LUDWIGSBURG, GERMANY – January 16, 2026 – Phantom Island, a fresh independent studio led by industry veteran Thomas Krüger (former CEO of Navel), is proud to announce the release of its debut title, Pencil Stories. Developed over the course of 2024 and fully self-funded, the game invites players to step into the quiet, silver-lit world of Tsukinoma for a hand-drawn experience that redefines “cozy”.
Pencil Stories is a short, heartfelt puzzle adventure where players accompany Letty, a quirky and endearing mail girl who happens to be a living letter envelope. Far from the typical high-stakes heroics, Letty’s mission is simple but profound: delivering letters after midnight from residents of a sleeping village to hidden mailboxes. Using a coal-pencil art style that evokes a sense of nostalgic warmth, the game focuses on “simple visual detective work” requiring players to use keen observation to decipher poems and sketches to find the correct locations.
The project marks the first milestone for Phantom Island. After years in executive and creative leadership, Lead Developer Thomas Krüger steered this side-project through lean, occasional production cycles. The development team was a unique blend of fresh talent and experienced craftsmanship, consisting of two dedicated working students and five specialized freelancers. This self-funded model allowed the team to prioritize artistic integrity and a stress-free player experience above all else.
“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.”
Key Features:
– Pencil Aesthetics: Every asset is hand-drawn
– Accessible Gameplay: Designed for all ages, focusing on relaxation
– Easy-Going Narrative: Explore the everyday lives of Tsukinoma’s residents through the letters they send
– Compact Experience: A perfectly paced 2-3 hour journey across six chapters
Pencil Stories is available on Steam
Steam Shop URL: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3873450
Instagram URL: https://www.instagram.com/phantom.island.studio/
Studio URL: https://www.phantom-island.com/
