TANUKI: Pon’s Summer arrived on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 on Nov. 10, 2026, priced at 19.99 euros while also landing on Xbox Game Pass.
Developed by the Kyoto-based studio Denkiworks and published by CRITICAL REFLEX, the single-player adventure drops players onto a sunlit Japanese island as a postal-working tanuki named Pon who rides a BMX bike and works to restore a neglected local shrine.
Indiegames Inside reported that the three founders of Denkiworks previously worked on Cursed to Golf before pivoting to a much more relaxed project where even a trip to the mailbox turns into an exploration.
Pon takes on delivery routes across the open world, balancing awkwardly shaped boxes on his bicycle while racing against the clock to reach the island’s residents before the upcoming Great Tanuki Festival. A whole month on a sunlit Japanese island awaits players spending the summer as a little tanuki on a bicycle, where a festival to prepare for and mail to deliver make for a very full summer.
Players must carefully pack parcels onto the back of Pon’s bicycle to ensure deliveries arrive intact and undamaged, according to Steam’s official game page. To make sure everything fits on the bike, players have to cleverly stow the boxes and plan their routes sensibly.
Away from the post office, the tanuki uses his BMX to launch off ramps, catch rails, and string together tricks across rooftops and pathways through more than 100 distinct challenges. Over 100 BMX challenges invite players to utilize ramps, roofs, and railings for spectacular jump combinations.
When not delivering parcels or pulling off stunts on two wheels, Pon can dive into a series of local pastimes and odd jobs around the island. Those who prefer to mingle with the locals discover numerous leisure activities and small stories, while learning about the residents, taking on smaller tasks, and making friends.
The Steam Community hub detailed how Pon visits a local bar run by a strict bartender named Sakamori, where he pours tapped drinks behind the counter before earning praise for a busy shift.
Players can also take Pon into the forest with a bug net to catch and catalogue insects, step into the dohyō for a sumo wrestling bout, swing a bat in a baseball game, or prepare sushi alongside the island’s colorful inhabitants.
All earnings from postal work and mini-games go directly toward rebuilding, upgrading, and decorating the island’s dilapidated shrine before the festival begins. Players invest their earnings into the reconstruction and decoration of the Great Tanuki Shrine.
Steam’s store page confirmed that players can customize Pon’s appearance with crossover hats inspired by titles such as Hollow Knight: Silksong, PEAK, and Shovel Knight.
Denkiworks designed the game to support German screen text on PC, and Valve officially lists the title as Steam Deck Verified for portable play.
While waiting for sunrise, players can follow @denkiworks on X and join the server on Discord.
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