I recently found myself thoroughly enjoying the critically acclaimed game of the moment, Blue Prince, much like many of my fellow video game critics from the elder millennial generation. However, after spending weeks filling pages with complex notes and even seeing puzzle solutions in my dreams, I yearned for a game that would ease my mental load. Enter Promise Mascot Agency, which seemed to arrive on Steam as if in answer to my prayers.
In this game, you step into the shoes of Michi, known as The Janitor, a yakuza fixer who is saddled with a substantial debt after a botched money handoff. To repay his dues, Michi relocates to a neglected rural town in Japan, tasked with reviving a dwindling mascot agency and rejuvenating the community before an anti-yakuza curse seals his fate.
An intriguing aspect of this world is that Japanese mascots are living, breathing entities. Take Pinky, a 6-foot severed thumb mascot that accompanies you throughout your journey. She’s not just a character; she’s a tangible, colossal, bloodied finger with an intriguing, if unconventional, interest in hardcore pornography.
Although the premise might sound complex, Promise Mascot Agency is, at its core, a chore game. The adventure involves cruising around an open world, completing tasks, and collecting items for the locals. Before long, the left side of your screen fills with a rolling to-do list. Tasks range from tackling arcade missions on the beach to recycling junkyard debris, and from recruiting mascots at the map’s extreme ends to engaging with a new shop owner keen on using your quirky team to promote their grand opening.
Kaizen Game Works, the developer, first made waves with Paradise Killer, a psychedelic detective thriller we once hailed as "the most confident game of 2020." Now, with Promise Mascot Agency, they’ve adopted the classic sophomore approach, enhancing everything to a grander scale and more vivid setting. The expansive town, mountain ranges, forests, and beaches far exceed the scope of typical indie games. Michi, voiced by Takaya Kuroda鈥攆amed for his role as Kazuma Kiryu in the Like a Dragon series鈥攁dds depth to the game.
Despite its expansive world, this new game remains decidedly chill, straightforward, and nostalgic. Even its complex systems, such as business management and a card-based combat minigame, are simplified enough that success is almost guaranteed as long as you make an effort.
Typically, I might critique games like this for their simplistic open-world format. Yet, I find myself inexplicably drawn to Promise Mascot Agency. Each night, as I return to its beautifully decrepit village, I reflect on the game’s inexplicable charm. The developers at Kaizen Game Works have masterfully crafted a chore game that captivates like a renowned sushi chef transforming mere ingredients into a memorable meal.
Here, the chores simply serve to keep my hands occupied while I bask in the game’s enchanting environment. With no mental pressure, I can take tranquil drives to the mountains, meet eccentric characters, enjoy a captivating soundtrack, and notice charming details鈥攍ike ghosts congregating outside a convenience store and mascots socializing in a park鈥攁ll while heading to save a human-sized block of tofu from embarrassment at a local event.
The game fills a role in my routine that is usually occupied by classic sitcoms. Much like watching reruns of The Simpsons or 30 Rock, I don’t expect to be challenged by this game. I don’t even plan to take notes. Yet, I revel in the comfort of these fictional worlds. These shows, much like the game, provide a cozy reality where doing nothing is perfectly acceptable.
I don’t feel an urgency to drop everything for more Promise Mascot Agency, but knowing it’s there at the end of a busy day鈥攁fter work, dinner, and bedtime routines鈥攐ffers a productive distraction that lets my mind wander freely.
Promise Mascot Agency was launched on April 10 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. This review was conducted on a PC using a pre-release download code provided by Kaizen Game Works. Note that Vox Media has affiliate partnerships, and while these do not affect editorial content, Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased through affiliate links. For more details, refer to Polygon’s ethics policy.
