Summary
A new upcoming entry in a classicNintendofranchise undoubtedly deserves plenty of attention as its release date quickly approaches. Although entirely new games and series are key to the growth of the video game industry, many of the most successful new titles are naturally part of well-established franchises likePokémonorThe Legend of Zelda. However, the revival of older games is also an intriguing avenue for many companies to pursue, combining nostalgia forgames of the NES erawith the near-infinite possibilities of the modern world.
Having been producing video games for over 40 years now, Nintendo has an incredible catalog of titles, which range from being extremely obscure to internationally famous. Of course, not every game necessarily deserves to be brought into the modern age, but the interesting variety ofclassics offered by the Nintendo Switch Online serviceis more than sufficient. However, there are some franchises that more than deserve to make a full return with a new title, with a perfect example of this now clearly in the making.
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The Latest Game In One Of Nintendo’s Oldest Series
Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Clubis the third main title in theFamicom Detective Clubseries, and is described as its first new game in 30 years afterThe Missing Heir(1988) andThe Girl Who Stands Behind(1989). As the series’ name suggests, it debuted on the Famicom (short for Family Computer) console, otherwise known as the NES.Emio — The Smiling Manfollows the investigations of the Utsugi Detective Agency into the murder of a junior high school student, Eisuke Sasaki, found with a paper bag on his head in the manner of a creepy urban legend.
The franchise as a whole has seen several ports and re-releases over the years, most recently for the Nintendo Switch itself. Both main titles were released together in 2021 as arevitalizedFamicom Detective Club, featuring updated graphics, audio, and gameplay features. Interestingly, a lesser-known 1997 entry in the series,BS Tantei Club: Yuki ni Kieta Kako, was released exclusively via Satellaview broadcast for the Super Famicom (SNES) in three installments. Satallaview was a Japan-only service which provided access to various forms of downloadable content, making it something of a precursor to the modern Nintendo eShop.
Perhaps due to it being more of a spin-off title and the unusual nature of its original release,Yuki ni Kieta Kakoappears to be largely forgotten at present, perhaps explaining why it seems to be ignored in the official timespan of 30 years since the last newFamicom Detective Clubgame.
Emio – The Smiling Manitself was firstunveiled by Nintendo as an apparent horror gameon August 01, 2025, with a mysterious trailer that showed nothing but the character of Emio alongside creepy music. The fact that “Emio”is actually a new addition to theFamicom Detective Clubseries came a week later, putting a surprising twist on the initial impression of a psychological horror title with the addition of the series’ own detective genre. However, there is plenty of evidence to suggest thatEmio – The Smiling Manwill still be an incredibly dark story full of twists and turns.
Emio’s Producer Has Extensive Experience With The Series And Beyond
Metroid’s Yoshio Sakamoto Is Producer
Emio — The Smiling Manis produced by Yoshio Sakamoto, who also wrote the original two entries in theFamicom Detective Clubseries. Notably, Sakamoto has since gone on to become well-known for his work on theMetroidfranchise. This includes him being the producer for themuch-hatedMetroid: Other M, but also the acclaimedMetroid Dread, in addition to him working on many otherMetroidtitles in various capacities (including being a designer for the original game). As such,Sakamoto undeniably has extensive storytelling experience, including work in darker genres, which bodes extremely well for the plot ofEmio.
In a promotional interview published on officialNintendoYouTube channels, Sakamoto states that not only did work on the 2021 remakes inspire the creation ofEmio — The Smiling Man, but that the new game is“the culmination” of all that has come before it in the series. The dedication and effort that the development team has put into creatingEmiois clear, even leading Sakamoto to call it the“series at its best.” As such,Emio — The Smiling Manseems well-positioned to become a notable new mystery gamewhen it releases on August 29.
Intriguingly, Sakamoto has also said thatEmio’s“ending may be divisive for some people.”Although the producer has naturally not elaborated on what exactly he means by this, he is nevertheless hopeful for this potentially controversial conclusion to be a topic of debate and discussion “for a long time to come.” Whatever the reaction may be, this implies that at least one major twist will be at the center of the narrative, which by extension indicates thatEmio’s plot will include a strong series of misdirections and complexities; core pieces of any memorable mystery.
Emio’s M Rating Indicates A Powerful New Story
The Plot Of Emio Is Still Mostly Unknown
Although much of the plot ofEmiobeyond its inciting incident remains unknown, it is clear from its ESRB rating alone that it will visit dark topics uncommon to a Nintendo title. The initial teaser forEmio — The Smiling Manwas particularly notable for its prominently-displayed Mature rating, a rarity for the Switch and indeed Nintendo in general. The strong clash with the company’s normally family-friendly image proves that the upcoming tale of murder and urban legends will not hold anything back, as Sakamoto himself has asserted.
The unusually dark nature of this Nintendo game alone is an enticing prospect, as it promises to show a rarely-seen side of the company. Of course,Metroid Dreadwas itself well-received for introducing horror elements toMetroid. Sakamoto applying that experience and success to theFamicom Detective Clubseries, which itself received a Teen rating for its Switch remakes, is therefore extremely promising. If history repeats itself, then not only willEmio — The Smiling Manmark the full revival of the series, but it will also be its most intense story by far.
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Emio — The Smiling Manwill be a dark mystery story created by one of Nintendo’s most prominent and experienced producers. While theFamicom Detective Clubseries may have regained public awareness with the previous Switch remakes, this brand-new title promises to go one step further and fully bring it into the modern age after 30 years of dormancy.Emio — The Smiling Manis sure to be a significant addition toNintendo’s gaming catalog, and not one which should be ignored by any mystery fan.
