Game*Spark Review: “TANUKI: Pon’s Summer” Is More Than BMX and Cute Tanuki! A Heartwarming Adventure with Never-Stale Ideas

A Japanese summer vacation that feels somehow nostalgic—the sound of cicadas, a shrine at dusk, and a tanuki zooming around on a BMX bike with boundless energy.

The adventure game *TANUKI: Pon’s Summer*, developed by Kyoto-based indie studio DENKIWORKS and published by CRITICAL REFLEX, has garnered significant attention since its announcement for its unique world.

The protagonist is “Pon,” a cute tanuki who works as a postal delivery person to help revitalize a shrine on a small island plagued by depopulation and neglect. You control Pon as he races across the island on his BMX, helping residents and delivering packages, using the funds he earns to restore the shrine.

This review is based on having completed the main story in its entirety.

The playtime to complete the main story, while enjoying side quests along the way, is approximately 12 to 15 hours. If you include endgame content such as completing all island challenges, filling out the encyclopedia, decorating the shrine, and collecting costume items, the game offers over 20 hours of playtime.

This game garnered attention for its striking visual contrast between “Pon’s cuteness” and “the exhilarating sensation of riding a BMX.” However, after actually racing through the story to the very end, what became clear was its overwhelming depth and meticulous game design—which go far beyond those initial impressions.With its highly addictive BMX action and heartwarming, slow-paced life experience spent with Pon, this game grows more enjoyable the more you play it.

Even the delivery routines are top-notch entertainment

The main objective of this game is to restore a dilapidated shrine to its former bustling glory in preparation for the “Great Tanuki Festival,” which is just one month away. Pon, who has squandered all his funds through years of idleness, must earn money to repair the shrine grounds by making deliveries for the post office and completing requests from the residents.

Structurally, the game is a simple “errands” system where you complete deliveries and requests.When delivering letters and packages, you can make the most of Pon’s agility to enjoy nimble wheelies and high-speed glides; however, when transporting heavy, bulky materials or fragile items, the BMX’s acceleration slows down, making it significantly harder to control inertia around corners and manage landings after jumps.

This encourages you to think on your feet and devise the optimal delivery route based on the cargo’s characteristics—for example, “avoid risky shortcuts and choose gently sloping main streets when carrying heavy loads,” or “take the shortest ‘ultra line’ by jumping from roof to roof when delivering light letters.”Rather than simply heading to your destination, there’s a real sense of satisfaction in figuring out how to deliver the package stylishly without spilling it—which keeps the experience fresh and fun, even after traveling the same route back and forth countless times.

It is precisely because of these constraints that the ingenuity of using a BMX to navigate the environment truly shines. The open-world-style island opens up all kinds of terrain as viable routes—not just roads and slopes, but also stair railings, rooftops, and power lines stretching across the sky.When you plan the optimal line based on the weight of your cargo and pull off a grind on a railing or a massive jump from a roof to boldly cut a shortcut, you’ll experience a sense of accomplishment unlike anything in other games.

Seamlessly integrated throughout the area are over 100 challenges that test your BMX skills, such as “combos” where you land a series of specific tricks in a row and “races” where you simply test your speed.Whether you’re pulling off a trick on a railing or slope that catches your eye on the way to your destination, or encountering episodes that offer a glimpse into the residents’ relationships, there’s no end to the discoveries even while making deliveries—so no matter how many times you make the round trip, the experience always feels fresh and fun. Since moving around becomes a fun activity in itself, it never feels like a chore.

On the other hand, there were a few minor issues with the controls. In situations where you want to perform a standard jump over a small bump, the timing of your input or the angle of the joystick can sometimes cause you to accidentally spin 180 degrees or grind in the opposite direction, making it difficult to control your landing posture or direction of travel as intended.While the game offers enjoyable technical action, it takes some getting used to in order to ride the exact line you intend.

Additionally, while the navigation system itself is very user-friendly for traversing the vast island, the specific locations of the “shrines”—which unlock as fast-travel points to various parts of the map—are designed in a way that makes them somewhat difficult to find. It’s important to note that until you’ve memorized the shrine locations, you’ll often find yourself traveling long distances on your own.

Beyond simply rebuilding the shrine, the ability to decorate the grounds to your liking with various purchased items is another appealing feature. The final scene of the “Great Tanuki Festival”—which awaits after you’ve worked together with the island’s once-desolate residents to achieve reconstruction—will surely remain etched in your heart as a wonderful memory of a summer well-spent.

Pon’s Hidden Talents Bloom!? Activities That Enrich the Slow Life

Pon isn’t just a cute tanuki. You’ll be amazed not only by the impact of his BMX stunts but also by the versatility you’ll glimpse through a variety of fulfilling activities.

At delivery destinations, he’s asked to take on all sorts of odd jobs—as if they were just a side note—but he uses his natural dexterity and hidden talents to handle every request with flying colors.From sumo practice and helping out with a baseball team to working as an izakaya server, playing drums in a band, and even working the register at a convenience store… His versatility and earnest efforts will make you chuckle involuntarily while also filling you with a deep sense of affection.

However, the unique helper events triggered by residents’ requests are generally one-time-only experiences within the story.It felt like a bit of a waste that these mini-games couldn’t be replayed. Pon’s adorable helping actions and exclusive activities are so charming that every scene was truly memorable—so much so that I found myself wishing I could replay them anytime after completing the game.

Once you obtain a bug net and a fishing rod, you can collect insects and fish by the water. There’s a real joy in filling out the field guide, and you’ll get so absorbed that you’ll forget you’re in the middle of a delivery.

Although “deliveries (helping out)” form the main core of the game, there’s no limit to how long you can play each day. You have the freedom to switch to fishing, insect collecting, changing outfits, or tackling BMX challenges whenever you feel like it, which adds a pleasant sense of excitement and variety to the slow-life game’s pace.

Instagram-worthy scenery and background music that makes moving around a joy

The island where the game is set features beautiful, nostalgic Japanese scenery that fills the screen. The blue sky dotted with cumulus clouds, the lush mountain ranges, and the expansive rural landscapes all meticulously capture the unique atmosphere of a Japanese summer.

No matter where you look, every location is incredibly photogenic. One of the game’s major appeals is the joy of using the camera feature to search for the perfect shot alongside Pon.

The sound design incorporates thoughtful touches to enrich the gaming experience.When Pon is walking around, relaxed, chill background music plays, but the moment he hops on his BMX and starts riding, the same melody seamlessly shifts into an upbeat, energetic track. This transition in the background music amplifies the sense of speed many times over, letting you enjoy the thrill of the ride through your ears as well.

Interactions with the island’s residents are enveloped in the warm, welcoming atmosphere unique to rural Japan. Although Pon expresses emotions solely through gestures and body language—without speaking—this very aspect creates a gentle sense of connection with the residents. The relationships between residents, which you discover through your deliveries, combine with Pon’s reactions to create a gentle, heartwarming atmosphere that permeates the entire island.

A Fusion of Exhilarating Action and Slow Living

“TANUKI: Pon’s Summer” is neither a casual game where the tanuki is simply cute nor a stoic extreme sports game. It’s a title that successfully blends the soothing charm of the “slow life” with the satisfying fun of action gameplay.

The exhilaration of racing through beautiful locations while honing your BMX skills, the diverse activities and collectibles that stem from your relationships with the island’s residents, and Pon’s versatile talents and adorable charm all combine to transform even the time spent on tasks into a deeply satisfying experience.

This title is highly recommended not only for action gamers who’ve grown a bit tired of slow-life games—which often tend to become mere “chores”—but also for slow-life fans who want to be soothed by a cute world while still seeking a game with substantial depth and challenge.