Frog legs Review. A Ribbiting Concept, Croaky Execution
RIBBIT AND TEAR!
The trailer for Frog Legs immediately sparks the imagination. After its release, online chatter lit up with excitement over its unique aesthetic and zany presentation. And why not? The premise is wild: Frogger in 3D... inside a boomer shooter... with a horror storyline? This could’ve gone anywhere.
What we get, though, feels more like a game jam submission or a proof-of-concept vertical slice than a fully realized game. The setup is as follows: After a tragic accident during a casual game of frog-hopping across busy traffic, you and your amphibian pals vow to leave that day behind and try to live normal, peaceful frog lives. Sounds reasonable—until the past, quite literally, grows legs and comes crawling back...
\
Gameplay
Frog Legs blends three primary gameplay styles (four, if you count the storytelling). You’ll hop through a modernized Frogger-style 2D section, wander through a 3D horror puzzle environment, and blast your way through a short but punchy boomer shooter sequence. All of this is wrapped in a quirky narrative-driven package that attempts to tie it all together.
Each gameplay style functions well enough, even if none of them break new ground. The opening Frogger segment is colorful and charming, enhanced by a CRT filter that gives it retro vibes. The controls are responsive, and the brief character interactions inject some personality as you learn why each frog is so desperate to cross the road—one of them, in particular, clearly knows this is a terrible idea. And then, things go off the rails.
Narratively speaking, this is where the horror kicks in. The group ends up in the woods, where a mysterious portal transports them—and you—into the 3D world. Now the game becomes a first-person exploration puzzle. You wake up in a house and, after a bit of dialogue, are tasked with restoring power. Easy enough, except the fuse box is locked and you don’t know the code.
What follows is a short trek through a compact house, searching for clues and hidden golden fly collectibles. There are a few jump scares and some light puzzling, which eventually leads to the game’s highlight: the boomer shooter section. This is where Frog Legs really shines, even if only briefly.
You’re handed a gun, given a bit of snappy dialogue, and set loose to ribbit and tear through some demons. Combat plays out in classic Wolfenstein/DOOM fashion—big chunky 2D sprites in a 3D world, fast-paced movement, and tight little arenas. It’s visually striking and mechanically satisfying, but it's short-lived. Don’t expect sprawling levels or a deep arsenal—this is more of a sampler than a full buffet.
Playtime is short—under 40 minutes, as the Steam page openly states. Most of that time is spent reading dialogue and advancing the narrative. You can replay any section once you’ve completed the game, which is a nice touch, but it doesn’t add much to the overall value. I was especially disappointed that the boomer shooter segment—the most enjoyable part—was so brief.
Presentation
With less than 40 minutes of content, Frog Legs doesn’t offer much reason to revisit it unless you missed some collectibles or really enjoy the individual gameplay slices.
Sound design is serviceable. Some audio effects feel like stock assets, but they do the job. The soundtrack is decent and complements the atmosphere, especially during the horror segments. Visually, the game has charm—especially in its blend of 2D and 3D styles—but it doesn’t push any technical boundaries.
Where things falter most is the writing. For me, it leaned too heavily on crude, potty humor that didn’t land. The same joke even appears twice within a few minutes. The horror elements aren’t particularly scary or suspenseful, and the ending felt like it came out of nowhere. I’m not above a good silly laugh, but Frog Legs rarely earned more than a mild chuckle from me—which is unfortunate, because the concept is genuinely promising.
Final Thoughts
Here’s the part I always hate: I love games, and I want to see developers succeed. But sometimes, a title just doesn’t come together in a way I can recommend. This is one of those cases. The short runtime isn’t inherently a problem—some great games are under an hour—but Frog Legs feels too cobbled together, with writing that doesn’t support the potential of its wild premise.
Otherwise, it’s an easy skip.
Sorry Froggy… it ain’t easy being green.
