BoxBoy![a] is a series of puzzle-platform games developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo. The series centres around Qbby, a square-shaped character who can produce a string of connected boxes. The boxes are used to overcome obstacles in stages that Qbby must be guided through. The first game, BoxBoy!, released on January 14, 2015, in Japan on the Nintendo 3DS.[1] Its sequel, BoxBoxBoy!, was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2016,[2] with a third game, Bye-Bye BoxBoy!, in 2017.[3] A physical compilation of the first three games, HakoBoy! Hakozume Box, was released in Japan. A fourth installment, BoxBoy! + BoxGirl!, was released for the Nintendo Switch in April 2019.[4]
| BoxBoy! | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle-platform |
| Developer(s) | HAL Laboratory |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Creator(s) | Yasuhiro Mukae |
| Composer(s) |
|
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 3DS Nintendo Switch iOS Android |
| First release | BoxBoy! January 14, 2015 |
| Latest release | BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! April 26, 2019 |
Games
edit| 2015 | BoxBoy! |
|---|---|
| 2016 | BoxBoxBoy! |
| 2017 | Bye-Bye BoxBoy! Uniqlo x HakoBoy! |
| 2018 | |
| 2019 | BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! |
BoxBoy!
editBoxBoy! was developed by Japanese video game company HAL Laboratory.[5] It was a small experimental project in development while the studio was working on Kirby: Triple Deluxe and Kirby and the Rainbow Curse.[5][6] The project plan for BoxBoy! was conceived in July 2011 by employee Yasuhiro Mukae, who would later serve as the game's director. The game revolves around Qbby, a character who can produce boxes and use them to solve puzzles, move around, and press switches.
BoxBoxBoy!
editA sequel, BoxBoxBoy!, was released in Japan in January 2016,[7] and in other territories in June 2016.[8] This game introduces the concept of being able to summon two sets of boxes at once.
Bye-Bye BoxBoy!
editBye-Bye BoxBoy! was released worldwide in 2017. It features boxes with special properties, such as exploding and warping, and Qbabies that Qbby must escort to the end of a level.
Uniqlo x HakoBoy!
editA spinoff advergame promoting a line of Japan-exclusive BOXBOY!-themed clothing released in 2017 by Uniqlo, Uniqlo x HakoBoy! is a mobile game accessible from Uniqlo's official iOS and Android app. Players do not control Qbby directly, but instead swipe to create boxes. Qbby will then attempt to use the boxes the player has made in order to reach the end of a level.
BoxBoy! + BoxGirl!
editBoxBoy! + BoxGirl! is the fourth game in the BoxBoy! series and first to be released on the Nintendo Switch. BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! features a two-player multiplayer mode for the first time in the series, which was praised by critics. The game was released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch exclusively via Nintendo eShop on April 26, 2019.
Gameplay
editReception
edit| Game | Year | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|
| Boxboy! | 2015 | Nintendo 3DS: 80[9] |
| BoxBoxBoy! | 2016 | Nintendo 3DS: 80[10] |
| Bye-Bye BoxBoy! | 2017 | Nintendo 3DS: 83[11] |
| BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! | 2019 | Nintendo Switch: 80[12] |
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2020) |
The BoxBoy! series has received generally favourable reviews from critics according to review aggregator website Metacritic.
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ Eisenbeis, Richard (January 23, 2015). "Box Boy is Full of Puzzles, Platforming, and Cuteness". Kotaku. Gizmodo Media Group. Archived from the original on August 24, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
- ^ Mautulef, Jeffrey (January 6, 2016). "Boxboy! sequel gets a surprise release in Japan". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Vogel, Mitch (December 5, 2016). "Goodbye! BOXBOY! Has Been Announced for Nintendo 3DS". Nintendo Life. NLife Media. Archived from the original on July 25, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Radulovic, Petrana (February 13, 2019). "BoxBoy and BoxGirl announced for Nintendo Switch". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on February 16, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ a b Wahlgren, Jon (April 24, 2015). "Interview: Bringing Together the 3DS and Game Boy in BOXBOY!". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2015-04-26. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
- ^ Totilo, Stephen (May 5, 2016). "The Guy Behind One Of The Year's Best 3DS Games". Kotaku. Gizmodo Media Group. Archived from the original on August 24, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
- ^ Matulef, Jeffrey (6 January 2016). "Boxboy! sequel gets a surprise release in Japan". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2019-07-13. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
- ^ Matulef, Jeffrey (15 June 2016). "BoxBoxBoy! release date set this month". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2019-07-13. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
- ^ "BOXBOY! for 3DS Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
- ^ "BoxBoxBoy! for 3DS Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2024-08-17. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- ^ "Bye-Bye BoxBoy! for 3DS Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2024-08-17. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- ^ "BoxBoy! + BoxGirl". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2024-08-17. Retrieved 2020-05-01.