What is Tanuki Sunset?
Tanuki Sunset is a third-person downhill skateboarding game created by Squid Squad where you guide a raccoon named Tanuki down winding coastal roads toward the evening sun. The main goal is to navigate steep downhill turns, dodge hazards along the asphalt, and perform tricks to build your score. The title features a colorful retro visual style paired with a relaxing soundtrack, offering immediate arcade action directly in your web browser without requiring downloads or extra installations.
Key features
- Downhill cruising: Steer down sweeping mountain roadways with continuous forward momentum.
- Trick and drift scoring: Earn points by initiating drifts around corners, performing jumps, and executing a 180-degree slide.
- Near-miss rewards: Gain extra score multipliers by carving closely past roadside obstacles rather than staying safe in the center.
- Roulette bonus wheel: Fill the on-screen score gauge to trigger a roulette wheel spin that grants bonus point payouts.
- Interactive route pickups: Collect floating audio tapes, ringing telephones, and balloon-borne companions along the descent.
- Audio and visual shifts: Hitting cassette tapes dynamically transforms the background music and the visual presentation during your descent.
- Mid-run objectives: Answering ringing phones provides fresh short-term challenges to complete before the route concludes.
How to play
- Launch the run and begin rolling downhill along the paved mountain route.
- Use the steering keys to weave Tanuki between road hazards and avoid crashing into roadside barriers.
- Hold the drift key when entering sharp bends to maintain speed while generating score bonuses.
- Perform a 180-degree slide to slow down rapidly when approaching congested sections or sharp switchbacks.
- Collect floating items along the road, such as cassette tapes for soundtrack alterations or phones for new task goals.
- Fill your score bar through stunts and near misses to earn bonus spins from the prize roulette wheel.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard |
|---|---|
| Steer left or right | A / D or Left Arrow / Right Arrow |
| Speed stance | W or Up Arrow |
| 180-degree slide | S or Down Arrow |
| Drift | Space bar |
| Pause game | Esc |
Points and special pickups
Standard cruising yields minimal points, so high scores depend entirely on active stunt execution. Carving tightly around obstacles rewards near-miss bonuses, while prolonged drifts across road curves charge the points gauge. When this meter reaches capacity, the game initiates a roulette wheel sequence that awards an immediate payout of bonus points.
Special floating objects appear at various points along the road. Skating into a floating cassette tape switches both the background music and the environmental visual tone. Answering a ringing telephone introduces a specific secondary goal during the run. Snagging a floating balloon rescues a baby raccoon, who hops on Tanuki’s board as a companion for the remainder of the downhill trip.
Tips and strategy
- Drift through wide turns: Engaging drifts around every corner builds the point meter much faster than passive steering.
- Take measured risks near obstacles: Gliding inches away from hazards activates near-miss point awards without sacrificing board control.
- Use the speed stance on clear straights: Tucking into the forward stance accelerates your descent when the roadway ahead is free of debris.
- Slide to control tight corners: Executing a 180-degree slide quickly bleeds momentum, preventing Tanuki from tumbling off narrow edges.
- Target floating collectibles: Keep your eyes peeled for audio tapes, telephones, and balloon pickups to secure objectives and bonuses.
Similar games
If you enjoy downhill navigation and timing-based arcade challenges, check out these related titles on this site:
- Snow Rider 3D: Guide a sleigh down a snowy mountain slope while dodging trees and gathering seasonal gifts.
- Eagle Ride: Fly an eagle at high velocity through dense forests and obstacle-heavy landscapes.
- Real Cars in City: Test high-performance vehicles across city roads, stunt tracks, and obstacle courses.
Developer and history
Tanuki Sunset was developed by Squid Squad and originally released in 2019. The title gained popularity across web browsers for its synthwave aesthetic and satisfying downhill mechanics, leading to an expanded edition on Steam.
