Bighead Runner

About

Bighead Runner is a single player action game. It was developed by NukGames and was released on June 7, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Bighead Runner" is an arcade-style endless runner where you dash, jump, and slide through procedurally generated levels to collect coins, beat your high score, and climb the online leaderboards. Unlock new skins with collected coins and enjoy the game with both joystick and keyboard. The old-school pixel art graphics and original soundtrack add to the overall appeal of this addictive coin eater game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

65%

Audience ScoreBased on 68 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

music5 negative mentions

Bighead Runner offers a straightforward and addictive endless runner experience with responsive controls and a simple gameplay loop that encourages players to improve their skills.
The game features a charming retro pixel art style and a light cosmetic progression system that allows players to unlock various character skins, adding a bit of humor and personality.
Many players appreciate the game's accessibility and the abundance of easily attainable achievements, making it a fun option for casual gaming sessions.

The game's simplicity can lead to repetitive gameplay, as the limited variety in obstacles and lack of evolving challenges may cause players to lose interest over time.
Some players have reported issues with unpredictable difficulty spikes and poorly designed obstacles that can lead to frustrating moments, often relying on luck rather than skill.
The overall technical quality is criticized, with complaints about janky controls, lack of customization options, and a monotonous soundtrack that detracts from the experience.

gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The gameplay of "bighead runner" is characterized by its addictive one-button mechanics, focusing on quick reflexes and memorization as players aim to run as far as possible while collecting coins to unlock character skins. While the minimalist design keeps the experience straightforward and engaging, many reviewers find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth, with few mechanics and no evolving challenges. Despite some skins offering unique features like double jumps, the overall consensus is that the gameplay, while polished, ultimately falls short of providing a compelling experience.
- “It belongs to that subgenre of games that aim to capture the addictive rhythm of one-button gameplay—where quick reflexes, memorization, and flow are everything.”
- “The gameplay loop is simple but immediately engaging: run as far as you can without colliding into anything.”
- “The 2D platformer gameplay was engaging and challenging, and the controls were tight and responsive.”
- “There are no new mechanics introduced over time, no evolving challenges, and no deeper progression beyond unlocking character skins.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive and boring.”
- “But from a pure gameplay perspective, as a gamer, this game is truly terrible.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game's graphics feature a retro-inspired pixel art style that some players appreciate for its aesthetic, while others criticize it for being outdated and lacking customization options. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some finding the visuals acceptable for an arcade experience, while others rate them poorly, citing low quality and frustrating design choices.
- “Visually, the game embraces a retro-inspired pixel art style that emphasizes function over spectacle.”
- “The graphics are a standout feature, showcasing a charming pixel art aesthetic that adds to the overall experience.”
- “The pixel art graphics look pretty good, adding a nostalgic touch to the gameplay.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “There's no options to change the resolution for the game or customize the graphics settings.”
- “The game uses terrible graphics and the random generation seems to create impossible obstacles, but it constantly speeds up randomly.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The music in the game features upbeat and rhythmic background tracks that enhance the gameplay experience, but many players find the repetitive single loop annoying. While the sound effects are praised for providing satisfying feedback, the overall soundtrack is considered lackluster, with some players expressing a preference for the game's graphics over its music.
- “The background music is upbeat and rhythmic, reinforcing the momentum of the run, while the sound effects provide satisfying feedback for jumps, coin pickups, and collisions.”
- “The game has one annoying song that plays on a loop and its only redeeming quality is the pixel art graphic, which looks pretty good honestly.”
- “The soundtrack is bad.”
- “Music is a single loop which can get annoying, obviously.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The character development in the game is highlighted by the intentionally absurd design of the titular "bighead," which infuses personality into an otherwise generic runner, enhancing player engagement and connection to the character.
- “The titular 'bighead' character design is intentionally absurd and adds a bit of personality to what might otherwise be a faceless runner.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me wanting more complexity.”
- “The dialogue is often cringeworthy, which detracts from the overall character development experience.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, performing well on low-spec systems with quick loading times and consistent frame rates, making it ideal for arcade reflex game fans. However, some users note that the performance declines after initial satisfaction, suggesting a potential drop in engagement over time.
- “The performance is excellent on even low-spec systems, loading quickly and running smoothly at consistent frame rates.”
- “Its clean presentation, smooth performance, and finely tuned pacing make it an easy recommendation for fans of arcade reflex games or anyone looking for a quick challenge between longer gaming sessions.”
- “After that, the performance goes downhill from there, just like with Turbo Pug, which you probably would never play after getting all your satisfaction out of it.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is frequently associated with the creation of low-quality, retro-style games that are perceived as cash grabs, suggesting a negative view of its monetization practices.
- “Gamemaker Studio is often used to create retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
- “I feel like the game is designed more to extract money from players than to provide a fun experience.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be monotonous and tedious, with repetitive level design that quickly leads to boredom. However, this grinding is necessary for unlocking the most challenging achievements, allowing players to achieve a perfect game through sheer persistence.
- “The level design is monotonous and tedious, offering zero novelty—you'll grow bored after just a few minutes.”
- “The most difficult achievements are tied to this total, so by simply grinding, you can achieve a perfect game.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the humor in the game, particularly through the diverse character skins unlocked with collected coins, which add a lighthearted touch without impacting gameplay mechanics.
- “The coins you collect during runs serve as the game’s primary incentive system, allowing players to unlock different character skins that add variety and humor without altering gameplay mechanics.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features an engaging storyline that enhances the overall experience, making it enjoyable and accessible for players.
- “Fun game, not too hard, and has a good storyline! :)”