Pizza Possum

Pizza Possum is a charming and whimsical action game where players take on the role of a mischievous possum on a quest to steal pizza. Set in a vibrant, fantasy-inspired world, the game features a diagonal-down perspective with 2D scrolling gameplay, blending platforming and party game elements. Developed by Cosy Computer and published by Raw Fury, it supports local multiplayer for up to two players, offering a delightful mix of humor, fast-paced action, and adorable visuals.

Pizza Possum: A Whimsical, Bite-Sized Masterpiece of Arcade Chaos

Introduction: The Rise of the Hungry Marsupial

In an era dominated by sprawling open-world epics and narrative-driven blockbusters, Pizza Possum emerges as a refreshing antidote—a game that embraces simplicity, chaos, and unadulterated fun. Developed by Berlin-based indie studio Cosy Computer (the minds behind Kingdom and Islanders) and published by Raw Fury, this 2023 release is a love letter to classic arcade gameplay, wrapped in a delightfully absurd premise: you play as a ravenous possum on a mission to devour an entire village’s worth of food, culminating in the theft of a giant pizza and the crown of a corgi queen. It’s Untitled Goose Game meets Pac-Man, with a dash of Metal Gear Solid’s stealth mechanics—if Metal Gear were directed by a sugar-rushed toddler.

Pizza Possum is more than just a novelty act, though. Beneath its cartoonish exterior lies a tightly designed, addictive gameplay loop that’s easy to pick up but hard to put down. It’s a game that understands the value of brevity in an age of bloated, 100-hour RPGs, offering a “snackable” experience that’s perfect for quick sessions or marathon binges. With its vibrant visuals, infectious sound design, and local co-op chaos, it carves out a niche as one of the most charming indie titles of the year.

Yet, for all its strengths, Pizza Possum is not without its flaws. Its brevity, while intentional, leaves some players craving more content, and its lack of online multiplayer feels like a missed opportunity in an increasingly connected gaming landscape. This review will dissect every facet of the game—from its development history to its thematic underpinnings, its mechanics, its reception, and its place in gaming history—to determine whether Pizza Possum is a fleeting delight or a modern arcade classic.

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Development History & Context: The Birth of a Possum Heist

The Studio Behind the Chaos: Cosy Computer

Cosy Computer is the brainchild of Friedemann Allmenröder and Thomas van den Berg, two developers with a knack for creating games that blend simplicity with depth. Their previous works—Kingdom (a minimalist strategy game) and Islanders (a relaxing city-builder)—demonstrate a design philosophy centered on accessibility and player freedom. With Pizza Possum, they pivot to something far more chaotic, yet no less polished.

The studio’s name, “Cosy Computer,” is almost ironic given the anarchy of Pizza Possum, but it hints at their core ethos: games should be inviting, comfortable, and fun. In interviews, the developers have emphasized their desire to create a game that could be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of skill level. This democratization of gameplay is evident in Pizza Possum’s intuitive controls, forgiving difficulty curve, and emphasis on replayability over punishing progression.

The Vision: A Love Letter to Arcade Games

Pizza Possum was conceived as a modern take on the arcade games of the ’80s and ’90s—titles like Pac-Man, Burgertime, and Spy vs. Spy, where high scores and quick reflexes reigned supreme. The developers wanted to capture the essence of those games while infusing them with contemporary sensibilities: a vibrant art style, dynamic sound design, and a cooperative multiplayer mode.

The game’s premise—a possum stealing food—was inspired by real-life possum behavior (these creatures are notorious scavengers) and the absurdity of animal protagonists in games like Untitled Goose Game and A Story About My Uncle. The decision to make the antagonist a corgi (Bella Chonki) was a stroke of genius, blending cuteness with tyranny in a way that feels both ridiculous and oddly compelling.

Technological Constraints and Design Choices

Built in Unity, Pizza Possum leverages the engine’s flexibility to create a game that’s visually appealing without being technically demanding. The art style is a mix of low-poly 3D models and hand-drawn textures, giving the game a tactile, almost claymation-like quality. This aesthetic choice not only makes the game accessible to a wide range of hardware (it runs smoothly even on the Steam Deck) but also enhances its whimsical tone.

The game’s top-down, diagonal-down perspective is a nod to classic arcade titles, offering a clear view of the action while allowing for intricate level design. The developers opted for a fixed camera angle rather than a dynamic one, which helps maintain the game’s arcade feel but can occasionally lead to visibility issues, especially in co-op mode.

One of the most interesting design choices is the game’s procedural element. While the village layout remains static, the placement of food, power-ups, and guard dog patrol routes varies slightly with each run, ensuring that no two playthroughs feel identical. This, combined with the game’s roguelite progression system (where unlockable items carry over between runs), gives Pizza Possum a surprising amount of depth for a game that can be completed in under two hours.

The Gaming Landscape in 2023

Pizza Possum launched on September 28, 2023, into a market saturated with AAA behemoths like Starfield and Baldur’s Gate 3. Yet, it found its niche among players craving something lighter, more accessible, and unapologetically fun. The game’s $6.99 price point (often discounted to $2.79) made it an easy impulse buy, and its cross-platform availability (PC, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) ensured a wide audience.

The indie scene in 2023 was thriving, with games like Dave the Diver, Cocoon, and Venba proving that smaller, more experimental titles could still capture players’ imaginations. Pizza Possum fit neatly into this trend, offering a casual yet engaging experience that appealed to both hardcore gamers looking for a palate cleanser and casual players seeking a low-stakes adventure.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive: The Possum’s Picaresque

Plot: A Simple Yet Effective Premise

Pizza Possum’s story is deliberately minimalist. There are no cutscenes, no dialogue (beyond animalistic squeaks and growls), and no lore dumps. The game opens with a single, clear objective: steal Bella Chonki’s giant pizza and her crown. That’s it. The narrative is conveyed entirely through environmental storytelling and gameplay mechanics.

The village you explore is a pastoral Italian-inspired hamlet, complete with vineyards, a harbor, and a central piazza. The inhabitants—pigs, geese, and dogs—go about their daily routines, blissfully unaware of the possum’s culinary crimes. The guard dogs, loyal to Bella Chonki, patrol the streets, ever vigilant for signs of theft. The possum’s journey is one of escalating audacity: starting with small snacks, progressing to full meals, and culminating in the ultimate heist.

The game’s true ending—unlocked by stealing the crown three times in a row—is a meta-commentary on greed and persistence. The possum, now adorned with three crowns, becomes a symbol of chaotic triumph, scaring away the very guards that once hunted him. It’s a simple but satisfying arc, reinforcing the game’s themes of mischief, rebellion, and gluttony.

Characters: The Menagerie of Mayhem

While Pizza Possum lacks traditional character development, its cast is nonetheless memorable:

• The Possum: The protagonist is a greedy, agile, and endlessly resourceful marsupial. His animations—from his waddling run to his triumphant giggle after evading a guard—are packed with personality. He’s not a hero; he’s a lovable menace, and that’s what makes him so fun to play as.
• Bella Chonki: The corgi queen is the game’s antagonist, though she’s more of a symbolic obstacle than a true villain. Her regal demeanor (she lounges on a throne atop the village) contrasts humorously with her tiny stature, making her crown theft all the more satisfying.
• The Guard Dogs: These bumbling yet persistent enforcers are the primary obstacle. Their varied patrol routes and differing levels of alertness (some are easily distracted, others are relentless) add layers to the stealth gameplay. Their barking alerts and chase sequences are the game’s main source of tension.
• The Villagers (Pigs & Geese): These NPCs serve as interactive props, dropping food when chased. Their panicked squeals and frantic running animations add to the game’s comedic tone.

Themes: Gluttony, Rebellion, and the Joy of Chaos

Pizza Possum’s themes are universal yet playful:

1. Gluttony as a Virtue: The possum’s insatiable hunger is not framed as a flaw but as a driving force. The game celebrates excess, rewarding players for gorging on food and hoarding power-ups. It’s a refreshing contrast to games that punish greed (e.g., Dark Souls’s humanity system).
2. Rebellion Against Authority: The guard dogs represent oppressive order, while the possum embodies chaotic freedom. Stealing from them is framed as a victorious act of defiance, akin to Robin Hood or Ocean’s Eleven.
3. The Joy of Mischief: The game taps into the primitive pleasure of causing chaos. Whether it’s scaring villagers, outsmarting guards, or laughing at your pursuers, Pizza Possum makes mischief feel cathartic and fun.
4. Persistence and Mastery: The game’s roguelite elements (unlockable items, high-score chasing) encourage players to refine their strategies and learn from failure. Each run is a lesson in patience, timing, and adaptability.

Dialogue and Sound: A Symphony of Squeaks

Since Pizza Possum has no traditional dialogue, its sound design carries the narrative weight. The game’s audio palette is a masterclass in environmental storytelling:

• The Possum’s Vocals: His giggles, screams, and taunts (triggered by button presses) are hilariously expressive. A well-timed laugh after evading a guard feels like a mic drop moment.
• Guard Dog Barks: Their alert calls and growls create tension, while their frustrated whines (when they lose track of the possum) are oddly satisfying.
• Villager Reactions: The pigs’ oinks and geese’s honks add to the game’s cartoonish charm, making the world feel alive.
• Ambient Sounds: The rustling of bushes, the crunch of food, and the distant village chatter immerse players in the world.

The music, composed by Almut Schwacke, is a jaunty, upbeat affair that shifts dynamically between exploration, chase sequences, and victory fanfares. It’s catchy without being intrusive, perfectly complementing the game’s lighthearted tone.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems: The Art of the Heist

Core Gameplay Loop: Eat, Hide, Repeat

Pizza Possum’s gameplay is deceptively simple:

1. Eat Food: Consume anything edible to fill your stomach meter, which unlocks gates to new areas.
2. Avoid Guards: Use bushes, power-ups, and distractions to evade the patrolling dogs.
3. Progress Upward: Ascend the village’s tiered districts, each with increasing difficulty.
4. Steal the Pizza and Crown: Reach the summit, devour Bella Chonki’s pizza, and snatch her crown.

This loop is repeated three times to unlock the true ending, with each successive run introducing more guards, tougher patrol routes, and higher stakes.

Movement and Controls: A Study in Accessibility

The controls are intuitive and responsive:

• Movement: The possum sprints by default, with a dash button for quick bursts of speed.
• Hiding: Pressing a button near a bush tucks the possum out of sight, a mechanic borrowed from Metal Gear Solid.
• Interactions: Eating food, picking up power-ups, and taunting guards are all mapped to a single button, ensuring minimal input complexity.

The game supports both gamepad and keyboard, though the latter can feel less precise during high-speed chases.

Stealth and Detection: A Game of Cat and Mouse

The stealth mechanics are simplified but effective:

• Line of Sight: Guards only detect the possum if he’s within their cone of vision (indicated by a subtle UI cue).
• Bushes as Cover: Hiding in foliage breaks line of sight, but guards will investigate suspicious rustling.
• Distractions: Power-ups like smoke bombs and noise-makers can divert guards, creating openings for escape.

The detection system is forgiving by design, ensuring that players rarely feel cheated by unfair guard behavior. However, the lack of a “stealth meter” (a la Hitman or Splinter Cell) means that detection can sometimes feel binary—either you’re seen, or you’re not.

Power-Ups and Progression: The Roguelite Twist

Pizza Possum’s progression system is its most innovative feature. Between runs, players unlock permanent power-ups by accumulating points (earned by eating food and completing objectives). These include:

• Smoke Bomb: Creates a screen-obscuring cloud, allowing for easy escapes.
• Speed Boost: Grants a temporary burst of speed, perfect for outrunning guards.
• Dog Mask: Lets the possum blend in with guards, making him nearly invisible.
• Punching Gloves: Allows the possum to stun guards with a melee attack.
• Roadblock: Places a barrier that guards must navigate around.

These power-ups persist across runs, giving players new tools to experiment with. However, they’re randomly distributed in crates during each run, adding a layer of unpredictability.

The system strikes a delicate balance between progression and randomness, ensuring that each run feels fresh yet rewarding.

Co-Op Mode: Chaos Squared

The local co-op mode (supporting two players) is where Pizza Possum truly shines. The second player controls a raccoon, who has identical abilities to the possum. The addition of a second player transforms the gameplay:

• Teamwork: One player can distract guards while the other gorges on food.
• Shared Progression: Both players contribute to the same stomach meter, making progression faster but riskier.
• Friendly Fire: Accidental collisions or misplaced power-ups can lead to hilarious mishaps.

The co-op mode is seamless and chaotic, though it suffers from occasional camera issues (the split-screen can feel cramped on smaller displays). The lack of online co-op is a glaring omission, especially in a post-pandemic world where remote play is increasingly important.

Difficulty and Replayability: A Short but Sweet Affair

Pizza Possum is designed to be beaten in under two hours, but its replayability comes from:

• High-Score Chasing: Players are encouraged to maximize their food intake and minimize detection for the best scores.
• Unlockable Items: The permanent power-ups give players new strategies to experiment with.
• Co-Op Chaos: Playing with a friend radically alters the dynamic, making each run feel unique.

However, the game’s brevity is a double-edged sword. While it’s perfect for quick sessions, some players may find it too short for its price point. The lack of additional levels or seasonal content (a missed opportunity, given the game’s arcade roots) means that long-term engagement relies heavily on personal challenge rather than new content.

UI and Feedback: Clear but Minimalist

The UI is clean and unobtrusive:

• Stomach Meter: A circular gauge shows how much food is needed to unlock the next gate.
• Guard Alerts: A red exclamation mark appears when a guard spots the possum.
• Power-Up Indicators: Icons show equipped items and cooldown timers.

The lack of a map can be disorienting for new players, though the village’s compact design mitigates this issue. The checkpoint system (marked by possum burrows) is intuitive, allowing players to save progress without breaking immersion.

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World-Building, Art & Sound: A Feast for the Senses

Setting: A Village Ripe for Plunder

Pizza Possum’s world is a whimsical, storybook Italy, complete with:

• Cobblestone streets and ivy-covered walls.
• A bustling harbor with fishing boats and seagulls.
• A vineyard overflowing with grapes and wine barrels.
• A central piazza dominated by Bella Chonki’s throne.

The village is vertically designed, with each district representing a new tier of the climb. This ascension motif reinforces the game’s progression, making each stolen crown feel like a hard-earned victory.

Art Style: Claymation Meets Cartoon

The visuals are a delightful blend of low-poly 3D and hand-drawn textures, giving the game a tactile, almost stop-motion quality. The color palette is warm and inviting, with sun-drenched oranges, lush greens, and deep blues dominating the scenery.

Character designs are exaggerated and expressive:

• The possum’s beady eyes and pudgy belly make him endearingly greedy.
• The guard dogs have comically serious expressions, contrasting with their bumbling behavior.
• Bella Chonki is a tiny, regal corgi, her crown and throne emphasizing her delusions of grandeur.

The animations are smooth and fluid, with particular attention paid to the possum’s movements—his waddle, his pounce, his triumphant giggle—all feel organic and full of personality.

Sound Design: A Symphony of Chaos

As mentioned earlier, the sound design is a standout feature. The lack of dialogue is compensated by a rich auditory landscape:

• The Possum’s Vocals: His giggles, screams, and taunts are hilariously over-the-top, adding layers of personality.
• Guard Dog Barks: Their alert calls create tension, while their frustrated whines (when they lose the possum’s trail) are oddly satisfying.
• Ambient Sounds: The rustling of bushes, the crunch of food, and the distant chatter of villagers make the world feel alive.

The music, composed by Almut Schwacke, is a jaunty, upbeat affair that dynamically shifts between:

• Exploration: A light, whimsical tune that evokes a leisurely stroll.
• Chase Sequences: A fast-paced, tense melody that ramps up the adrenaline.
• Victory: A triumphant fanfare that celebrates each successful heist.

The soundtrack is catchy without being repetitive, though some players may wish for more tracks to match the game’s arcade roots.

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Reception & Legacy: A Critical Darling with Room to Grow

Critical Reception: Praise for Simplicity

Pizza Possum was warmly received by critics, with an average score of 76% on MobyGames and 80% on Metacritic. Reviewers praised its:

• Addictive Gameplay: Many noted its “pick-up-and-play” appeal, comparing it to classic arcade titles.
• Charm and Humor: The whimsical premise and expressive animations were universally adored.
• Co-Op Chaos: The local multiplayer was highlighted as a standout feature, though the lack of online play was a common criticism.

However, some critics found the game too short, with limited replayability beyond high-score chasing. Others noted minor technical issues, such as occasional camera glitches in co-op mode.

Player Reception: A Cult Favorite

Player reactions were overwhelmingly positive, with 93% of Steam reviews recommending the game. Many praised its:

• Accessibility: Parents and casual gamers appreciated its simple controls and family-friendly tone.
• Stress Relief: The game’s lighthearted chaos made it a perfect palate cleanser after more intense gaming sessions.
• Co-Op Fun: Players loved the shared mischief of teaming up with a friend.

However, some players expressed frustration with the lack of online co-op and limited content, wishing for additional levels or seasonal updates.

Legacy: A Modern Arcade Classic?

Pizza Possum’s legacy is still unfolding, but it has already carved out a niche as a modern arcade gem. Its success lies in its simplicity, charm, and replayability, proving that not every game needs to be a 100-hour epic.

The game’s influence can be seen in its design philosophy—a return to arcade fundamentals with a contemporary twist. It’s a blueprint for how indie developers can create engaging, bite-sized experiences without sacrificing depth.

However, its lack of post-launch support (no DLC, no updates) may limit its longevity. If Cosy Computer were to expand the game with new levels, characters, or online co-op, Pizza Possum could evolve from a cult favorite to a modern classic.

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Conclusion: A Delicious, If Fleeting, Feast

Pizza Possum is a triumph of design, a game that understands its strengths and embraces them wholeheartedly. It’s not trying to be anything more than what it is: a chaotic, charming, and endlessly replayable arcade romp. In a world of overstuffed open-world games and narrative-heavy epics, Pizza Possum is a breath of fresh air—a reminder that sometimes, all you need is a hungry possum, a giant pizza, and a village full of clueless guards.

The Good:

✅ Addictive Gameplay: The eat-hide-repeat loop is simple yet deeply satisfying.
✅ Charm Overload: The art, sound, and animations create a world that’s impossible not to love.
✅ Co-Op Chaos: Playing with a friend transforms the game into a hilarious, collaborative heist.
✅ Accessible: Easy to learn, hard to master, with forgiving mechanics that welcome players of all skill levels.

The Bad:

❌ Too Short: The main campaign can be completed in under two hours, leaving some players wanting more.
❌ No Online Co-Op: The lack of remote multiplayer is a missed opportunity in today’s gaming landscape.
❌ Limited Content: The single village and lack of post-launch updates may reduce long-term engagement.

Final Verdict: 8.5/10 – A Modern Arcade Masterpiece

Pizza Possum is not a perfect game, but it’s a near-perfect execution of its arcade ambitions. It’s a game that knows exactly what it wants to be—a short, sweet, and chaotic experience—and delivers on that promise with style and substance.

For $6.99, it’s an absolute steal, offering more fun per dollar than many AAA titles. While it may not revolutionize the industry, it perfects a formula that feels both nostalgic and fresh.

If you’re looking for a game to unwind with, a co-op experience to share with friends, or simply a reminder of why games should be fun, Pizza Possum is essential playing. Just don’t be surprised if, after stealing that final crown, you find yourself craving just one more run.

Final Score: 8.5/10 – “A Delicious, Chaotic Delight” 🍕🦝