Frogs

About

Frogs lets you play as a hungry amphibian leaping between lily pads to catch flying insects before time runs out. Released in 1978 by Gremlin Industries, it tasks you with flicking your tongue at butterflies and dragonflies each worth varying scores. The frog’s bouncy movement and timing-based challenges make it feel ahead of its time. Despite its simple premise, the game’s design laid groundwork for later platformers with its focus on jump-and-grab mechanics and scrolling environments. The game’s cabinet featured one of the earliest static backgrounds in an arcade title, blending visuals with the cabinet itself. A clever mirror system flipped reversed graphics from a horizontally mounted monitor to create the final image. This technical workaround gave the game a distinct look and proved early arcade developers were already thinking creatively about presentation. While its mechanics feel basic by modern standards, Frogs remains a curious relic from the late 70s and a key entry in platformer history.