The Playdate game Jump Truck is a flippin’ good time

If ever a game presents me with an opportunity to perform completely absurd aerial tricks, you best believe I will be flipping as much as possible. In Jump Truck, a 3D solo racing game for Playdate by Tabortop Games, flips can work either to your benefit or detriment as you try to score the fastest finish time for each of a series of race tracks. Throwing in some flips may help to shave several seconds off your final time, but it could also send your truck hurtling into the abyss. It’s a delicate balance that I’ve been having a real hoot pushing to its limit.

Jump Truck features seven levels made up of straightaways, tight turns, long winding roads, ramps and short platforms with abrupt dropoffs to navigate at high speeds on your way to the floating vortex that serves as the finish line. You need to find the shortcuts to get the gold, and successfully making use of those often requires clearing huge gaps. That’s where flipping really comes in handy. Frontflips will give you more speed and help you cross greater distances in the air, while backflips will slow you down so you don’t overshoot your landing. You can flip using either the D-pad or the crank, but the latter can be pretty hard to coordinate if you want to seamlessly resume driving and steering.

There are a bunch of silly achievements to unlock as you progress (or die over and over), like the “Soar Like an Eagle” award for spending a quarter of your time flying through the air on any given level. Jump Truck seems like it’d be the type of game that only holds your attention for a little while at a time, but I keep getting sucked into it for much longer than I expect to, thanks to the challenge of trying to hit certain shortcuts. It’s unexpectedly addicting.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-playdate-game-jump-truck-is-a-flippin-good-time-203140598.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-playdate-game-jump-truck-is-a-flippin-good-time-203140598.html?src=rss
Created 3d | Mar 16, 2025, 9:10:23 PM


Login to add comment

Other posts in this group

The Google Pixel 9a might be the new midrange smartphone king

A couple of weeks ago, Apple released a more affordable take on its flagship handsets with the iPhone 16e. But now Google is hitting back with the Pixel 9a and from what I've seen, it looks like a

Mar 19, 2025, 4:20:24 PM | Engadget
Google officially introduces the Pixel 9a for $499

Google has followed up an ocean's

Mar 19, 2025, 4:20:23 PM | Engadget
Google Wallet is now available for kids

Gone are the days of kids asking their parent to borrow cash or their card when going out with friends. Instead, parents can now give their

Mar 19, 2025, 4:20:22 PM | Engadget
Here's how the Pixel 9a compares to the competition

After a mountain of leaks, Google has finally announc

Mar 19, 2025, 4:20:21 PM | Engadget
Vinyl record sales continue to rise amid music streaming’s dominance

Despite streaming services continuing to dominate the business of recorded music, there’s still very much a place for physical media in that sector. The Recording Industry of America said in an ann

Mar 19, 2025, 4:20:20 PM | Engadget
Apple's new base iPad is $20 off in the Amazon Spring Sale

The sun is out, the birds are chirping and the

Mar 19, 2025, 4:20:19 PM | Engadget
The Nest Learning Thermostat is back on sale for $240 in the Amazon Spring Sale

Google’s Nest Learning Thermostat

Mar 19, 2025, 4:20:18 PM | Engadget