Some games want you to optimise your build, memorise seventeen status effects, and prepare for a boss with three health bars.
Kioku: Last Summer would rather hand you a bike, point you toward a mysterious island, and gently suggest that wandering around might actually be the whole point.
The cosy, story-driven adventure from Norwegian indie studio Lugn Games and publisher Assemble Entertainment is launching on Steam for PC on 28 May 2026, with a demo already available on Steam.
Welcome To Kioku Island. Please Leave Your Brain Goblin At The Pier
In Kioku: Last Summer, players step into the tiny shoes of Asti, a young girl spending her first summer on the mysterious island of Kioku. It’s pitched as a story-led adventure full of friendships, secrets, small routines, and that very specific childhood-summer feeling where every path looks like it might lead to treasure, trouble, or a new best friend.
The world itself blends Scandinavian landscapes with Japanese-inspired aesthetics, giving Kioku that warm, handmade, postcard-from-somewhere-your-inner-child-remembers look. Think forest trails, coastal corners, quiet conversations, and just enough mystery under the sunlight to keep your curiosity doing little zoomies.
Fishing, Marubi Battles, And One Very Important Dog
Kioku’s island life is built around slow exploration and playful little rituals. Steam lists fishing, crab catching, villager friendships, in-game photos, and Marubi, a collectible marble-monster mini-game where players open packs, build a team, and battle locals.
So yes, for anyone whose cosy-game needs include “let me collect tiny weird creatures and become emotionally attached within 4.7 seconds,” Kioku appears to understand the assignment.
The press release also confirms the real headline: you can pet the dog.
Games are complicated. Life is complicated. Dog-petting remains legally and spiritually essential.
