Crunky is a free arcade game that was made by indie developer Carson K. It is an endless runner title for the Playdate retro gaming handheld. In it, players will control furry, quirky characters as they aim for the longest runs and the highest scores.

Just like other runner games like Despicable Me: Minion Rush or Subway Ninja Runner 3D, Crunky features plenty of obstacles and challenges along the way that will attempt to hinder progress. It's played in a side-scrolling perspective and boasts a pixel art style that's specific to the Playdate.

Get crunked

Crunky is an endless arcade runner that will have you control quirky characters called Crunko Pops. Some of them include Crunky, Crinkly, Crungulian, and many others. You get the choice of two game modes, namely Arcade Mode and Timed Mode. Regardless of which one you choose, you will be trying to get the most coins and last for the longest time as you can.

As for the gameplay, Crunky offers a simple yet engaging experience and is pretty easy to learn how to play. You will primarily be using the crank mechanism to control your character, collecting coins and avoiding enemies while constantly jumping about. The controls feel smooth and responsive even when you make sudden turns, which is a good thing since the screen can get filled with enemies rather quickly.

There's also what's called Crunkipedia, which is an index of every Crunky Pop you can encounter during your runs. There's a catch, though, as you need to get defeated by them to unlock them, risking a potentially good run in exchange. As of this writing, there are 10 characters to discover. Hopefully, more can be added in future updates to extend the game's appeal and replayability.

Crunko Pop collection

All in all, if you're looking for a new game to try out on your Playdate, Crunky is a great option worth considering. It offers a simple yet engaging experience with simple controls and mechanics. Aim for the highest score and complete your collection of Crunky Pop as you progress further. It will only get better with more updates and additional characters down the road.