Pudgy Penguins and Mythical Games unveiled Pudgy Party on October 31, 2024, giving the NFT character brand its own mobile game. The companies described an obstacle-course party game for iOS and Android, built around short rounds, costumed penguins and play with friends and family, with release planned for 2025.
Historical news event: 2024-10-31. Retrospective report prepared November 2026.
The reveal followed a partnership the two companies had first announced in May 2024 at Consensus. By then Pudgy Penguins had already taken its penguins off NFT marketplaces and onto store shelves, with plush toys sold at Walmart and other retailers. The next goal was harder: turning that recognition into a game people would open again and again.
Party-game energy, not crypto jargon
Mythical's announcement pitched a game "you can pick up in seconds but stay glued to for hours." Players would race through obstacle courses, dodge hazards and try to outlast friends, family and players worldwide. A friends and family mode let people team up or watch and rewatch each other's runs, and players could dress their penguins in a wardrobe of costumes.
GamesBeat reported that the game reimagined knockout royale play by putting collaboration first, letting players team up and share rewards, and that it was designed for all ages with simple controls and a gradual path from beginner to pro.
"Our mission is to create an inclusive and joyful experience where players can connect and celebrate together, and this title announcement is just the beginning," Pudgy Penguins CEO Luca Netz said in the companies' statement, as quoted by GamesBeat on October 31, 2024.
The positioning was deliberate. Web3 games have often lost mainstream players on the first screen by explaining wallets, tokens and marketplace prices. Pudgy Party put slapstick movement, teamwork and cartoon penguins up front, and kept blockchain features in the background.
Image: Mythical Games
Why Mythical was the partner
Mythical Games brought a track record with blockchain-connected mobile titles, most recently NFL Rivals, which GamesBeat said had more than 5 million players. Mythical also ran its own blockchain, the Mythos Chain, and a marketplace where players could trade in-game items. John Linden, Mythical's CEO, had said when the partnership was first announced in May 2024 that the companies were excited to combine their efforts "with a game that will be played by millions," according to the May 30, 2024 partnership release.
Mythical had also run Blankos Block Party, a toy-like multiplayer game with collectible characters, so it knew how to sell cosmetic items to players who cared more about how their character looked than about blockchain mechanics. That experience mattered for a game built around penguin costumes.
Pudgy Penguins contributed a large social-media following, a cast of instantly recognizable characters and a growing retail business. On paper, the pairing looked well suited to reaching people who'd never bought an NFT.
What was actually announced
The October 31 materials named the game, described how it would play and set a 2025 target for iOS and Android. They were a preview, not a launch: no store pages, no release date and no detail on token or NFT economics. Mythical encouraged fans to follow the game's X account for news, and Pudgy Penguins holders had been promised early looks at development.
The open question was how ownership would fit in. The companies framed Pudgy Party as a way to enjoy the Pudgy universe with or without blockchain knowledge. The test would be whether costumes and collectibles felt like optional extras on top of a fun game, rather than a cost of entry.
What happened afterward
Pudgy Party launched worldwide on August 29, 2025, as a free game with monthly seasons, costumes that could be minted as NFTs and an automatically created wallet that most players never had to think about. Seasons such as Merry Mayhem and Sugar Surge followed, and Decrypt's gaming section named it its 2025 Game of the Year. But on June 12, 2026, Pudgy Penguins shut the game down, with CEO Luca Netz reportedly telling community members the company had lost millions supporting it. The company shifted its gaming focus to Pudgy World, a hangout game it runs itself.
Pudgy Party's arc shows both the promise and the difficulty of NFT brands moving into mainstream games. Recognizable characters can bring players to the door. Keeping a live game running takes steady engagement and a budget that works, and neither comes automatically with a popular brand.
Frequently asked questions
When was Pudgy Party announced?
Pudgy Penguins and Mythical Games unveiled Pudgy Party by name on October 31, 2024. Their partnership to build a mobile game had first been announced on May 30, 2024.
What kind of game is Pudgy Party?
It's a free mobile party game in which costumed penguins race and compete through obstacle courses and survival rounds, similar in style to Fall Guys and Stumble Guys.
When did Pudgy Party launch?
The game launched globally on iOS and Android on August 29, 2025.
Is Pudgy Party still available?
No. Pudgy Penguins shut the game down and removed it from app stores on June 12, 2026.
Who developed Pudgy Party?
Mythical Games, the studio behind NFL Rivals and Blankos Block Party, developed and operated the game in partnership with Pudgy Penguins.
Sources
- Mythical Games: Introducing Pudgy Party, October 31, 2024
- GamesBeat: Pudgy Penguins and Mythical Games unveil Pudgy Party, October 31, 2024
- Pudgy Penguins and Mythical Games partnership release via The Defiant, May 30, 2024
- Decrypt: Pudgy Party launches on iOS and Android, August 29, 2025
- Decrypt: Pudgy Penguins shuts down Pudgy Party, June 15, 2026
Featured image: Mythical Games
Frequently asked questions
When was Pudgy Party announced?
Pudgy Penguins and Mythical Games unveiled Pudgy Party by name on October 31, 2024. Their partnership to build a mobile game had first been announced on May 30, 2024.
What kind of game is Pudgy Party?
It's a free mobile party game in which costumed penguins race and compete through obstacle courses and survival rounds, similar in style to Fall Guys and Stumble Guys.
When did Pudgy Party launch?
The game launched globally on iOS and Android on August 29, 2025.
Is Pudgy Party still available?
No. Pudgy Penguins shut the game down and removed it from app stores on June 12, 2026.
Who developed Pudgy Party?
Mythical Games, the studio behind NFL Rivals and Blankos Block Party, developed and operated the game in partnership with Pudgy Penguins.
Last updated NOV 15, 2026
