The second-to-last drop of Playdate Season Two delivers two more standout games. It’s hard to believe the season is nearly over—week five is here, and just one more release remains. This latest drop includes Tiny Turnip, a climbing-focused metroidvania, and Chance’s Lucky Escape, a quirky, short point-and-click adventure. Staying true to the season’s strong lineup so far, both titles are genuinely fun and well worth playing.
Tiny Turnip
Tiny Turnip has been a standout title for me this season. It strikes the perfect balance of quirky, slightly challenging, and endlessly engaging—I simply couldn’t stop playing once I picked it up. And the soundtrack? Absolutely phenomenal.
At its core, it’s a metroidvania starring a bold little root vegetable with cosmic ambitions. Quite literally: the turnip makes a wish, sprouts arms, and begins an epic climb toward the stars. What follows is an adventure through a surprisingly vast map packed with hidden rooms, keys, environmental hazards, and tight platforming sections that demand careful precision. Your main objective is to gather crystal vegetables scattered across the world so the turnip’s dream can come true—but if you’re a completionist, there are plenty of stars to collect too.
Movement in Tiny Turnip is genuinely fun. Initially, you use the crank to control each of the turnip’s arms separately, pressing B to grab and switch hands. As you progress, you unlock new abilities like rolling, jumping, swimming, and launching yourself between surfaces or out of water in creative ways. It’s all incredibly satisfying.
The way the game integrates the crank is brilliant—it’s clever, intuitive, and makes the entire experience an absolute joy to play.
Chance’s Lucky Escape
Meet Chance — “the luckiest dog in the world” — though luck seems to cut both ways for him. On one paw, he’s constantly getting out of impossible situations; on the other, he’s always getting into them. He’s not a bad pup, just happens to steal cars, rob banks, and moonlight as a henchdog for the canine mafia.
In Chance’s Lucky Escape, a delightfully absurd, bite-sized point-and-click puzzle adventure split across six chapters, you’ll help Chance wiggle his way out of one ridiculous predicament after another — all while he desperately tries to make it to an important meeting with The Boss, Snowball, without getting caught by the cops.
Inspired by ’80s cartoons and absurdist comedies, the game fully leans into its chaotic energy. The scenarios are outlandishly funny — from getting stuck in the sewers after a manhole mishap to escaping a watery grave while tied to a chair. Solving these mini dilemmas takes some clever thinking, but the puzzles strike a nice balance between challenging and charmingly goofy.
Right at the start, the game lets you know you’ll be using tools like a crank, a microphone, and even your device’s accelerometer — handy to keep in mind when you’ve clicked everything and nothing’s happening. If you’re stuck, go full weird mode — try something random, and odds are it’ll work (thanks, The Whiteout, for the training).
The game’s short, but that’s part of its appeal. It’s the perfect lunch-break escape — and honestly, Chance’s world is so entertaining, I’d jump at the chance (pun intended) to play more episodes if they ever roll out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Playdate Season 2?
Playdate Season 2 is the second official game season for the handheld console Playdate by Panic. It features a curated lineup of 12 surprise games released weekly over six weeks, including titles like Tiny Turnip and Chance’s Big Escape.
What type of game is “Chance’s Big Escape”?
Chance’s Big Escape is a short, point-and-click puzzle adventure filled with absurd humor, where you help Chance — a car-stealing, mafia-connected dog — escape a series of misadventures.
What is “Tiny Turnip” about?
Tiny Turnip is a charming, cozy farming and puzzle game centered around a small vegetable protagonist. It blends relaxing gameplay with quirky, endearing challenges.
Do I need to play Season 1 to enjoy Season 2?
Nope! Each season of Playdate is independent. Season 2 introduces brand-new games and stories, so you can jump right in without any prior experience.
How long is “Chance’s Big Escape”?
It’s a short experience — ideal for a lunch break or casual play session. It’s split into six fast-paced chapters, each offering a unique escape scenario.
Are the puzzles in “Chance’s Big Escape” difficult?
The puzzles are creative and fun but not too hard. They’re meant to be whimsical and silly, so players of all skill levels can enjoy them without frustration.
Is “Chance’s Big Escape” kid-friendly?
While the humor leans absurd and quirky (with mild themes like bank robbery in a cartoonish way), it’s presented in a light, non-violent, comedic tone. Parents may still want to preview it first.
How are Playdate games controlled?
Playdate uses a crank, D-pad, A/B buttons, and sometimes the microphone or accelerometer. Chance’s Big Escape creatively incorporates several of these for interactive puzzles.
How many games are in Playdate Season 2?
There are 12 new games in total, released two per week over six weeks. Each one explores a different genre or style, ranging from puzzle and platformer to narrative and arcade.
Can I replay “Chance’s Big Escape”?
Yes! While it’s short, you can replay it to explore different interactions or simply enjoy the humor and art style again.
Is there voice acting or narration in the game?
No full voice acting, but the personality comes through strongly via text, quirky animation, and creative use of sound effects and gameplay elements.
Will there be more adventures with Chance in the future?
Nothing confirmed yet — but fans are already hoping for a sequel or extended series. With its strong character design and fun concept, Chance could easily return in future seasons or standalone games.
Conclusion
Playdate Season 2 proves once again why this quirky little handheld continues to charm its growing fanbase. With standout titles like Tiny Turnip offering cozy, heartfelt gameplay and Chance’s Big Escape delivering absurdist laughs and clever puzzles, the season feels like a delightful blend of creativity, humor, and innovation. Whether you’re in the mood for relaxing exploration or chaotic canine escapades, Season 2 offers something refreshingly different. It’s a testament to how small games — when crafted with heart — can leave a big impact.
