Dream Operator has set 17 August 2026 as the release date for Tukoni: Forest Keepers on Steam and Epic Games Store, with a free demo now available. The hand-drawn adventure is based on Oksana Bula's picture books and features language-free storytelling
Dream Operator has officially announced that Tukoni: Forest Keepers will release for PC on 17 August 2026, arriving on both Steam and the Epic Games Store. The studio has published a new release date trailer and confirmed that a free playable demo is already available on Steam, giving players an early opportunity to experience the game's distinctive hand-drawn world and gentle puzzle design.
Storybook Adventure and Gameplay
Tukoni: Forest Keepers is a point-and-click puzzle adventure set in a magical woodland inspired by the Tukoni picture books from Ukrainian artist and author Oksana Bula, who serves as art director on the project. Players take on the role of the Traveller, a forest spirit preparing the woods for winter by exploring, meeting woodland creatures, sewing pillows and blankets, and brewing tea. The game's narrative is delivered entirely through animation, gesture, and hand-drawn pictograms, making it accessible regardless of language.
Gameplay is designed to be non-violent and stress-free, with no combat, timers, or fail states. Puzzles are intended to be approachable, and the Traveller's Notebook provides hints and tracks progress. The focus is on exploration, interaction with the forest's inhabitants, and completing tasks that help the woodland community prepare for the colder months.
Development, Recognition and Release Details
Tukoni: Forest Keepers builds on the foundation of Tukoni: Prologue, a free short released in 2020 that introduced the world and has since earned an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam. Since then, Dream Operator has expanded the project into a full-length adventure, with the game now surpassing 66,000 wishlists. The hand-drawn art style has already received industry recognition, including Excellence in Visual Art at the DevGAMM Awards 2025 and Best Upcoming Game Art Style at the Digital Vikings Awards 2026.
The release date trailer, now available on YouTube, offers a closer look at the game's visual style, gentle puzzles, and the woodland setting. Tukoni: Forest Keepers will be available on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, with the free demo providing a sample of the experience ahead of launch. Both the developer and publisher roles are handled by Dream Operator, an independent Ukrainian studio focused on creating feel-good games.
Platform Context and Wider Indie Landscape
The game's PC release on both Steam and Epic Games Store ensures broad accessibility for players, with no indication of platform exclusivity or timed release windows. The demo's availability on Steam allows for early feedback and player engagement, a strategy increasingly common among indie developers seeking to build momentum ahead of launch. This approach mirrors trends seen in other recent indie releases, such as the territory-conquest RPG Silver Blade of Gods' End, which also leveraged a Steam launch and early player access to drive interest, as discussed in our coverage of Silver Blade of Gods' End's Steam debut.
Dream Operator has not announced any plans for console versions or additional platforms at this stage. The studio maintains an active presence on social media and community channels, including Twitter/X, Discord, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Bluesky, supporting ongoing engagement with players and fans of the Tukoni books.
What Remains Unconfirmed
While the release date, platforms, and core gameplay features are now established, several details remain unaddressed. There is no information yet on pricing, system requirements, or potential localisation beyond the game's language-free design. It is also unclear whether the demo will remain available after launch or if additional content is planned post-release. No independent technical analysis or review access has been reported, so performance and compatibility on a range of PC hardware are not yet verified.
Players interested in the game can access the demo on Steam now, with the full release scheduled for 17 August 2026. Further updates are likely as the launch date approaches and as player feedback from the demo is collected.
Hand-drawn adventure games like Tukoni: Forest Keepers often rely on visual storytelling rather than traditional dialogue or text. This approach can make a game accessible to a global audience without the need for localisation, but it also places greater emphasis on animation, gesture, and environmental cues to convey narrative and emotion. For players, this means the experience is shaped by observation and interaction rather than reading or listening, and the absence of language barriers can encourage a wider range of interpretations and responses.
