GG's 2025 Game of the Year: Pudgy Party
Pudgy Party is a free-to-play mobile game developed by Mythical Games as part of the Pudgy Penguins franchise. Launched in September 2025, it has surpassed 1 million installs and holds a 4.9-star App Store rating. The game adapts the casual, battle royale formula of Fall Guys, introducing unique character abilities, skill-based matchmaking, and frequent updates to maintain player engagement. Its social “play with friends” feature boosts virality, with about 20% of installs reportedly coming from friend invites. Pudgy Party also integrates NFT elements; costumes can be leveled up and some converted to NFTs for resale, though the team is cautious about marketing its crypto aspects to retain casual players. The game features collaborations with trending intellectual properties, such as the Italian Brainrot universe, and plans to add mainstream brands like Icee. Its release also appears to have positively impacted Pudgy Penguins toy sales. CEO Luca Netz envisions Pudgy Party as a bridge between Web2 and Web3, aiming for mass adoption and a sustainable play-to-earn model, though revenue growth and user retention remain active challenges.
