Penny's Big Breakaway

Penny's Big Breakaway is a 3D platform game from 2024, created by the studio Evening Star and released by Private Division. It launched on February 21, 2024, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. The game centers on Penny, a street performer, and her yo-yo, which becomes alive after she finds a cosmic string. After a disastrous audition, Penny is blamed for embarrassing Emperor Eddie, and she must flee from him and his penguin army. The main Story Mode is split into levels across different worlds. Penny must reach the end of each level while avoiding penguin guards. Movement relies on speed and momentum, using the yo-yo to attack enemies, swing across gaps, or ride it to keep moving. Players can chain moves together for high scores. Some levels have power-ups that give the yo-yo temporary abilities, like smashing obstacles or flying. At the end of a level, Penny performs yo-yo tricks on a podium to earn coins. Her health is called gusto, which drops if she takes damage, falls, or is overwhelmed by penguins; losing all gusto results in a big score penalty. Each main level has three NPCs with side-quests and three hidden giant coins. Completing side-quests boosts coin earnings from busking, and giant coins unlock extra Star Globe levels. Coins can buy power-ups like penguin protection or extra points for a perfect run, and high scores unlock postcards with concept art. Cleared levels can be replayed in Time Attack mode with online leaderboards. The story begins in Vanillatown on the planet Macaroon. Penny sees a flyer for an audition to perform with Emperor Eddie at the Gala. On her way to the Eddietorium, she finds a cosmic string that makes her yo-yo sentient. At the audition, Yo-Yo jumps at Eddie and tears his clothes off, and Penny is blamed. She flees, chased by penguins. She escapes to a beach called Tideswell, where a sailor named Sheila forgives her after Penny fixes her boat. Sheila takes Penny to the island of Zaphara, where a magician named Mr. Q reveals the cosmic string once belonged to Eddie’s former partner, the Taboo Artist. After an encounter with Eddie, Penny reaches the World’s Edge and meets Taboo, who explains she quit as Eddie’s director when fame went to his head. Taboo suggests Penny sneak into the Lawberry courthouse to remove her page from the Book of Law. Penny is caught and taken to court.