Indie devs Denkiworks and publisher CRITICAL REFLEX have released the first public demo for Tanuki: Pon’s Summer, a charming BMX-powered adventure that lets players ride, deliver mail, and explore a nostalgic Japanese town. The free demo, available now on Steam, invites players to cruise through the game’s first area, meet quirky locals, perform BMX stunts, and begin restoring a mystical shrine before the big summer Matsuri festival.
BMX, Bug Catching, and Shrine Building — Summer Has Never Been This Wholesome
In Tanuki: Pon’s Summer, you play as Pon, an adorable part-time mail-tanuki zipping through town on a tricked-out BMX. You’ll deliver packages, pull off flips and grinds, and take part in classic Japanese summer pastimes like karaoke, sushi plating, baseball, fishing, and bug catching.
But this isn’t just a relaxing ride—your real goal is to restore the Great Tanuki Shrine in time for the summer festival. You’ll collect decorations, interact with villagers using a fun emoji-based dialogue system, and shape your own experience through relationships and exploration.
Key Features:
- Freestyle BMX Action – Pull off stunts, tricks, flips and grinds while delivering mail
- Odd Jobs & Deliveries – Help out locals and earn your place in the community
- <strong”>Summer Activities Galore – From karaoke to bug collecting to baseball, it’s the full slice-of-life package
- Emoji-Driven Dialogue – Befriend or annoy the locals through intuitive interactions
- Shrine Restoration – Gather items and unlock decorations to prepare for the Matsuri
- A Japan-Inspired World – Built from real experiences in Kyoto, Beppu, Aomori, and Sapporo
From the Team Behind Cursed to Golf
Denkiworks, a Kyoto-based indie studio formed by the devs behind Cursed to Golf, are infusing Tanuki: Pon’s Summer with cozy summer nostalgia, heartfelt worldbuilding, and offbeat humor. The game blends slice-of-life activities with expressive exploration and trick-filled traversal for something uniquely relaxing—and totally rad.
The demo is live now, and the full game is set to launch on PC via Steam later this year.
