Tukoni: Forest Keepers is a 2D adventure game that translates the hand-drawn world of Ukrainian artist and author Oksana Bula into an interactive experience. Developed by the small Ukrainian studio Dream Operator, the game centers on exploration, cooperation, and environmental storytelling, offering players a quiet, thoughtful journey through a forest inhabited by mythical woodland creatures known as Tukoni.
A World Built on Calm Exploration
Unlike typical adventure games, Tukoni: Forest Keepers avoids combat and fail states, emphasizing a slower pace that allows players to focus on exploration and helping the forest’s inhabitants. Players take on the role of the Traveller, a Tukoni spirit tasked with preparing the forest community for the coming Winter. Interactions often involve small acts of care, including the preparation and sharing of herbal teas, reflecting the series’ broader themes of kindness and community.
The game’s design draws inspiration from the works of Amanita Design, including titles like Botanicula and Samorost 3, which communicate story and puzzles visually rather than through text. Tukoni: Forest Keepers uses animated pictograms and character gestures to guide players, maintaining a sense of calm while allowing for intuitive puzzle solving.
Developing Under Challenging Conditions
Dream Operator is a small team of roughly five people. Co-founder Oleksii Furman describes the project as “a kind of safety dome for players,” reflecting the team’s experiences creating the game amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The game was conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing both the developers and potential players with a peaceful, grounding experience during uncertain times.
For the studio, the creative process has offered stability amid broader unrest. The team maintains regular communication to ensure each member’s safety after missile attacks, and the game itself serves as a reflection of the developers’ need for calm and community. According to Furman, games like this provide players with an escape, but creating them also reinforces resilience for the creators.
Translating Book Art into Interactive Design
Oksana Bula plays a central role in the game as art director and concept artist. She worked closely with the team to preserve the look and layered quality of her hand-drawn illustrations while adapting them for an interactive 2D environment. Bula has described the forest as more than a backdrop; it represents the essence of the Traveller’s journey.
Collaboration between Bula and the Dream Operator team has involved detailed discussions about character behavior and environmental storytelling. While she does not design the puzzles directly, her guidance ensures that the game remains faithful to the Tukoni universe, with the team internalizing the characters’ personalities and habits to maintain consistency in the game world.
Gameplay Focused on Community and Kindness
Tukoni: Forest Keepers encourages players to engage in cooperative tasks rather than confrontations. Actions are framed around helping forest spirits, fostering connections, and observing the environment. Tea preparation, inspired by the books’ lore, is a recurring activity that reflects the series’ focus on everyday rituals and shared experiences.
The game avoids time pressures or failure states, allowing players to proceed at their own pace. Interactions with the forest community are designed to reinforce a sense of care and support, aligning with the broader narrative of harmony with nature and one another.
Release and Availability
Tukoni: Forest Keepers is scheduled to release on the Epic Games Store. The game is intended for audiences looking for a calm, visually rich adventure with a focus on exploration, storytelling, and simple cooperative tasks rather than challenge or competition.
By bringing the Tukoni universe into a game format, Dream Operator and Oksana Bula aim to reach a wider audience while maintaining the aesthetic and thematic qualities of the original books. The result is a peaceful, narrative-driven experience rooted in care, observation, and connection with the natural world.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Tukoni: Forest Keepers about?
The game is a 2D adventure focused on exploring a forest, helping mythical creatures called Tukoni, and preparing the forest for Winter. It emphasizes calm exploration and acts of care.
Who developed Tukoni: Forest Keepers?
It was developed by the Ukrainian studio Dream Operator in collaboration with the author and artist Oksana Bula, who also serves as art director.
Will the game have combat or fail states?
No, the game avoids combat and fail states. It focuses on exploration, problem-solving, and interacting with forest spirits.
What platforms will Tukoni: Forest Keepers be available on?
The game is scheduled to release on the Epic Games Store for PC.
What inspired the game’s visual style?
The game’s 2D visuals are inspired by Oksana Bula’s hand-drawn illustrations from the Tukoni books and games by Amanita Design, aiming to preserve a layered, book-like aesthetic.
Does tea play a role in the game?
Yes, tea preparation is a recurring activity that reflects the lore and rituals of the Tukoni universe, emphasizing community and shared experiences.
How does the game reflect its Ukrainian origins?
Developed during challenging times in Ukraine, the game embodies themes of kindness, resilience, and community, serving as both a creative outlet for the team and a peaceful experience for players.
