Action Henk

Thought this game was gonna be a quick knock off the backlog list, but ended up being too fun to not go for gold on as many levels as I could. It was annoying only a small portion of times and failing never felt unfair. A really damn solid and fun game!

Action Henk is a kinetic, momentum-driven platformer that revolves around one deceptively simple idea: running fast is more important than jumping high. Developed and published by RageSquid, the game takes the familiar framework of time-trial racing and filters it through precise physics, playful humor, and an immediately readable control scheme that rewards mastery through repetition. You play as Henk, a slightly worn-out action figure determined to reclaim his former glory, sprinting through obstacle-filled tracks built from oversized everyday objects. From the very first level, the game makes it clear that speed is king, and that learning how to conserve and exploit momentum is the key to success.
The core mechanics are elegant and focused. Rather than relying on complex move sets, Action Henk gives players a small number of actions—running, jumping, sliding on your backside, and later grappling—that interact deeply with the game’s physics. Sliding downhill builds speed dramatically, and well-timed jumps allow you to preserve that velocity across gaps and obstacles. The brilliance of the design lies in how these mechanics encourage flow; the best runs feel almost rhythmic, as if the level itself is guiding you forward when executed correctly. Early stages teach these principles gently, while later tracks demand precise timing and near-perfect execution, pushing players to refine their technique rather than simply react.
Progression is structured around time-based medals, which form the backbone of the game’s addictive loop. Each level can be completed at a basic level with little trouble, but earning gold or the coveted rainbow medals requires optimization, experimentation, and repeated attempts. The game excels at making retries painless and inviting, with instant restarts and clear feedback that helps players identify where time was lost. Racing against ghost replays—either your own best times or those of other players—adds a compelling layer of competition that turns self-improvement into a tangible goal. Every fraction of a second shaved off feels earned, and that sense of incremental mastery is what keeps players coming back.
Level design consistently reinforces this philosophy. Tracks are compact but carefully constructed, offering multiple routes, shortcuts, and risk-reward decisions that reward bold experimentation. As environments change, new obstacles and mechanics are introduced, keeping the experience fresh without overwhelming the player. Visually, the game leans into a playful toy-box aesthetic, with courses built from pillows, toy cars, wooden blocks, and household clutter. This exaggerated sense of scale gives the world personality and charm, while also making obstacles easy to read at high speed—an essential quality for a game where split-second decisions matter.
Beyond the main campaign, Action Henk gains impressive longevity from its social and creative features. Local multiplayer allows friends to compete directly in frantic couch races, transforming the precision-focused solo experience into chaotic fun. Online leaderboards and ghost challenges foster a sense of global competition, while the inclusion of a level editor and Steam Workshop support opens the door to an endless supply of community-made tracks. This user-generated content significantly extends the game’s lifespan, offering new challenges long after the original levels have been mastered.
The presentation complements the gameplay with an upbeat soundtrack and lighthearted tone that never takes itself too seriously. Character animations and sound effects emphasize humor and energy, reinforcing the idea that this is a game about joyful movement rather than punishment. While the narrative framing is minimal, it doesn’t need to be more; the motivation comes from the satisfaction of improvement and the thrill of a perfect run rather than story progression.
Overall, Action Henk succeeds by refining a single idea to a razor-sharp edge. It doesn’t rely on gimmicks or bloated systems, instead delivering a focused, rewarding experience built around speed, precision, and flow. For players who enjoy time trials, physics-based movement, and games that reward dedication and practice, it offers an immensely satisfying challenge. Its charm, responsiveness, and emphasis on mastery make it a standout indie platformer that turns running fast into an art form.
Rating: 8/10

A Fast, Addictive Platformer That’s Hard to Put Down

I didn’t expect Action Henk to grab me this much, but once I got into the flow, it became one of those “just one more run” kind of games. At first glance, it looks like a simple 2D platformer, but it’s actually all about speed, momentum, and mastering levels down to the smallest detail.

The core gameplay is super satisfying. You run, jump, and slide your way through levels as fast as possible, trying to beat your previous times or hit medal targets. The controls are simple, but getting the perfect run takes skill. Timing your jumps, maintaining momentum, and finding shortcuts becomes almost like a rhythm. It reminds me a bit of speedrunning games where every second counts, and once you start chasing better times, it gets addictive fast.

What really kept me hooked is how replayable it is. Levels are short, restarts are instant, and there’s always a better route or a cleaner run to chase. Competing against ghost times or your own records gives it that constant “improve yourself” loop. It’s one of those games where you jump in for 10 minutes and suddenly an hour is gone.

There’s also a decent amount of content. You’ve got a lot of levels, different environments, unlockable characters, and even a level editor, which adds extra longevity. The variety doesn’t completely change how the game plays, but it helps keep things fresh enough.

That said, it’s not perfect. The gameplay can lean heavily into trial-and-error, especially on harder levels. Sometimes it feels less about skill and more about memorizing exactly when to jump or slide. If you don’t enjoy repeating levels over and over to shave off milliseconds, it can get frustrating.

Visually, it’s bright and colorful with a toy-like aesthetic that fits the game really well. It’s not super detailed, but it’s clean and easy to read, which matters a lot for a fast-paced platformer. The soundtrack is actually pretty solid too, energetic enough to match the speed, without getting annoying.

Overall, I had a really good time with it. It’s not trying to be anything complex, it just focuses on doing one thing really well. If you’re into fast platformers or speedrunning-style gameplay, it’s definitely worth it. If not, it might feel repetitive after a while.

The Good:

- Extremely satisfying movement and momentum-based gameplay
- High replayability with time trials and optimization
- Plenty of levels and additional content to keep you busy

The Bad:

- Can become repetitive if you’re not into time-based challenges
- Trial-and-error design in harder levels
- Limited gameplay variety beyond core mechanics

Ratings:

Overall: 7/10
Visual: 7/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Story: 4/10
Audio: 7/10
Playability: 8/10

Funky buttsliding! Fun game but short campaign. Luckily there's comunity levels too.

Stylish, this game is full of confidence. Simple premise, great execution.

Truly a hidden gem in my opinion. This game takes the simple concepts of time trials and momentum control and turns them into one of the most fun platformers I've ever played.

It feels great to control once you get used to it, and grinding out runs for a fast time never feels like a hassle with a one-button restart and (mostly) shorter levels.

If speedy fluid platformers are your kinda game I 100% recommend it.

Super Fun! Reminds me of the Olliolli games (which I also love). I got it on the cheap, but if you're looking for a fun fast platformer, it's worth it.