happier"Marvel Rivals has what it takes to shake up the PvP shooter genre if it can maintain its hero fantasy while also making balance changesForget AAA: this year, all I wanted to do was optimize my conveyor belts in Satisfactory2024 was the year The Legend of Zelda lived up to its name, and the result was a bit like mixing rock salt and floral nectar Most Popular Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé 17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding” Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over Christmas Spy x Family season 3: Everything we know so far One of 2024’s best anime shows subverts all expectations, but that’s its biggest strength How Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth represents the best of Final Fantasy’s past while charting a course for the future I’m proclaiming 2024 to be the year of outstanding indie puzzle games The Inside Out 2 panic attack scene is one of the best depictions of anxiety ever – and something Pixar director Kelsey Mann is incredibly proud of: “I couldn’t be happier” Marvel Rivals has what it takes to shake up the PvP shooter genre if it can maintain its hero fantasy while also making balance changes Forget AAA: this year, all I wanted to do was optimize my conveyor belts in Satisfactory 2024 was the year The Legend of Zelda lived up to its name, and the result was a bit like mixing rock salt and floral nectar GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams’ disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”