Emio – The Smiling Man demo available ahead of release tomorrow

Demo chapters for Emio – The Smiling Man are available now ahead of its release tomorrow (August 29).

The ‘out there’ Nintendo Switch exclusive is the third installment of the Famicom Detective Club series. The Missing Heir and The Girl Who Stands Behind were first released in the late 80s for the Famicom Disc System. They were remastered for the Switch in 2021.

Emio – The Smiling Man isn’t your average Switch game

Emio – The Smiling Man is a dark murder mystery. The player must solve the death of a student found with a paper bag on his head. With links to an 18-year-old cold case and the urban myth of serial killer Emio, gamers will get to play detective in a complex mystery.

It follows in the footsteps of its predecessors with its point-and-click gameplay. Reviews are beginning to appear online and the reception has so far been lukewarm, with the ending seemingly particularly controversial. The game’s producer Yoshio Sakamoto already warned that the end would be “divisive”, so expect more debate around that after release day.

The game surprised Switch users when it received a mature rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) earlier this month – an unusual decision for the family-friendly console.

The ESRB confirmed that the game contains violence, abuse and strong language. If you prefer a cozy murder mystery, it’s probably best to sit this one out.

The prologue and first two demo chapters have been available for free since last week. The third and final demo chapter was downloadable from 6pm PT yesterday.

You can now play through the prologue and first chapter of Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club on #NintendoSwitch before the game’s full launch on 8/29.