Game: Doronko Wanko
Genre: Action, Simulation
System: Nintendo Switch/Switch 2 (Also on Steam (Windows))
Developer | Publisher: Bandai Namco | Phoenixx
Age Rating: US Everyone | EU 3+
Price: US $4.99 | UK £4.29 | EU € 4,99
Release Date: July 23rd, 2025
Review code used, with many thanks to Stride PR
As a dog owner, I know all about having cleaned the floor in the living room, and then have the dog coming home from a walk and mucking it all up again. Very frustrating, and my poor dog has to have its paws wiped before he is allowed inside. I’m pretty sure he has no idea what the fuss is about, just like this little Pomeranian in Doronko Wanko.
Forcing Myself to Cause Mayhem
There is no instruction starting up the game, but it’s clear pretty soon: the white powder puff is home alone (well, almost, the missus is there, but she’s so tired she just sleeps). And what starts with just a few muddy splotches as he trots into the room soon turns into a messy affair.
Strangely enough, I had to force myself to dirty things up; I had some trouble actually knocking everything over and causing destruction. Guess I have some issues! But eventually it got easier and so much more fun. The house where the Pomeranian lives is a high-end affair, with lots of shiny white furniture, lots of glass and futuristic appliances. It includes a wine cellar and a nursery even has a train in it that a child can easily ride around on.
The Bill of Cleaning
You cause damage in Doronko Wanko, of course, and the cost of cleaning it up and replacing broken things ads up. How much the bill will be is visible below on your screen, but don’t worry: the more damage is done, the more little presents will unlock.
When it’s present time, you see a little segment, showing in which room to find it. It can be a little decorative thingy for your dog the wear. Or a box slides in place, allowing you to reach higher levels. Eventually, more important presents unlock: a fan that can spread paint or mud, robot vacuums that are your little helpers, and dirtying the floor some more. A whale-shaped toy that your dog can wear that constantly sprouts blue paint. Or a huge spray gun that can be worn that shoots a big constant stream of black. Can you imagine how much mayhem you can cause with that?
You walk around in Doronko Wanko to solve little puzzles to proceed in various rooms. You have to find 12 images of a dog’s head that appear when you dirty the area around it. After that, you can open up a secret room for more fun.
Earning In-Game Badges
All things you do lead to unlocking a badge, and your goal is to earn every badge to get to the end of the game. The badges are earned by the strangest things, like biting in a tomato to splash its red juices everywhere.
Sadly, there is no other chapter, so Doronko Wanko is a short game. On Steam, the game is free to play, with paid DLC if you want to play as another dog breed. This Switch version charges you a small price, for which all the paid Steam is included, so you can also play as a corgi, toy poodle or Jack Russel terrier.
From Japanese to English
The controls are very intuitive, and Doronko Wanko shines through its simplicity. There’s no instruction, but you get the gist very quickly: make a mess.
It’s available in several languages, but you have to change the settings first, as they start up in Japanese. Here’s a little snippet from that instruction to make it easy.
The background music and sound effects are playful and complement the antics your puppy is up to.
Conclusion for Doronko Wanko
Doronko Wanko doesn’t bother with epic quests or mind-bending puzzles. It has you gleefully rolling around in the mud; it shines through its simplicity and promotes silliness. It’s a game that invites you to jump in, paws first, whenever you fancy a bit of carefree chaos. No need for deep thinking, just chuckles, playful messes, and the kind of light-hearted fun that feels like a warm hug and a wagging tail.
Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up
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