Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club

Emio’s by no means a bad visual novel, but it’s also not one worthy of waking its franchise from its 35-year hiatus for.

Emio – The Smiling Man tells a thrilling and engaging story. It’s a visual novel, so don’t expect complex gameplay there – and I’m sure you’ll be satisfied.

Cubed3 Rating Although not without its faults in due part to the trial-and-error situations that require exhausting all options in conversations, Emio - The Smiling Man is a game that will keep fans glued to the end, topped off with a very appealing art style and fair 10+ hour storyline that doesn't overstay its welcome. There isn't much else to see and do once the full story is done, but it is one worth experiencing.

Nintendo and MAGES defy all expectations, delivering a grim murder mystery filled with heartbreaking characters and a tragic narrative that stands among the visual novel genre’s best. Hopeful just as much as it is haunting, Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is a monumental feat of storytelling from Nintendo’s long dormant adventure series. — Martin Du

Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club might not reinvent the visual novel genre, but it still offers a fantastic mystery elevated by brilliant writing, a memorable cast of characters, some truly excellent visuals, and a phenomenal final chapter.