It seems that red pandas are all the rage right now, as developer Cosmic Gatto – a professional animator who has worked with animator DreamWorks Studio – revealed Akaan open world game where you are looking for “inner peace”.
You play as Aka, a retired red panda soldier who decided to settle down on a small island after the war ended. Here, he must search for the Ghosts that inhabit the land and help put their souls to rest by bringing them to close their lives.
The game is a mix of open-world exploration, farming and life simulation, and quest-based adventure, all with a heavy focus on nature. Some of the languages and features, such as the giant capybara, the bearded companion of Aka, and the watership, are all reminiscent of a beautiful Studio Ghibli movie. That train especially goes straight out of Spirited Away!
The trailer above showcases Pine Island, which is an island inspired by Southwest France, featuring a European landscape with lush fields and lots of ivy-covered ruins. The game’s Steam page also details some of the other islands – Maple Tree Island, inspired by Canada; Bamboo Island, will have the look of East Asia; and Palm Tree Island, visually taking us to South Asia and South America.
Here are just a few of the things you can do on these islands, courtesy of publisher Neowiz:
– Explore and decorate islands by crafting and farming.
– A variety of mini games.
– Peaceful activities such as napping, watching clouds, swimming, etc.
– Help the inhabitants of the island by interacting with them and helping them solve their problems.
Players will be able to control Aka and help him grow plants, flowers, and vegetables in an aquaculture-inspired system. Garden and wildlife design will play an important role in what plants you grow, how you grow them, and how successful you are. You’ll also need to build a shelter, clothing, and items for the quests you’ll need to complete to make friends and help the Ghosts. The gameplay is also non-linear, and you can choose to do many of the game’s missions in any order you want.
Don’t worry, though, if all that sounds like hard work, there are plenty of opportunities to rest – we did say you can sleep on giant capybara, right?
Aka will arrive on the Switch eShop at some point this year. Will you pick it up? Let us know, or just take a moment to see how adorable this game looks.
