Tsukinoma Village Awaits in Pencil Stories
Phantom Island, a newly formed independent studio led by industry veteran Thomas Krüger, former CEO of Navel, has released its debut title, Pencil Stories. Fully self-funded and developed throughout 2024, the game invites players into the quiet, silver-lit world of Tsukinoma for a hand-drawn experience that reimagines what a “cozy” game can be.
Pencil Stories is a short, heartfelt puzzle adventure following Letty, an endearing mail girl who exists as a living letter envelope. Rather than epic quests or high-stakes challenges, players guide Letty through a sleeping village after midnight, delivering letters to hidden mailboxes. Each task relies on careful observation, as players interpret poems and sketches to uncover the correct destinations. The coal-pencil art style adds a sense of warmth and nostalgia, framing the game as simple visual detective work.
The release marks Phantom Island’s first major milestone. Krüger led the project as a side endeavor, working through flexible production cycles. The small development team blended emerging talent and seasoned expertise, with two working students and five specialized freelancers contributing. By self-funding the project, the studio maintained creative freedom and focused on artistic integrity and a relaxed player experience.
“Pencil Stories is our redefinition of cozy – apart from all typical color-schemes.” says Thomas, Lead Developer. “Too often in bigger productions I were eager for the concept art and the final art never matched my imagination. So we tried to keep the art style at that stage. Overall we created a game that feels like a quiet walk through a moonlit park. No timers, no epos – just the satisfaction of solving a gentle riddle and the joy of seeing Letty rejoicing here profession. It’s a simple story, nothing more, and we are proud that this is Phantom Island’s first step into the world.”