Doronko Wanko review

If you’ve ever yearned to roleplay as a mischievous, mud-splattering puppy, Doronko Wanko provides the opportunity. Originally developed for PC by Bandai Namco Studios and GYAAR Studios and now ported to the Nintendo Switch, this quirky action game casts you as a rambunctious puppy who’s obsessed with getting each location as dirty as dog-gone possible.

The concept of causing as much destruction is a clever concept. However, Doronko Wanko’s single environment offers only about an hour’s worth of domestic vandalism. Very likely, you’ll be left wanting more since the bundled selection of different dog breeds are mostly cosmetic.

You Dirty Dog

At its core, Doronko Wanko’s gameplay is both simple and accessible. You ‘ll guide a playful pup through a variety of rooms in an immaculate, multi-level home. The game’s main objective is straightforward: cover each object, wall, and floor with dirt, paint, and a variety of other liquids to create as much monetary damage as possible. Beyond that, Wanko has 12 hidden ‘pomes’ that can be revealed by splashing them with fluid.

To accomplish this, your dog has two abilities. They can wiggle on their back, soaking up mud like a sponge. Once the pup is coated in grime, they can then shake, dispersing a mess around the immediate area. Pleasingly, you’ll never have to worry about running out of liquid, since you can revisit any puddle and resoak indefinitely. On top of this, your dog can also pick up wearable rigs that range from a whale cap, cannon, to a giant soaker. Each helps you deface the home, automatically spilling mud about. For better or worse, there’s no peeing or pooping, which might have detracted from the game’s cartoonish, family-friendly vibe.

No Enemies, No Time Limits

In Wanko’s suburban sandbox, you won’t have to worry about adversity. There’s a single human, but she’s too exhausted to notice your sabotage. Instead, the challenge comes solely from finding the most efficient way to transform pristine rooms into an utter mess. Wisely, there are no timers or pressure, just a series of checklists and an ever-increasing repair bill to motivate you.

A score tally at the end measures your efforts, and completionists may enjoy trying to discover every hidden pome or max out destruction in every nook and cranny. Pleasingly, there are some cleverly hidden alcoves that become accessible after you hit certain scoring checkpoints.

This Dog Needs to Roam

But Doronko Wanko’s simple charms can only last so long. With only one house to explore and minimal variety in objectives or hazards, repetition sets in quickly. Beyond unlocking the tools of destruction across subsequent playthroughs, there are no new environments, upgrades, or significant secrets. As such, even the most dedicated mess-makers can finish everything in a single 45-minute sitting.

On the original Switch, controls are responsive, but the camera can get a little wonky when your doggo walks into tight spaces. In both handheld and docked mode, expect a few framerate issues and some flickering textures when the house gets completely covered. Although the original PC version was free, additional dog breeds were paid DLC. Here, Switch owners have access to the Pomeranian, Shiba-Inu, Bulldog, Toy Poodle, Jack Russell Terrier, and Corgi with the five-dollar purchase price.

As such, casual players, kids, and anyone else looking for a relaxing time should thoroughly enjoy running up that repair bill. Just don’t be surprised when this playful pup runs out of steam before you’re ready to put the leash away.

Doronko Wanko was played on Switch with review code provided by the publisher.