A small four-person studio from Budapest just showed why hand-drawn animation makes 2D action games absolutely magical. Rogue Relay’s Pengame is entirely hand-drawn and frame-by-frame animated, set inside the notebook of a sixteen-year-old student who serves as the game’s narrator. The latest gameplay trailer, released October 27, 2025, proves that indie developers with genuine artistic vision can create something so visually striking that you’ll forget you’re playing a video game. This looks like animation you’d watch as a film, except you’re in control.
Inside A Notebook: Where Physics Breaks Down
Pengame’s premise is deceptively simple yet absolutely brilliant: the entire game takes place inside a sixteen-year-old’s notebook. This framing device isn’t just flavor. It explains why physics doesn’t work normally. Why gravity seems inconsistent. Why enemies and environments feel distorted and surreal. You’re not exploring a real world. You’re experiencing a teenager’s imagination made digital. The notebook setting creates narrative coherence for what could otherwise feel like chaotic design choices.
This premise also allows for genuinely creative level design unbounded by real-world logic. Platforms can defy gravity. Backgrounds can be nonsensical doodles that function as actual level geometry. Transitions between sections can be jarring and dreamlike because you’re in a notebook, not navigating physical space. The setting transforms what could be limitations into creative opportunities.
Hand-Drawn Everything: The Uncompromising Vision
Every frame of Pengame was hand-drawn. Every animation is frame-by-frame. This is the kind of commitment to artistic vision that most AAA studios abandoned decades ago. Modern games use motion capture, blend shapes, and procedural animation. Rogue Relay said no. We’re drawing this by hand, the way animation was done for decades, because it looks infinitely better and conveys authentic personality.
The visual payoff is undeniable. Pengame looks like watching a beautiful animated film where you control the protagonist. The character movements have weight and personality. Enemies feel expressive and alive. Environmental details reward observation. This is what animation looks like when someone cares enough to actually draw it instead of letting algorithms handle it. The texture and warmth of hand-drawn art cannot be replicated digitally.
Time Manipulation and Fast-Paced Action
Pengame’s core gameplay combines fast, acrobatic action with time manipulation abilities. You’re not just running and jumping. You’re manipulating time itself, creating windows of opportunity, solving puzzles through temporal mechanics. This adds strategic depth to what could otherwise be a straightforward platformer. The time manipulation feels specifically designed to work with the notebook setting—when time distorts inside a teenager’s imagination, it feels natural.
A varied selection of hand-animated weapons and enemies keeps combat fresh. Each weapon appears visually distinct and mechanically unique. Enemies have personality visible in their design and animations. The whole thing feels like you’re fighting through someone’s chaotic imagination made manifest. Every enemy is genuinely weird in ways that make sense within the notebook world.
Four People, Infinite Talent
The fact that Pengame is created by just four people makes it genuinely impressive. A four-person studio in Budapest managed to maintain this level of artistic consistency while creating a mechanically complex game. No outsourcing animation. No compromising vision. Just commitment to craft. Pengame was nominated for Best Indie Game in Hungary at the CESA awards, which represents genuine recognition within the industry.
This project demonstrates that game development doesn’t require massive teams and huge budgets. It requires vision, talent, and willingness to commit to that vision even when easier paths exist. Rogue Relay could have used motion capture. They chose to hand-animate every frame. That decision defines the game’s soul.
When Gaming Becomes Art
Pengame represents something increasingly rare: games designed as artistic statements first, games second. Not in a pretentious way. Just pure creative expression through the medium. The developer’s technical skill and artistic vision combine into something that transcends typical game categories. This is what happens when you give talented artists the freedom to make what they envision.
The October 2025 gameplay trailer is worth watching multiple times. You’ll notice new details every view—background elements, animation nuances, character expressions. This is the kind of craft that invites and rewards observation. Pengame asks players to appreciate it as animation while playing it as a game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pengame?
Pengame is a hand-drawn, frame-by-frame animated 2D shooter platformer created by Rogue Relay. The entire game takes place inside a sixteen-year-old student’s notebook. It features fast acrobatic action, time manipulation abilities, and hand-animated weapons and enemies.
Who developed Pengame?
Pengame was developed by Rogue Relay, a small four-person indie studio based in Budapest, Hungary. The team is made up of 4 talented game developers and animators.
When is Pengame releasing?
A specific release date hasn’t been publicly announced. A new gameplay trailer was released October 27-28, 2025, but the game is still in development. Updates should come through Rogue Relay’s official channels.
What platforms will Pengame be on?
Platform details haven’t been publicly specified. PC release seems likely given the indie gaming landscape, but console releases are possible.
Is Pengame hand-drawn?
Yes. Every frame of Pengame is hand-drawn and hand-animated. It’s entirely frame-by-frame animation with no motion capture or digital shortcuts. This commitment to craft is part of what makes it visually striking.
What are the core gameplay mechanics?
Pengame combines fast-paced platformer action with time manipulation abilities. You navigate acrobatically through notebook pages, use various hand-animated weapons, fight enemies, and utilize time mechanics to solve puzzles and progress.
Why is the game set in a notebook?
The notebook setting allows for creative freedom from real-world physics and logic. It explains why gravity might work differently, environments are surreal, and transitions feel dreamlike. It creates narrative coherence for imaginative design.
Has Pengame won any awards?
Pengame was nominated for Best Indie Game in Hungary at the CESA awards, representing professional industry recognition of its quality and artistic vision.
How long have Rogue Relay been developing Pengame?
Development began several years ago. The project represents years of commitment to hand-animation and artistic vision from the small team.
Can I see gameplay?
Yes. A new gameplay trailer was released October 27, 2025. Search for “Pengame Rogue Relay gameplay trailer” to see the latest footage showcasing the hand-drawn action and animations.
Conclusion
Pengame represents what happens when game developers prioritize artistic vision over efficiency. Hand-drawn animation. Frame-by-frame craft. A four-person studio in Budapest creating something that could rival productions from teams fifty times their size. The game takes place inside a teenager’s notebook, and that whimsy extends through every frame. Fast action, time manipulation, gorgeous animation, and personality in every pixel. The October 2025 gameplay trailer proves that indie games can achieve artistic heights AAA productions chase but rarely achieve. Keep an eye on Rogue Relay. They’re creating something special.