Frogue

Frogue (2024) is a turn-based traversal fighting game where you play a frog on a mission to retrieve your kidnapped dog. You jump from surface to surface, defeating evil penguins who only move when you move. It stands out for how the turn-based movement and combat are premeditated, and yet retain the kinetic feel of an action game.

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You play a lone frog whose dog gets kidnapped by a penguin cartel after you refuse to pay for their subscription service. With no way into their lair, hope seems lost until a strange shadowy figure gives you a mystical knife and gets you inside, setting you on a mission for revenge.

You move around the small stages by clicking on nearby surfaces to cling to while also clicking to attack the penguins by throwing your knife. Play is turn-based, where you can move or throw your knife each go. Enemy attacks and movement only happen when you move, and your attacks, as well as those of the penguins, only go so far every turn.

As you progress, and kill enough enemies, you can stop time for several turns, letting you move without fear of new attacks or movement. You slowly unlock permanent upgrades to your character, like extra knives to throw or a larger movement range, and when you die, although you have to start again from the beginning, these upgrades allow you to get slightly further each time.

The result is a roguelike game that feels a bit like chess. The turn-based play creates a challenge about the best path around the level while managing enemies who themselves are trying to out-manoeuvre you. Like the classic Bubble Bobble game, thoughtful planning of the best way to approach each stage is more important than reflexes and timing, offering a novel and engaging challenge.

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Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Frogue 11 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 12 weeks ago.