Denkiworks Announces Debut Title Tanuki: Pon’s Summer
A new cozy adventure game called Tanuki: Pon’s Summer has been revealed by Kyoto-based indie studio Denkiworks during Xbox’s Tokyo Game Show broadcast. Players will step into the shoes of Pon, a adorable BMX-riding tanuki who acts as the mail carrier for a charming Japanese village.
The game draws comparisons to Animal Crossing, featuring summer pastimes like bug-catching and fishing, along with a cast of quirky villagers to interact with. However, unlike Animal Crossing, Pon is the only non-human resident in a village filled with humans. Players can nurture or strain relationships with other characters using a simple emoji-based interface.
Aside from delivering mail and taking on various tasks for the villagers, Pon can also showcase impressive BMX stunts, performing flips and grinds throughout a beautifully crafted Japanese village inspired by real locations in Kyoto and Sapporo. Pon’s main objective is to renovate and adorn the Great Tanuki Shrine in time for the Matsuri festival at the end of summer. In addition, Pon can partake in summer festivities like sushi-making, karaoke, sumo wrestling, and baseball.
Denkiworks, founded by former Q-Games members Liam Edwards, Taku Arioka, and Jan de Graaf, is behind this upcoming title. Edwards, known for the well-received “golf-like” game Cursed to Golf, served as the creator and director, while de Graaf contributed as a programmer.
Tanuki: Pon’s Summer is set to be published by Critical Reflex and will launch on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. A specific release date has yet to be announced.