Putt-Putt is a series of point-and-click adventure games and puzzle video games aimed towards children created by Humongous Entertainment. This franchise was Humongous Entertainment's first game series to be developed. They primarily involve clicking to get to a destination, although some sub-quests and mini-games involve the keyboard. The main character, Putt-Putt, an anthropomorphic purple convertible, and his dog, Pep, travel to various locations.
History Putt-Putt was originally thought up by Shelley Day as a series of bedtime stories for her son, Travis; the first story involved Putt-Putt saving a cat caught in a tree.
Child actor Jason Ellefson provided Putt-Putt's voice for the first eight games. In the next three games, Nancy Cartwright voiced Putt-Putt. Michelle Thorson voiced Putt-Putt in Pep's Birthday Surprise.
The games are supported by ScummVM and thus can be played on other platforms such as handhelds. Humongous has brought several Putt-Putt and other titles to iOS and Android.
In 1997, Humongous made an agreement with Lancit Media Entertainment to create an animated TV series titled Putt-Putt 'n Pals, along with films and home video releases. Ultimately, the deal fell through.
Several games from the original series were later re-released by Humongous on Steam in April 2014, alongside games from the Pajama Sam, Freddi Fish, and Spy Fox series. The first two games used pixel art graphics; starting with the third game, the series uses hand-drawn animation.
Games Humongous Entertainment classified the adventure games as Junior Adventures for kids 3-8. Adventure GamesTitleRelease datePlatformsDeveloper/PublisherPutt-Putt Joins the ParadeNovember 6, 1992 (MS-DOS)3DO, Android, iOS, Macintosh, Microsoft Windows, MS-DOSHumongous EntertainmentPutt-Putt Goes to the MoonPutt-Putt Saves the ZooAndroid, DVD, iOS, Macintosh, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4Putt-Putt Travels Through TimeAndroid, iOS, Macintosh, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4Putt-Putt Enters the RaceAndroid, iOS, Macintosh, Microsoft WindowsPutt-Putt Joins the CircusAndroid, iOS, Macintosh, Microsoft WindowsPutt-Putt: Pep's Birthday SurpriseMacintosh, Microsoft WindowsJunior ArcadeTitleRelease datePlatformsDeveloper/PublisherPutt-Putt and Pep's Dog on a StickiOS, Macintosh, Microsoft WindowsHumongous EntertainmentPutt-Putt and Pep's Balloon-o-RamaHandheld, Linux, Macintosh, Microsoft WindowsActivity PacksTitleRelease datePlatformsDeveloper/PublisherPutt-Putt's Fun PackMarch 26, 19933DO, Macintosh, Microsoft Windows, MS-DOSHumongous EntertainmentPutt-Putt and Fatty Bear's Activity PackMacintosh, Microsoft WindowsPutt-Putt's One-Stop Fun ShopMay 23, 2000Macintosh, Microsoft WindowsPutt-Putt's Fun HouseMay 22, 2013iOS
Customization Players can change Putt-Putt's color to original purple, red, orange, yellow, green or blue. All colors can be painted on again. This also changes the color of the dashboard in Putt-Putt Enters the Race and Putt-Putt Joins the Circus. In Putt-Putt Joins the Parade and Putt-Putt Enters the Race, each color change costs three coins that can be collected in the game world. In Putt-Putt: Pep's Birthday Surprise, Putt-Putt's color can only be changed temporarily before reverting to purple after some traveling. His color can also be changed in certain levels of Putt-Putt and Pep's Balloon-o-Rama by using Pep to pop certain balloons tied to paint buckets, then catching the bucket containing the desired color as it falls to change Putt-Putt to.
Availability For Steam the games were released as single games, or bundled together in the "Putt-Putt Complete Pack" or came packaged with all Humongous Entertainment games in "Humongous Entertainment Complete Pack". Humongous Entertainment released 2 CD-packs titled "Humongous Entertainment Triple Treat" 1 and 2. The first pack included Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo, Pajama Sam's Sock Works and Freddi Fish and the Case of the Missing Kelp Seeds, while the second pack included Putt-Putt Travels Through Time, Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide When It's Dark Outside and Freddi Fish and Luther's Maze Madness. Humongous Entertainment released a "Putt-Putt Fun & Learning Kindergarten Edition" package with a Putt-Putt notebook and a CD that included Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo and Big Thinkers Kindergarten. Putt-Putt and Pep's Balloon-O-Rama was released for Windows and Macintosh on a compilation CD titled "Super Duper Arcade 1", along with Spy Fox in: Cheese Chase, Pajama Sam's Sock Works and Freddi Fish and Luther's Water Worries. Putt-Putt and Pep's Dog on a Stick was released for Windows and Macintosh on a compilation CD titled "Super Duper Arcade 2", along with Spy Fox in: Hold the Mustard, Pajama Sam's Lost & Found and Freddi Fish and Luther's Maze Madness. Putt-Putt Travels Through Time was released on the Nintendo Switch eShop alongside Freddi Fish 3: The Case of the Stolen Conch Shell in January 2022. The next month, Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo was released alongside Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide When It's Dark Outside, Pajama Sam: Thunder and Lightning Aren't so Frightening, and Spy Fox in: Dry Cereal.
Books Various children's books about Putt-Putt have been published by Lyrick Publishing and Random House. A cassette tape audio adaptation was created for Putt-Putt's Night Before Christmas.
Title Date Writer Publisher IllustratorPutt-Putt's Night Before ChristmasDecember 1995Laurie Bauman ArnoldHumongous EntertainmentDerek McCaughan, Edward PunPutt-Putt and PepMay 7, 1996Del ThompsonRandom House Books For Young ReadersPutt-Putt: The Great Pet ChaseJuly 2000Laurie Bauman Arnold, Tricia LegaultLyrick PublishingGo, Go, Putt-Putt Go!2000Laurie Bauman Arnold, N.S. GreenfieldDarren McKeePutt-Putt: Lost In TimeJanuary 2001Nancy ParentJosie YeePutt-Putt: Race Against the ClockJuly 2001Gayla AmaralSue DiCiccioOn the Road With Putt-Putt
Reception The Putt-Putt series received various awards including "All-Star Software Award" from Children's Software Revue, "Reader's Choice Award" from Mac Home Journal and "2000 Best Picks Award" from Choosing Children's Software.
References
External links Putt-Putt at Humongous Entertainment