Cozy Dragon Platformer Dono’s Tale Coming in 2026

[PopGeeks]

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Are you looking for a cozy experience that emulates that style of retro, 16/32-bit games? If so, then you should keep an eye out for this up coming 2D platformer, Dono’s Tale! Being Developed by Super Item Studios, Dono’s Tale takes after Super Nintendo games in both style and gameplay. It especially takes after Yoshi’s Island in art style, mimicking it with thick outlines and vibrant colors. It even stars a cutesy reptile as the main character, who is equal parts adorable and capable. Speaking of the main characters, we play as the lovable Draconian Dono, who loses all of his fruit supply in a storm. Now fruitless in the aftermath of the storm, Dono goes out on an adventure to recover his snacks. You must go through each level, platforming through obstacles with the aid of Dono’s many abilities. Dono has quite a few abilities that fall under two categories, as either an attack or mobility. For attacking, you can spit fire, slash with your claws, or pull out a shell and defend yourself. On the mobility front, you have a pegasus dash for added airtime, a thunder dash to speed along the ground, and a grappler glove for grabbing walls, […]
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Cozy Dragon Platformer Dono's Tale Coming in 2026

Are you looking for a cozy experience that emulates that style of retro, 16/32-bit games? If so, then you should keep an eye out for this up coming 2D

popgeeks.com

 

[Mokona1998]

I really like the idea of Dono being a dragon who is not focused on fighting armies or saving kingdoms but simply trying to recover fruit. It feels refreshing to see a platformer with such a small and personal motivation. I grew up with Yoshi’s Island and Kirby’s Dream Land, so I can already imagine myself enjoying this same colorful and lighthearted style. The abilities like pegasus dash and grappler glove sound fun and versatile. I can already picture myself replaying stages just to experiment with different ways to clear obstacles. For me, what makes this project even more exciting is the involvement of Soyo Oka. Her work on Super Mario Kart is legendary, and if she is contributing here, I know the soundtrack will feel authentic to the Super Nintendo era.

 

[What in the]

For me the highlight is that Dono’s Tale started as a Kickstarter and succeeded quickly. That tells me there is a strong demand for cozy platformers. I think this is also good because smaller studios like Super Item Studios can focus on creativity instead of large commercial expectations. I will check the demo because I want to see if the controls feel smooth. Platformers live or die by their controls, and if the grappler glove and thunder dash feel tight, then it could become one of the best indie releases of 2026.

 

[RedRooster]

What stood out to me is how the game mixes offense and movement skills. The fact that Dono can both fight and explore with unique moves is very appealing. Too often platformers give you only one attack button. Here you can spit fire, slash claws, and even defend with a shell. On the other side, the thunder dash and wall grappling make me think the levels will be designed for creativity. I want to see if speedrunners will use these moves for fast runs.

 

[jnewman089]

I like how they describe Dono as adorable but capable. It reminds me of games that look soft on the outside but actually demand good skill to master. Thirty stages are a good number too, not too short but not overly long. I hope the bosses really challenge players with patterns instead of just big health bars. For me, the promise of retro music is one of the strongest features. Games like these rely a lot on charm, and music is a huge part of it.

 

[SakeScribe]

Honestly, I am most interested in the co-op mode. Playing with a friend always makes these types of platformers more memorable. I imagine Dono and maybe another dragon teaming up to collect fruit together. If they design it like classic couch co-op games, this could be one of those titles people play at gatherings.

 

[alexbaker]

The visuals are what catch my attention. The mention of thick outlines and vibrant colors tells me they are not just copying pixel art but instead mixing retro ideas with hand-drawn art. It will stand out compared to many indie games that all use the same pixel style. For me, relaxing while exploring colorful worlds is the main reason I play games. Dono’s Tale feels like a safe choice when I want a gentle break from heavy or dark games.

 

[Eddie Balrog]

I like that the game is also coming to Switch, because portable systems are perfect for platformers. Personally, I like playing this type of game in short sessions, maybe one or two stages at a time. Knowing that the release is planned across so many systems is also a sign that the developers are confident. I hope they keep updating backers as the release approaches.

 

[RedwhiteBlue]

I think the backstory about losing fruit is both funny and charming. It gives a simple but effective reason to travel across different worlds. Sometimes I feel modern games overcomplicate their plots. Dono’s Tale sounds focused and lighthearted, which is good. I also noticed that players can discuss it on PopGeeks forums. That makes me curious if there will be a community that shares tips, like hidden fruit locations or best strategies for bosses.

 

[FrameDataTactician]

The Kickstarter success after only three days is impressive. This means people trust the team or love the idea enough to support it fast. I think indie games like this survive because of communities. The fact that they added stretch goals like co-op mode and music is great. It shows they listen to supporters. I want to see how many more goals they can unlock before release.