Nintendo ADR (OTC:NTDOY) recently teased a mysterious new project with the hashtag "#WhoIsEmio?" and a cryptic 15-second video.

This teaser, released on a random Wednesday in July, left many fans intrigued and somewhat unnerved. The suspense ended with an official announcement and a new listing on the Nintendo eShop, revealing Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club.

A Familiar Series Returns

Emio, known as Smiling Man in the Japanese version, is not a brand-new horror project but the latest installment in the long-standing Famicom Detective Club series.

Players will assume the role of a detective tasked with solving a gruesome murder involving a student found with a paper bag displaying a smiling face over his head.

Despite early rumors linking the game to The Medium studio Bloober Team, Nintendo confirmed that Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club was developed internally, with Metroid producer Yoshio Sakamoto at the helm. Sakamoto shared more details about the game in a short video posted by Nintendo.

Reviving A Classic

Emio – The Smiling Man marks the first new entry in the Famicom Detective Club series in 30 years. The last major release was in 1994. In 2021, Nintendo revitalized the series by releasing remakes of the original games, The Missing Heir and The Girl Who Stands Behind, which originally debuted in the late 1980s. These remakes were well-received, reigniting interest in the franchise and paving the way for this latest installment.

Launch Details

Emio was not featured during the Nintendo Direct event in June. However, it is set to join Nintendo's holiday release lineup, launching on Aug. 29.

The game promises to bring a blend of classic detective storytelling with modern gaming elements. It offers both longtime fans and newcomers an engaging experience.

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Image courtesy of Nintendo via Twitter.