Pudgy Party arrived worldwide on iOS and Android on August 29, 2025, putting the cartoon penguins of the Pudgy Penguins NFT collection into a free-to-play multiplayer party game. Built with Mythical Games, the maker of NFL Rivals and FIFA Rivals, it moved a brand best known for digital collectibles and plush toys into direct competition for casual mobile players.
Historical news event: 2025-08-29. Retrospective report prepared November 2026.
Looking back from late 2026, the launch is only half the story. The game was shut down in June 2026, less than a year after release. But on launch day, Pudgy Party looked like one of the clearest attempts yet to make an NFT brand work as a mainstream game.
Short rounds, cute penguins and chaos
The game was first revealed by the two companies in October 2024. At launch, Mythical described it as a mix of "fast-paced mini-games" and collectible items. Players could go solo or squad up with friends for short obstacle-course and party rounds, a format many players knew from Fall Guys. Seasonal events, leaderboards and tournaments were part of the plan from day one.
Season 1, called Dopameme Rush, leaned on internet culture. It added six characters inspired by "Brainrot" memes, including Tung Tung Sahur, Ballerina Cappuccina and John Pork, with free and premium seasonal rewards.
Luca Netz, CEO of Pudgy Penguins, framed the launch around the brand's audience rather than its blockchain. "The heart of Pudgy Penguins has always been about connection and spreading good vibes," he said in Mythical's launch announcement on August 29, 2025. "Pudgy Party is fun, accessible to players of all ages, and designed to bring people together."
Image: Mythical Games
NFTs as an option, not a requirement
Pudgy Party's Web3 features sat in the background. According to Mythical, penguin outfits could unlock powers and perks, and some could be minted as NFTs and traded on Mythical's own marketplace. Rare items lived on Mythos Chain, which The Block described as Mythical's EVM-compatible Polkadot parachain, where they could be minted, upgraded and fused. The launch post called the game "wallet optional."
The PENGU token, which Pudgy Penguins launched on Solana in December 2024, wasn't part of the game at launch. A spokesperson told The Block that the teams were exploring ways to integrate PENGU, Mythical's MYTH token and others later. A possible future feature isn't the same as one available to day-one players, and the distinction mattered. Many Web3 games have promised an economy before proving the game was fun. Pudgy Party took the more familiar route: lead with quick multiplayer rounds and leave blockchain ownership to players who wanted it.
Players who pre-registered received a non-transferable badge token called "Early to the Party," according to The Block.
John Linden, CEO of Mythical Games, pitched the brand itself as the draw. "Pudgy Penguins is one of the few Web3 brands that has successfully broken through to mainstream audiences," he said in the launch announcement.
That brand recognition was a real advantage. The penguins' simple shapes and expressive faces carried over naturally from plush toys, GIFs and NFT art into a game where players need to spot their own avatar at a glance. Pudgy Penguins had already put its toys in more than 2,000 Walmart stores, and its games division also included the browser game Pudgy World.
What happened next
Pudgy Party ran for less than a year. It added more seasons along the way, including a Merry Mayhem holiday season in December 2025 and the Sugar Surge season pictured above in April 2026, and Decrypt's GG named it its 2025 Game of the Year.
On June 12, 2026, the game's official X account announced it was shutting down. Decrypt reported on June 15 that development had stopped and the game had been pulled from the iOS and Android stores. The team said it would focus on Pudgy World, which it described as wholly its own product and the planned flagship of the Pudgy Penguins games.
According to Decrypt, Pudgy Penguins said the game had reached millions of downloads and was gaining traction, but Netz told community members the company had lost millions of dollars supporting it. A Pudgy Penguins spokesperson confirmed that account to Decrypt. Our report on the closure covers the shutdown in more detail.
The closure is a business outcome. It doesn't, by itself, suggest a rug pull or a fraudulent launch. It does raise a practical question for any game that hands out persistent digital items: what can owners do with them once the game they were made for has closed? Pudgy Party was also far from alone. Decrypt counted it among a string of blockchain games that shut down in 2025 and 2026, including Deadrop, Nyan Heroes and MetalCore.
Pudgy Party therefore belongs in two chapters of NFT history. Its 2025 launch showed how a recognisable NFT brand could power a polished, mainstream mobile game. Its 2026 end showed that friendly characters and tokenized outfits can't guarantee that the economics of running a live game will work.
Frequently asked questions
When did Pudgy Party launch?
Pudgy Party launched worldwide on iOS and Android on August 29, 2025. It was built by Pudgy Penguins in partnership with Mythical Games.
Did Pudgy Party use the PENGU token?
No, not at launch. A spokesperson told The Block the teams were exploring future integrations of PENGU, MYTH and other tokens. Some in-game outfits could be minted as NFTs on Mythos Chain.
Is Pudgy Party still available?
No. The game's team announced its shutdown on June 12, 2026, and it was removed from the iOS and Android app stores. Pudgy Penguins said it would focus on its other game, Pudgy World.
Why did Pudgy Party shut down?
The team said it wanted to put its focus on Pudgy World. Decrypt reported that CEO Luca Netz told community members the company had lost millions of dollars supporting Pudgy Party, which a spokesperson confirmed.
Sources
- Mythical Games, "Pudgy Party is LIVE! Waddle Into the Fun" (August 29, 2025)
- Mythical Games, "Sugar Surge: Pudgy Party is Sweet" (April 20, 2026)
- The Block, Pudgy Penguins and Mythical Games launch Pudgy Party (August 29, 2025)
- Decrypt, "Pudgy Penguins NFT Game 'Pudgy Party' Shuts Down Less Than a Year After Launch" (June 15, 2026)
- Pudgy Party on X
Featured image: Mythical Games
Frequently asked questions
When did Pudgy Party launch?
Pudgy Party launched worldwide on iOS and Android on August 29, 2025. It was built by Pudgy Penguins in partnership with Mythical Games.
Did Pudgy Party use the PENGU token?
No, not at launch. A spokesperson told The Block the teams were exploring future integrations of PENGU, MYTH and other tokens. Some in-game outfits could be minted as NFTs on Mythos Chain.
Is Pudgy Party still available?
No. The game's team announced its shutdown on June 12, 2026, and it was removed from the iOS and Android app stores. Pudgy Penguins said it would focus on its other game, Pudgy World.
Why did Pudgy Party shut down?
The team said it wanted to put its focus on Pudgy World. Decrypt reported that CEO Luca Netz told community members the company had lost millions of dollars supporting Pudgy Party, which a spokesperson confirmed.
Last updated NOV 8, 2026
