Steam drop free trial for Studio Ghibli-inspired game, coming to PC and Xbox soon

We can finally get our Studio Ghibli fix without having to destroy the planet by running our selfies through a ChatGPT filter.

The acclaimed animation house is known for delivering the likes of Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away, with the last release being The Boy and the Heron in 2023. More than this, 85-year-old co-founder Hayao Miyazaki is currently working on a new movie and continues to inspire animators and video game developers alike.

Now, gamers can enjoy the Studio Ghibli-inspired Tanuki: Pon's Summer ahead of its full release on Xbox and Steam.

Tanuki: Pon's Summer gets a free Steam demo

Although Studio Ghibli hasn't directly released any video games, it did work with devs on Ni no Kuni and Magic Pengel, while Steam is packed to the rafters with titles that have clearly taken influence from Miyazaki's signature style.

Among them is Tanuki: Pon's Summer, which is an adorable little indie game that you can try out for yourselves. Developed by Denkiworks, Tanuki: Pon's Summer is visually striking thanks to its cel-shaded aesthetic and classic anime style.

As well as the obvious Ghibli nods, it feels like we're stepping into the criminally underrated The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

Putting you in the shoes (sorry, paws) of a notoriously lazy tanuki called Pon, you have to help him complete deliveries for his part-time job at the local post office.

Time is ticking, as there's just one month until the Great Tanuki Festival rolls into town, and Pon is also tasked with restoring the shrine to its former glory.

It looks like Pon will have to buck up his ideas and kick that lazy streak, although we're sure players can give him a hand.

While on Pon's rounds, you need to plan carefully because different packages have different sizes and weights.

It feels like there's an element of Death Stranding's delivery mechanics, while Pon performing tricks on his bike throws in a bit of Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX for good measure.

As things progress and you explore four distinct areas inspired by the real-life locales of Kyoto, Aomori, Sapporo, and Beppu, Tanuki: Pon's Summer evolves with you befriending locals and taking part in minigames ranging from sushi rolling to baseball.

READ MORE: Studio Ghibli Inspired RPG Is Free To Play On Steam, Don’t Miss Out

Does Tanuki: Pon's Summer have a release date?

Tanuki: Pon's Summer got a playable demo that shows off the entire opening chapter thanks to Steam Next Fest, with those who've dipped their toe in it claiming it really feels like the title has been created by people who care.

Originally announced at September 2024's Xbox Tokyo Game Show, Tanuki: Pon's Summer has been on many people's wishlists for a while, so where is its release date?

If you're already sold before even trying out Tanuki: Pon's Summer's demo, the full game is due to release at some point in 2026. Denkiworks originally planned for a late 2025 launch but soon pushed things back.

We know the furry indie is coming to PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with it also getting a day-one release for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

Sadly, the team is yet to lock in an exact month for release, meaning we're left with a demo and fans pining for Pon.