
A surreal, murder-mystery puzzle game originally designed for the GameBoy.
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A surreal, short-form puzzle adventure / horror game built for the GameBoy, POCKET MYSTERY EP DX updates the original POCKET MYSTERY EP with full color graphics, re-designed puzzles, updated music and sound effects, and additional content.
A STRANGE MURDER: As Detective Walker Rylance, explore the mysterious Minerva’s Nocturne hotel, investigating the locked-room murder of four colleagues. Nothing is quite as it seems, however.
A COLORFUL CAST OF CHARACTERS: Interview the colorful staff of the hotel - from the sophisticated concierge to the hyper-anxious cleaning staff and beyond. Relive the final moments of the victims and learn about who they are and their relations to each other.
DESIGNED FOR THE GAMEBOY: Built in GameBoy Studio, POCKET MYSTERY EP DX was originally built for, and is playable on, Game Boy Color. We’re not just riffing on the aesthetics of GameBoy games, this is built for the actual hardware.
ESCAPE A LIMINAL SPACE: Solve puzzles in a mysterious place seemingly inside the hotel, pushing blocks, activating switches, and more to escape a mysterious killer.

Development of POCKET MYSTERY EP began in summer 2022 in Game Boy Studio and released about a year and a half later on Itch in December 2023. Its development was honestly frustrating and didn’t quite go as planned. Rather than giving up, the game was re-configured to try and acknowledge the difficult development.
In August 2024, with a variety of improvements and updates to Game Boy Studio, the idea to update the game, replete with GameBoy Color support, was sparked. This deluxe, or DX, re-release doesn’t aim to fully deliver on the game’s original vision, but it does seek to fix bugs, update the music and sounds, and add some additional content hinting at what might’ve been.
This isn’t the end for POCKET MYSTERY EP either. A full remake, titled Nocturne: POCKET MYSTERY Remixed, is in development targeting a 2026 release.
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Languages: English
Reviews
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I am extremely invested in the story, and I love that this game has that perfect GBA feel. however, i encountered a bug in the 2nd room playing as Spencer where I just cannot progress. There appears to be 3 blocks that need to be pushed onto specific squares, but I can only move one of them. The first time I played through I was able to move 2 blocks, but not the third. I reset the area, and then could only move 1 block. I reset the game entirely, played all the way through, and again could only move 1 block when I reached that room. I could be doing something wrong but I attempted to interact with and move everything in the room, and considering I was able to move 2 blocks my first time there makes it feel more like a bug. The saving system is disappointing as well, since you can't save during flashback scenes and there is no indicator that you are about to go into one of those scenes and that you should probably save beforehand. I loved everything about the game up until that supposed bug, so if that does end up getting fixed and I can finish the game this would be an easy recommendation.
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I am a big fan of the nostalgic gameboy feel of this game! The game is short and simple and is defnitely worth a playthrough. You can tell the developer had a lot of fun with the character dialogue, which is pretty funny and quirky!
Really great little game! I love that it conjures a nostalgia for playing the old Pokemon or Mario games on my Gameboy, but then when immersed into the story, reading the characters' dialogue -- you quickly realize although it recalls the games of childhood, it is not a game for kids. The developer clearly put a lot of thought into each character, giving them a unique personality, and letting the inspirations he draws from shine through in the story and dialogue. It's quick to get through, easy to learn, and an utter delight. If you grew up with classic Pokemon games and watched a lot of Twin Peaks, this game is for you.
A short, stylish, gameboy adventure inspired by the works of directors like David Lynch. Impressive that this was designed to run on the actual Game Boy! With its unexpected twist and honest message, the game takes a narrative step towards genuine authenticity, which I think sets the stage for the developer's unique voice. Pocket Mystery EP DX is a game any game developer and/or artist will appreciate, and I'm very interested to see what comes next!
This was an enjoyable first game to play through, even for its self-described "small, imperfect, bizarre" nature. It plays with interesting storytelling in this format and I enjoyed the puzzles it contained. Nice work!
Başlangıçta GameBoy için tasarlanmış gerçeküstü, cinayet-gizem bulmaca oyunudur. Çerezlik.
Imagine checking into a fancy hotel, only to find out it’s less luxury getaway and more murder mystery speedrun. Welcome to POCKET MYSTERY EP DX! You play as a detective trying to solve a bunch of locked-room murders while also avoiding becoming the next guest on the "permanently checked out" list. The puzzles will make you feel like a genius right before they make you question all your life choices. The hotel staff? Suspiciously weird. The vibe? Retro and spooky in the best way. It’s fun, it’s mysterious, and it’s free—which means the only thing you’ll lose is your sanity trying to solve these puzzles.
Fun little mystery
Fantastic concept with creative puzzles. Excited to see more to come!
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