Kaizen Game Works made a name for itself with Paradise Killer, a surreal detective adventure that fused vaporwave aesthetics with open-ended investigation. With Promise Mascot Agency, the studio doubles down on eccentricity, delivering a game that blends management sim mechanics, an open-world crime drama, and mascot-fueled chaos. It’s an odd hybrid, and while it doesn’t always juggle its ambitions gracefully, it’s one of the most unusual and entertaining indies of the year – and it recent got a big free update too.
At the heart of the game is Michi, a disgraced fixer trying to rebuild his reputation in Kaso-Machi while managing a roster of sentient mascots. These aren’t just cute costumes – each mascot has its own quirks, from the endearingly pathetic To-Fu to the dangerously unhinged Pinky☆. Their unpredictable personalities drive both the humor and the frustration of the game: you’ll send them off on jobs only to watch as a small advertising gig spirals into a flaming disaster, forcing you to step in with the help of local “heroes” you’ve befriended. It’s absurd and often laugh-out-loud funny, but the repetition of juggling assignments and fetching solutions can wear thin over time.
The open-world structure of Kaso-Machi gives the game a unique rhythm. Driving your trusty kei truck around town is initially clunky, but it quickly becomes part of the charm, especially as you unlock upgrades like glider wings and the ability to literally fire Pinky☆ as a projectile. The recent Prepare to Grind update takes this even further, letting players grind rails Tony Hawk–style and skip music tracks on the fly – small but welcome improvements that enhance the sense of playful chaos. Alongside the expanded difficulty modes and time trials, this update makes the moment-to-moment gameplay livelier and better suited to replayability..
Beneath the comedy, there’s also a surprisingly heavy crime drama plot unfolding, with Michi’s exile and the conspiracy surrounding his clan giving structure to the madness. At times, though, the narrative pacing struggles; long stretches of zany side antics can undercut the intrigue of the main story, making it feel disjointed when the game abruptly pivots back into noir territory. Still, the mixture of genres is part of the game’s identity – half satirical management sim, half surreal mystery – and it’s hard not to admire how boldly it commits to the bit.
Visually, Promise Mascot Agency shares the colorful, hyper-stylized vibe of Paradise Killer, though its low-poly aesthetic won’t be for everyone. The mascots themselves are wonderfully expressive, stealing the show whenever they’re on screen, and Kaso-Machi is full of quirky characters and neon-soaked backstreets worth exploring. Audio is equally distinctive, with an eclectic soundtrack that swings between jazzy noir tones and chaotic mascot jingles. It’s occasionally grating during long play sessions, but the new track-skip option helps keep it fresh.
Controls are generally responsive, though the management menus can feel clunky, and navigating the world sometimes highlights the limits of the game’s indie budget. Fetch quests, in particular, become a sticking point – they pad out the campaign but can turn into busywork, pulling focus away from the mascots themselves. That said, the hero card system adds welcome variety, letting you call in bizarre allies like Captain Sign or Mama-San to rescue missions gone wrong, and the update’s addition of crossover hero cards from other indie titles adds another layer of novelty.
Promise Mascot Agency is messy, funny, and often brilliant. It’s a game that’s constantly on the verge of collapse – just like its mascots – but that’s part of its appeal. The Prepare to Grind update smoothes out some of its rougher edges, while adding just enough new content to make a return visit worthwhile. It won’t be for everyone, but for players who embrace its chaos, it’s one of the most unique narrative experiments around.
Score: 8/10
Press Play Media 