The popular Japanese virtual pet Punirunes is coming to the US this summer, and I can almost guarantee that most of you have never seen a toy like this. A play on the mimetic word for “squishy” in Japanese (Punipuni), the design quirk of Punirunes sets it apart from other devices: a doughy button in the center of the device that serves to simulate physical contact with your pet. How do you get to this button? By inserting your finger into the quarter-sized hole in the side of the plastic shell.
It’s definitely a little weird. When you do, the device will even show an animation of your finger on the screen (you can choose from different skin colors during setup). But once you get past the aforementioned weirdness of movement and get into what it actually lets you do, Punirunes’ weirdest feature really makes for a pretty rich virtual pet experience. The soft button feels like a joystick wrapped in mochi, which makes sense since the characters are adorable, bubblegum-like creatures that start their lives as tiny blobs. You can hit them on the head to show them affection and make them jump to grab things; you can even drag them around to clean the virtual floor using their sticky bodies as mops.
The device has a full-color, LCD display and the capacity to display 55 different characters. There are 6 indoor games, each using a crushing mechanism, plus a cooking activity where you have to mix the ingredients yourself. In order to play mini-games or visit other locations, including the market and the forest, you must take your character through the window portal. Super mario 64– style. You can also accessorize your pet and change the decor of the room. I’ve been playing with Punirunes for a few days now and I must say I’m having a lot of fun with it. The characters are so cute it hurts.
Anyone who follows the digital pet space closely has probably come across Punirunes at some point. The toys were first released in Asian markets from Takara Tomy in 2021 and have since grown to include several generations of devices. They even inspired an anime series coming out in fall 2022. I’ve had my eye on Punirunes for a while myself, but was hesitant to buy the Japanese version because the gameplay seemed a bit more complicated than that. Something like Tamagotchi.
Their US expansion comes thanks to a partnership with Spin Master, the company behind Paw Patrol, Hatchimals and many other popular children’s brands. The Punirunes will make their US debut in August and will be available at all major retailers for $40.
