Nintendo surprised everyone with a mysterious teaser about “The Smiling Man” earlier this month. It has now been revealed that this isn’t a horror game but actually titled Emio — The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club, marking the first new entry in the Famicom Detective Club series in 30 years.
The original Famicom Detective Club series debuted on the Famicom Disk System in 1988 and got a sequel the following year. After lying dormant for years, these games were remade for the Nintendo Switch in 2021. Now, Nintendo is reviving the series with a brand-new installment. Described as a “dark, twisted thriller,” Emio — The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is an adventure game that delves into the world of urban legends and supernatural beings.
According to Producer Yoshio Sakamoto in a developer interview on Nintendo’s YouTube channel, The Smiling Man is a supernatural entity known for offering a crying girl a paper bag with a smile drawn on it in exchange for their life. Players step into the role of assistant private investigators aiding the police in solving the mystery surrounding a student found dead with a smiling paper bag over their face.
The beloved protagonist from previous Famicom Detective Club games returns, alongside Ayumi Tachibana from Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir. While the full story details are still under wraps, Sakamoto hints at a divisive ending that cuts to the heart of the narrative.
One surprising reveal is the short wait time to play the game. Emio — The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club will launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch on August 29.
