Ever wanted to be a raccoon delivering parcels on a BMX bike? No? Same. But I had a surprisingly good time doing exactly that in the demo for TANUKI: Pon’s Summer.
You play as Pon, a raccoon with a part-time gig at the local Post Office, zipping around town on a BMX to raise money for shrine repairs before the big Tanuki Festival hits in a month. It’s giving Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater energy, so definitely play it with a controller. It makes all the difference when pulling off combos.
The demo offers a short but satisfying slice of the game. It’s a bundle of quirky mini games wrapped around a trick-filled delivery loop. You’ll pick up parcels and play a bit of Tetris to cram them into your bag, then head out with a towering stack. Thankfully, they don’t go flying if you fall (which I did. A lot).
A Compass at the top of your screen keeps you on track, and there’s a map if you get turned around. It doesn’t currently show delivery points, which might change in the full version.
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Think you’re just dropping off mail? Wrong. Some deliveries come with a side of unexpected errands. So far I’ve learned to sumo wrestle, take photos, and pour the perfect drink. If that’s just the demo content, I can’t wait to see what else they throw at us.
You’ll also find floating letters scattered across the map, tempting you to show off your best tricks to collect them. I had to rope my husband in to help since I didn’t grow up on Tony Hawk — but it actually made for a fun little co-op moment if, like me, your coordination isn’t exactly pro-tier.
Back at home base, you’ll be restoring the old shrine Pon lives in. You can place furniture, build walls, and decorate the grounds. I ran into a few hiccups with placing structures, but hey, that’s what demos are for — I fully expect things to be smoother in the final release.
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There’s also a chance to win a free copy of the full game (plus a commemorative in-game shrine decoration) in the TANUKI: Pon’s Summer Tricks Contest. Just land a clean, stylish combo on your bike, post the clip to X with the hashtag #tanukiponssummer before August 8th at 1pm AEST, and you’re in the running.
Originally scheduled to release on July 25th (according to Steam, anyway), the full game is still on the way. Fitting really — I’m freezing in Melbourne as I type this, dreaming of a sunny summer with my little raccoon mate. TANUKI: Pon’s Summer is available to wishlist (and demo) on Steam now.
