Tanuki: Pon's Summer blends BMX tricks with cozy courier life

Tanuki: Pon's Summer puts you in the role of Pon, a lazy tanuki who delivers packages by bike around a seaside town to raise money to restore the local shrine before the Matsuri Festival. The demo, released for Steam Next Fest, mixes summertime errands, a job application at a yakitori restaurant and plenty of opportunities for BMX-style showmanship.

A surprisingly deep trick system — backflips, double backflips, Superman moves, rail-grinds and rail-hops — channels Tony Hawk's Pro Skater while keeping controls simpler and more forgiving. Cycling feels smooth and intuitive; the game often autocorrects crooked landings, so tricks become a natural part of getting between deliveries rather than something you must perfect to progress.

The demo also offers quieter delights: serving beer at a local izakaya, a run-in with a sumo wrestler and a cozy homebase that resembles a cluttered Hobbit-hole lit by a retro TV and games console.

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