Some games come with clear objectives: they want to be fun, challenging, impressive. And then there are Promise Mascot Agency. This game? A chaotic, colorful jumble of bizarre ideas that combine with a healthy dose of outrageousness to offer a distinctive mix of experiences. It's a mix that feels less like a well-thought-out game concept and more like a wild, uncontrollable ride through a land of absurdities - all in an open-world setting. Will it work? To be honest: Absolutely - but not in the way you expected.
The island of the lost mascots
Imagine this: You land in Kaso-Machi, an island that looks as if it has flown straight out of an anime scenario. It is deserted, but not in the classic sense - rather, it has been led to ruin by a mayor who takes his responsibilities as little seriously as the town itself. The haze hangs heavy in the air, and the lack of life weighs so heavily on the atmosphere that you almost wonder whether this city isn't more of a nightmarish image of the future.
But don't worry, that's not all. You play as Michi, a yakuza "janitor" who is sent to this bizarre town to retrieve the money stolen by a rival clan. And this is where it gets really weird: Michi has to take over a mascot agency that is actually a front company for the rival clan. Sounds strange, doesn't it? But it gets even better - or rather, worse, depending on how you look at it - because Michi is cursed with a curse in Kaso-Machi that is slowly killing him. The charm? A sex hotel run by a sentient finger named Pinky. Oh yes, and mascots. Lots and lots of mascots.
The madness of an economic simulator - in mascot form
That's how it starts - and it quickly becomes clear that Promise Mascot Agency is anything but a traditional open-world game. The game turns out to be a mixture of economic simulation, business management and a good dose of anime craziness. So what can you expect? You are responsible for an agency that provides mascots for local companies. These mascots are not just silly costumed characters - they are characters in their own right with their own motivations, needs and goals. Every contract you sign is another step in a minefield of negotiations and commercial considerations. It's not just about finding the right mascot for the job, but also how much they'll charge for their work and what kind of bonus they'll claim. And of course there is the constant worry: how can I exploit my mascots so that they are still profitable to me, but not so much that they rebel?
It's a wacky business simulator that's all about mascots - but also about the constant management of requests, vacation entitlements and loss of motivation. Shift work in a bizarre business world is juggled with a fine line between humor and frustration as you travel around the city to complete orders, expand business and maintain your mascots' social networks.
Absurd depth: a card game in the midst of chaos
But Promise Mascot Agency wouldn't be a Kaizen Game Works title if it didn't have another surprise up its sleeve: a deck-building game. Yes, you heard that right. While your mascots struggle with obstacles in their absurd missions, you have the option to play a deck of cards to overcome these obstacles. This may sound like a strange hook, and it is - but it fits into the overall picture surprisingly well. There's nothing strategic about it, but it fits in with the chaos and over-the-top mood of the game. Cards are played, heroes unleash their powers, and obstacles become nothing more than another hurdle in a never-ending stream of tasks and objectives.
But what makes the whole card game really entertaining is the humor in it. Everything you do feels like a wacky metaphor for life - the constant confrontation with absurdity and the need to be able to laugh at yourself while living up to the crazy demands of the game.
The city that never lives: an open-world simulator of work
Although Kaso-Machi is presented as a lively city, the world quickly feels empty. You can spend hours driving around the city, polishing buildings, clearing garbage and even cleaning shrines - and this is another of the game's paradoxes. Modern open-world games give you the freedom to conquer the world - but in Promise Mascot Agency it's these mundane tasks that reinforce the feeling that you're doing nothing but being trapped in an endless loop of routine chores. But the game plays with this expectation and never lets you forget that you are actually a janitor - an unruly, chaotic janitor who nevertheless does exactly what is necessary to save the city.
Sure, the world becomes emptier over time and exploration becomes increasingly monotonous. But this is where the game takes an unexpected turn. The daily madness, the constant tasks and the repetitive operations are not just part of the game mechanics - they are the heart of the game. This is where perseverance becomes the real reward. The real fun doesn't necessarily come from the world activities, but from the way you as a player navigate through these futile tasks as you slowly delve into the lives of Michi and his mascot crew.
Serious topics in a crazy guise
If you think that Promise Mascot Agency is just about over-the-top humor and absurd gameplay, you're wrong. Underneath all the chaos is a deeper message. It's about community, about the ability to stick together even in the most difficult situations. Michi doesn't just become a business owner - he becomes a real part of his mascot crew, and the town of Kaso-Machi becomes a symbol of resistance against corruption and injustice. The humor and exaggerations ultimately lead to a message about the power of working together, and that's what gives the game a surprising emotional depth that you wouldn't have expected.
The whole thing can be tried out in a comprehensive demowhich is available in the PlayStation Store.
Conclusion
English 
German