Co-op Gameplay
Big Hops Together Unleashes Eight-Player Froggy Chaos
The co-op update for the frog platformer brings Mario-inspired multiplayer to the entire campaign with shared progress.
What is Big Hops Together?
Big Hops Together transforms the single-player frog platformer into an eight-player co-op adventure, where the tongue grappling hook becomes a tool for creative mayhem. With up to eight frogs leaping through levels, players can snatch items directly from a friend's backpack or tether themselves to another frog, mimicking the chained gameplay of titles like Chained Together but with the crucial ability to release before a teammate drags you into peril. This update required a complete rewrite of the game's systems, taking four months of dedicated work from developer Chris Wade and his team. Available in beta right now, with the full launch set for 9th August, it encourages shared progression, meaning story and collection advancements benefit everyone in the party. Dive in to experience chaotic cooperation where every tongue-lash can turn friends into unwitting allies or hilarious obstacles.
When is the official release date for Big Hops Together?
The official release of Big Hops Together is scheduled for 9th August, following a beta phase that is already live. This update to the frog platformer wasn't a minor patch; developer Chris Wade of Luckshot Games describes it as a full rewrite of the game's systems, requiring four months of full-time work with additional support from his team. Wade admitted to feeling FOMO regarding the "friendslop" genre—streamer-friendly, prankish co-op games for groups of four or more—which helped drive the update's creation. The beta allows players early access to the eight-player co-op, where they can experience recontextualised levels and the tactical depth of tongue grappling in a group setting. By participating in the beta, players contribute to the final polish while enjoying the chaotic fun that inspired Wade to build Big Hops Together in the first place.
How many players can participate in Big Hops Together?
Up to eight players can join forces in Big Hops Together, turning the entire campaign into a shared escapade. This large group size draws direct inspiration from Mario mods, such as a Mario 64 co-op mod that lets players jump into maps without waiting, an experience Wade found so compelling he decided to build it into a full game. With eight frogs in play, the levels transform into dynamic playgrounds where coordination is key. The tongue grappling hook allows for unprecedented interactions: you can lasso items from a friend's backpack or tether to another frog, creating chains that require careful communication to avoid hazards. The drop-in nature means friends can hop in seamlessly, mirroring the accessibility Wade admired. This setup not only multiplies the tactical options but also amplifies the social chaos, making every session a unique blend of strategy and slapstick.
How does the tongue grappling hook work in co-op?
In co-op, the tongue grappling hook evolves from a simple mobility tool into a multifaceted instrument of interaction and mischief. Players can use it to snatch items right out of a teammate's backpack, adding a layer of pranking to the platforming. More strategically, you can tether yourself to another frog, creating a linked pair reminiscent of Chained Together, but with the vital option to release the connection before your partner inadvertently pulls you into a laser or other danger. This mechanic encourages both cooperation and playful sabotage, as players must decide when to help and when to unleash chaos. With eight frogs in the field, these interactions multiply exponentially, leading to emergent gameplay scenarios where tongues become the primary medium for communication, whether through saving allies or disrupting their progress. The design allows for creative problem-solving, turning every level into a sandbox for social experimentation.
What games inspired the Big Hops Together update?
Big Hops Together was directly inspired by two notable Mario mods, as highlighted by developer Chris Wade. The first was a Mario Odyssey online multiplayer mod that caught Wade's attention for how players 'recontextualise' levels they know from single-player, essentially rediscovering familiar spaces in a new, social context. The second was a Mario 64 mod with drop-in co-op — players can jump into maps without waiting for each other. Wade played it and thought, 'this is an amazing game experience and nobody has made this game for real,' which sparked the drive to incorporate similar accessibility and large-group dynamics into Big Hops. This inspiration is evident in the update's eight-player co-op, where the tongue grappling hook allows for tactical play like stealing items from friends' backpacks or tethering together, creating emergent pranks and strategic depth. The mods' emphasis on social interaction and level recontextualisation directly informed the design, making Big Hops Together a polished take on the chaotic fun Wade admired.
Is story and collection progress shared in Big Hops Together?
Yes, story and collection progress are fully shared in Big Hops Together. This design choice encourages coordinated exploration and item gathering, as any progress made by one player counts towards everyone's completion. When tackling the campaign as a group of up to eight players, players can divide tasks, with some focusing on collecting while others pursue story objectives, knowing that the fruits of their labor are pooled together. For example, using the tongue grappling hook, players can steal items directly from a friend's backpack, adding a layer of friendly competition to collection efforts. A friend joining late can immediately partake in the story without missing out, and collection efforts become a communal goal rather than a solo chore. The update's full rewrite of game systems specifically supports this seamless sharing, making it easier for large groups to stay in sync throughout the adventure.
What changes did the developers make to support this co-op update?
To support the eight-player co-op, Luckshot Games performed a full rewrite of Big Hops' underlying game systems — a monumental task that took four months of full-time work from developer Chris Wade, with additional support from team members who had otherwise moved on from the project. This overhaul wasn't just about networking or adding player slots; it involved rethinking core mechanics to handle the complexity of multiple frogs interacting simultaneously. The tongue grappling hook, for instance, had to be recalibrated to manage interactions between players, such as item theft and tethering, without breaking the game's physics. The rewrite ensured that the campaign could be played from start to finish with up to eight friends. As Wade put it, it was 'a huge deal.'
Who is Chris Wade in the context of Big Hops?
Chris Wade is a developer at Luckshot Games who spearheaded the creation of the Big Hops Together update. In a video blog, he detailed the challenges of rewriting the game's systems to support eight-player co-op, describing it as a 'huge deal' that required four months of full-time effort with help from his team. Wade pointed to specific Mario mods as key influences: a Mario Odyssey online mod for how players recontextualise known levels, and a Mario 64 co-op mod for its drop-in accessibility, which he thought no one had turned into a real game. Wade also confessed to FOMO over the 'friendslop' genre — streamer-friendly, prankish co-op games for larger parties of players — but noted that nobody had built an official, polished version.
What is the 'friendslop' genre that Chris Wade mentioned?
The "friendslop" genre, as referenced by Chris Wade, encompasses streamer-friendly, prankish co-op games aimed at larger player counts. These games thrive on chaotic interactions, social deception, and unpredictable outcomes, often featuring mechanics that encourage players to mess with each other in humorous ways. Wade confessed to feeling FOMO about this genre, which helped inspire the development of Big Hops Together to tap into that same energy of social multiplayer fun. In Big Hops Together, this is evident through the tongue grappling hook, which allows players to steal items from each other's backpacks or tether together, leading to emergent pranks and strategic play. The update positions itself as a "friendslop" title by enabling eight-player co-op where communication and mischief blend seamlessly, much like the mod-inspired experiences Wade admired. This genre alignment ensures that the game appeals to groups looking for a lighthearted, chaotic platforming session that prioritizes social fun over serious competition.
How can players access the beta for Big Hops Together?
The beta for Big Hops Together is live right now, offering early access to the eight-player co-op experience before the official release on 9th August. This beta lets players dive into the rewritten game systems, where they can experiment with the tongue grappling hook in a co-op setting. For instance, with eight frogs in play, players can steal items directly from a friend's backpack or tether together, creating chaotic and strategic moments that define the social gameplay. The beta also features shared story and collection progress, so any achievements or items gathered count for all participants, encouraging teamwork and exploration. Players can join the beta to see how levels have been recontextualised for multiplayer, experiencing firsthand how the inspirations from Mario mods have been realized in a polished, official game. The beta period serves as a practical test run for groups planning to tackle the full campaign together.
Source material: rockpapershotgun.com — this piece is based on that published source material.
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