Shown off in Friday’s Six One Indie Showcase, Petal Runner is a love letter to the Game Boy Color era of JRPGs. With 90s anime-style cutscenes, gorgeous pixel art, and a colour palette that leans on the pinks and purples; the game is dripping in nostalgia.
The slice-of-life tale follows Cali, an aspiring motorcycle courier delivering HanaPets, cute little artificial animals, to people around the Sapphire Valley. As you explore the world you’ll meet various mentors, unlocking new courier skills and certification badges, as you train to become a Petal Runner. Yes, there’s no shortage of Pokémon vibes!
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Cali’s personal HanaPet, Kira, lives in a keychain device called a leash… Which is clearly a homage to Tamagotchi devices. The developers Nano Park Studios are playing all the nostalgia cards! (There’s even an Akira slide at the end of the trailer!)
Petal Runner is set to release on PC, and while there’s no release date just yet, it’s definitely one to wishlist and keep an eye on.
