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Finding Polka
Finding Polka, an interactive adventure by studio lidlocks and published by PARCO GAMES, is available on Steam and has won the Most Wholesome award at gamescom 2026, adding to earlier wins at BitSummit PUNCH, Tokyo Game Show, and BIC 2026.
Synthesized from 3
Yomimono stories · updated
5d ago
Finding Polka is a wordless interactive adventure developed by the Japanese creative studio lidlocks and published by PARCO GAMES. It launched on Steam on August 12, 2026, priced at 1,500 yen with a temporary discount to 1,200 yen until August 25. The game follows Frendy, who lives with his dog Jazz, as he searches for a dog resembling Polka, a companion from his childhood. The world is drawn in a ballpoint pen style, and the player explores map areas while chasing Polka's figure, with optional mini-games such as mini golf, soccer penalty kicks, and watermelon splitting.
The game features contributions from several indie creators. HIPHOP group DON YASA CREW, known for SONOKUNI, handled rap for insert songs and BGM. Hiroshi Sawatari, developer of NeverAwake, directed the shooting game parts, and Shoma, known for MotionRec, designed a stealth puzzle in the rocket factory section. These guest contributions are part of PARCO GAMES' approach to curating collaborations across genre boundaries.
Before its release, the game was exhibited at Tokyo Game Dungeon 13 on August 8, where an All-in-One Set was sold ahead of the launch. A demo was available on Steam. On August 28, Finding Polka won the Most Wholesome category at the gamescom award 2026 in Cologne, continuing a string of international recognition for Japanese indie titles. The award adds to previous wins at BitSummit PUNCH, Tokyo Game Show, and BIC 2026.
Key facts
- Release date
- August 12, 2026 ↗
- Price
- 1,500 yen, discounted to 1,200 yen until August 25 ↗
- Awards won
- Most Wholesome at gamescom 2026, plus awards at BitSummit PUNCH, Tokyo Game Show, and BIC 2026 ↗
- Guest contributors
- DON YASA CREW (rap for insert songs and BGM), Hiroshi Sawatari (shooting game parts), Shoma (stealth puzzle in rocket factory) ↗
Timeline
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Release
- game · August 12 · 2026-09-03
- Release
- game · 2026-08-12 · 2026-08-04
- Release
- game · 2026-08-12 · Steam · 2026-08-12
- Noted
- non-verbal adventure · 2026-09-03
- Noted
- ballpoint pen art took more than two years and 13 pens · 2026-09-03
- Noted
- main story runs two to three hours · 2026-09-03
- Noted
- simple ballpoint pen art style · 2026-08-04
- Noted
- demo available on Steam · 2026-08-04
- Noted
- exhibited at Tokyo Game Dungeon 13 on August 8 · 2026-08-04
- Noted
- protagonist Frendy and his dog Jazz chase a dog resembling Polka · 2026-08-04
- Noted
- new trailer released · 2026-08-04
- Noted
- won awards at BitSummit PUNCH, Tokyo Game Show, and BIC 2026 · 2026-08-29
- Noted
- published by PARCO GAMES · 2026-08-29
- Noted
- interactive adventure about searching for a dog · 2026-08-29
- Announced
- game launch on Steam · 2026-08-04
- Announced
- won Most Wholesome at gamescom award 2026 (gamescom 2026) · 2026-08-29
- Licensed by
- Steam (global) · 2026-08-12
Connections
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CC BY 4.0.
All coverage
5d ago
Finding Polka, released August 12 on Steam by PARCO GAMES, is a non-verbal adventure from lidlocks, the studio of solo developer Shinnosuke Kumazawa. The ballpoint pen art took more than two years and 13 pens. Players guide girl Frendy and dachshund Jazz as they chase the French bulldog Polka, following yellow guides into detours packed with gags and minigames. Helping characters earns a high-five. The main story runs two to three hours.
Aug 29
At gamescom 2026 in Cologne, the gamescom award 2026 winners were announced across 19 categories on August 28. Japanese indie title Finding Polka, created by studio lidlocks and published by PARCO GAMES, won Most Wholesome. The interactive adventure about searching for a dog has now also won awards at BitSummit PUNCH, Tokyo Game Show, and BIC 2026.
Aug 12
PARCO GAMES released Finding Polka, an interactive adventure by Japanese creative studio lidlocks, on Steam today, August 12, 2026. The game follows protagonist Frendy, who lives peacefully with his dog Jazz, as he searches for a dog resembling Polka, a companion from his childhood. Set in a world drawn with a ballpoint pen, players explore map areas while chasing Polka's figure, with optional mini-games such as mini golf, whack-a-mole, soccer penalty kicks, boat races, watermelon splitting, and volleyball. The game has no dialogue or words; characters convey emotions through facial expressions, gestures, and sound effects. Guest creators from the indie scene contributed, including HIPHOP group DON YASA CREW, known for SONOKUNI, who handled rap for insert songs and BGM, and Hiroshi Sawatari, developer of NeverAwake and Magical Princess, who directed the shooting game parts. Shoma, known for MotionRec, designed a stealth puzzle in the rocket factory section. The game is priced at 1,500 yen, with a 20% discount to 1,200 yen until August 25. Bundle versions with TOEM, Hidden through Time, and Lost and Found Co. are also available, and a launch trailer has been released.
Aug 4
PARCO GAMES, the game label of Parco, announced on July 29, 2026, that the interactive adventure game Finding Polka, developed by lidlocks, will launch on Steam on August 12. The game follows protagonist Frendy and his beloved dog Jazz as they chase a dog that closely resembles Polka, a dog Frendy owned in his childhood. The player searches a map to find Polka somewhere in the world, which the sources describe as fairly large, with the search extending beyond the city. The game features a simple ballpoint pen art style that creates a humorous and playful atmosphere. A new trailer was released alongside the announcement. The game will be exhibited at Tokyo Game Dungeon 13 on August 8, where an All-in-One Set, including a Steam Activation Key Card and original Finding Polka merchandise in a special pouch, will be sold ahead of the release. Visitors who register the game on their wishlist will receive a book cover, and those who know a secret phrase will get a Shirikodama Sticker on a first-come, first-served basis. A demo is currently available on Steam.