Where to get it

2023 · Good-Feel · Action-adventure · Adventure

Bakeru

Nintendo console exclusive

A 3D action game starring taiko drum-wielding tanuki boy Bakeru, who assumes the form of a human, going on a journey to save Japan from the clutches of a festival army led by the notorious Oracle Saitaro.

Released: 30 November 2023
Platforms: Nintendo Switch Windows
Genres: Action-adventure Adventure Platformer
Developers: Good-Feel
Publishers: Good-Feel
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Third person
Themes: Action Fantasy Open world
Country: Japan
Age ratings: ESRB E10+CERO A ACB G PEGI 3
Languages: Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), English, Japanese
Time to beat: 11hmain story18hcompletionist

About

Bakeru is a 2023 action video game developed by Good-Feel and published by Spike Chunsoft. It was released in Japan for the Nintendo Switch on 30 November 2023. It was later released internationally for Nintendo Switch and Windows on 3 September 2024. Bakeru has been described as a spiritual successor to the Ganbare Goemon series.

›Story

Disaster strikes Japan!

Oracle Saitaro and his Festival Troops are using a bizarre festival to take over Japan. Bakeru travels to 47 Japanese prefectures to free Japan from the grip of evil spirits!

Players say

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The player controls Bakeru, a tanuki boy disguised as a human who performs action with his taiko.

Development

Bakeru was developed by Japanese developer Good-Feel. It was directed by Tadanori Tsukawaki and produced by Etsunobu Ebisu, both of which were lead creators of Konami's Ganbare Goemon series. The development team focused on keeping the game design simple and intuitive, forgoing complex management system.

The game was released first in Japan for Nintendo Switch on 30 November 2023, both physically and digitally. Spike Chunsoft published the international version in the west, which added the Windows port, on 3 September 2024. The western release made adjustments to improve gameplay and added extra contents, such as Bakeru's new actions. A physical edition in North American and Europe was made available on 25 February 2025.

Reception

Bakeru received positive reviews on release. The game received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic. 85% of 34 critics recommended the game according to OpenCritic.