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We’ve known about Doronko Wanko for a while. New Bandai Namco Studios members created it as part of the GEMini 2023 program, and Phoenixx later released the project on PC for free via Steam in March 2024. As a result of enthusiasm for Doronko Wanko, extra dog DLC and a Switch port are about to appear. While these don’t change the experience much, it does provide welcome customization and a chance to be more (or less) cute, depending on your affinity for certain dog breeds.
As a refresher, Doronko Wanko is about being a teeny dog capable of creating the biggest messes. Your family moved to a new, huge home with lots of places to explore. The issue is, there’s one room that is off limits. It’s the Good Smell Room. You can get access to this magical place, but only if you roll around in things like mud and paint and splatter it everywhere to discover Hidden Pome dog symbols.
Naturally, along the way you also can find cute dog hats.
Now, this update doesn’t change the base game at all. It remains as is! It’s still very good stuff. Doronko Wanko cultivates the same sort of whimsical atmosphere as games like Katamari Damacy. You’re a teeny dog. You’re cute. Mess things up. Get rewarded with a shark hat for your effort. (I mean, there are other hats too.) You could beat it in probably about a half hour, if you rush, or you could take your time to really explore the house, collect accessories, and ruin everything.
However, the new cosmetics are very cute. The dog stays the same size, even though a Shiba Inu would be much bigger than a Pomeranian, French Bulldog, Toy Poodle, Jack Russell Terrier, or Welsh Corgi in real life. The design direction is similar. Basically, same cute concept, extra dogs that may resemble ones that are your favorite types.
I do think some of the dog models in the DLC look a bit better than others, due to the general design direction and color schemes in Doronko Wanko. The Welsh Corgi, French Bulldog, and Jack Russell Terrier are my three favorites here due to the color of their coats and the execution of their models, even though I’m a big fan of Shiba Inus in real life. I also thought that, while the concept of the Toy Poodle is cute, the design choices for the model and color scheme kept its general fluffiness from being interpreted in the same manner as the Pomeranian base breed.
In short, you don’t need the Doronko Wanko extra dog DLC that brings in a French Bulldog, Jack Russell Terrier, Toy Poodle, Shiba Inu, or Welsh Corgi, but it is a fun bonus. The base game remains the same and is a delightful romp. I feel like getting the add-ons (or buying the Switch version) feels more like chipping in a tip for a game you might have already enjoyed for free than some major addition. The new character models are definitely cute. If you enjoyed the free version of the game and wanted to show support for that type of game, I think it’s worth the cost of entry.
Doronko Wanko is available on the PC, and the DLC and Switch version arrive on July 24, 2025.
