Sonic Mania devs' exciting 3D platformer shadow drops during Nintendo Direct

Penny from Penny's Big Breakaway key art
Credit: Private Division

Penny from Penny's Big Breakaway key art
Credit: Private Division

As Hi-Fi Rush proved in early 2023, shadow dropping games can lead to some great success, and publisher Private Division is aiming to attempt similar success, by releasing the new 3D platformer from the Sonic Mania developers - Penny's Big Breakaway.

While plenty of eyes are on SEGA's Sonic X Shadow game coming later this year, fans of the platformer genre can at least satiate their need for speed by jumping into the debut game from Evening Star, formed by the developers of the beloved Sonic Mania, which has now released alongside the Nintendo Direct.

In Penny's Big Breakaway, you play as Penny and her unfaltering Yo-Yo as you attempt to escape the claws of Emperor Eddie and his hordes of angry penguins. From the trailers of the game, it seems Penny and Yo-Yo's bond is a major element of the experience, letting you perform acrobatic tricks with the handy toy.

The brightly coloured world of Macaroon seems to ooze personality, similar to other 3D platformers like Yooka-Laylee and A Hat in Time. However, Macaroon's swarms of penguins will certainly add a challenge as you navigate the various levels of the game. Fortunately, you'll have access to plenty of powerups during your adventure.

We called A Hat in Time one of the most criminally underrated games of all time, and for good reason. The indie game was an absolute delight to play, but considering how seemingly niche platforming games are nowadays, it was pushed aside due to masses of triple-A games. Hopefully, Penny's Big Breakaway doesn't fall into the same hole.

Unfortunately, with the game being a surprise release, there's no reviews yet. However, considering Sonic Mania received praise across the board, we're excited to dive into Penny's Big Breakaway. And despite being revealed last year, it's always nice to dive into a game without waiting for a release date months or years away. We're looking at you, Hellblade 2.