From Showa retro room to neon-lit mysterious island—hands-on report on “The Journey of the Fox and the Frog: Kotoro-Oni of Adashi Island” reveals refined Japanese aesthetic via new scenes [TGS2026]

With its fantastical world where torii gates, festival lanterns, and eerie neon signs glow in the darkness, *The Journey of the Fox and the Frog: Kotoro-oni of Adashi Island* has captured the attention of indie game fans since its initial announcement.The latest playable demo of this game, currently in development, is on display at Booth Room 6 during the “Tokyo Game Show 2026” (hereinafter TGS2026), which will be held over four days—including Business Day on September 17—at Makuhari Messe.

This 3D action-adventure game follows a fox girl and her frog companion who wash ashore on the mysterious, darkness-shrouded “Adashino Island” as they search for a way home. In this playable demo, visitors were able to fully experience the game’s charm and evolution following significant updates in preparation for its release in the first half of 2027.

From a room brimming with the feel of everyday life to the eerie yet beautiful “Adashino Island”

Previous demo versions began with the fox and the frog already having washed ashore on Adashino Island, but the biggest change in this version is the addition of a scene depicting how the two ended up on the island.

The first setting is a “room in an apartment” filled with the warmth of everyday life, surrounded by retro Showa-era furniture. The Fox leads such a lazy life that he remains completely engrossed in his video game, paying no mind even when the Frog scolds him for not paying the electricity bill.Just as it seems someone is banging fiercely on the door, the lights in the room suddenly go out. Reluctantly, the Fox heads to a convenience store with the Frog to pay the electricity bill. They mustn’t forget to collect the offering money—their source of income—from the small shrine next door.

As they leave the convenience store, the two witness a “tsukumogami”—a lantern with legs—carrying off the now-shrunken shrine. Beyond the hole through which the tsukumogami fled lies a culvert that leads to a boat dock.Realizing that the shrine had already boarded the boat, the two decide to board as well, eventually arriving at their destination, Adashino Island. During scene changes and key moments, melodies reminiscent of old-school pop songs play, enhancing both the comforting nostalgia of the atmosphere and the excitement of the adventure that lies ahead.

“Darkness” has appeared in various spots across the island, and to proceed further, they must light the shrines to dispel the darkness. Rapidly tap the button to “light as many as possible.” They successfully dispelled the darkness and rescued the person who had been swallowed up.

A figure named “Ten,” who serves as a caretaker for the island’s residents’ association, is watching this unfold—but is he friend or foe? At the very least, he’s sure to play a role in what happens next. The fox and the frog enter an izakaya along the way, featuring a unique menu, to gather information.

Following the information they gathered, they press on and arrive at a plaza, where preparations were underway for a festival to worship “Lord Lighthouse.” The figure of Lord Lighthouse that appeared was majestic yet exuded a slightly eerie aura. Furthermore, a shocking turn of events awaited them: he pulled the shrine they had been searching for from his robe and detonated it high in the sky.Overwhelmed by the shock, the Fox collapses right there on the spot.

As night deepened, I decided to head for an inn called “Manbiro” to rest for the night. When I asked someone in the square for directions, they suddenly transformed into a demon. Due to time constraints during the demo, the session ended here, but from this point on, the story escalates into a tense game of “tag.”

An Even More Refined World and a Sense of Nostalgia

Not only have the graphics and animation quality improved significantly since the previous demo, but I could also feel that the controls—despite the fixed camera—remain stress-free, and the game’s pacing has been meticulously fine-tuned.

The bittersweet yet beautiful storytelling, the heartwarming interactions between the fox and the frog, and the visual design—enriched by neon lights and other illuminations—all come together cohesively, demonstrating a steady rise in polish. The game is shaping up beautifully, and we can expect even further refinements leading up to its release.

*The Journey of the Fox and the Frog: The Kotoro Demon of Adashi Island* is scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2026 for PC (Windows Steam) and Nintendo Switch.