Nintendo has officially revealed that Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club will launch for Nintendo Switch on August 29, 2024, both as a physical release and digitally via the Nintendo eShop.
This new title marks the long-awaited return of the Famicom Detective Club series, introducing its first original story in 35 years. Continuing the legacy of its critically-acclaimed predecessors—Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir and Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind, both recently remade for Nintendo Switch—this new installment dives into a chilling urban legend and a fresh murder mystery.
Players are thrust into the role of an assistant investigator with the Utsugi Detective Agency, joining forces with local police to piece together a series of gruesome events that echo a string of unsolved cases from nearly two decades prior. The narrative centers around the mysterious case of a student found murdered, his head concealed by a paper bag adorned with a sinisterly smiling face.
This unsettling detail mirrors clues from murder cases dating back 18 years, striking fear and intrigue throughout the community.
As the investigation unfolds, detectives uncover ties to the legendary figure known as Emio, the "Smiling Man." This shadowy urban myth is said to grant victims "a smile that will last forever," raising troubling questions about whether the infamous serial killer has returned, or if a copycat now prowls the streets. Nintendo has emphasized Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club as a visual novel experience, focusing on gathering evidence, interrogating witnesses, and making crucial deductions that connect the new crime to historic murders.
In a statement recast for clarity, Nintendo noted that this entry “invites players to revisit the suspenseful puzzle-solving and narrative-driven gameplay that defined the original genre classics, now revitalized for a new era on Nintendo Switch.” With a heritage stretching back to the Famicom days, the Detective Club series has remained a beloved staple among mystery enthusiasts and visual novel fans.
The 2021 remakes brought the classics to a modern audience with enhanced visuals and fully voiced dialogue, generating renewed excitement for the franchise.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club seeks to build upon this momentum with a brand-new story crafted for both longtime fans and newcomers. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is scheduled for simultaneous worldwide release on August 29, 2024, available at retail and on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch.
As anticipation grows, the title looks set to deliver another gripping, interactive detective experience, reestablishing one of Nintendo's most storied narrative series for the current generation of players.
This new title marks the long-awaited return of the Famicom Detective Club series, introducing its first original story in 35 years. Continuing the legacy of its critically-acclaimed predecessors—Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir and Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind, both recently remade for Nintendo Switch—this new installment dives into a chilling urban legend and a fresh murder mystery.
Players are thrust into the role of an assistant investigator with the Utsugi Detective Agency, joining forces with local police to piece together a series of gruesome events that echo a string of unsolved cases from nearly two decades prior. The narrative centers around the mysterious case of a student found murdered, his head concealed by a paper bag adorned with a sinisterly smiling face.
This unsettling detail mirrors clues from murder cases dating back 18 years, striking fear and intrigue throughout the community.
As the investigation unfolds, detectives uncover ties to the legendary figure known as Emio, the "Smiling Man." This shadowy urban myth is said to grant victims "a smile that will last forever," raising troubling questions about whether the infamous serial killer has returned, or if a copycat now prowls the streets. Nintendo has emphasized Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club as a visual novel experience, focusing on gathering evidence, interrogating witnesses, and making crucial deductions that connect the new crime to historic murders.
In a statement recast for clarity, Nintendo noted that this entry “invites players to revisit the suspenseful puzzle-solving and narrative-driven gameplay that defined the original genre classics, now revitalized for a new era on Nintendo Switch.” With a heritage stretching back to the Famicom days, the Detective Club series has remained a beloved staple among mystery enthusiasts and visual novel fans.
The 2021 remakes brought the classics to a modern audience with enhanced visuals and fully voiced dialogue, generating renewed excitement for the franchise.
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club seeks to build upon this momentum with a brand-new story crafted for both longtime fans and newcomers. Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is scheduled for simultaneous worldwide release on August 29, 2024, available at retail and on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch.
As anticipation grows, the title looks set to deliver another gripping, interactive detective experience, reestablishing one of Nintendo's most storied narrative series for the current generation of players.
