BoxBoy! - Six Years Later

Available on: 3DS

By Ben Rose


The sun breaks through my blinds early in the morning, and I pull myself out of bed, excited for what is to come. I pick up my Nintendo 3DS and turn it on, navigating to this new platforming puzzle game that I learned of through a Nintendo direct. Those were simpler times, and I’ll admit the nostalgia has somewhat clouded my judgment of the game in question, BoxBoy!, developed by HAL Laboratory and released in 2015. Playing the game is not only fun for the experience of it but also for the nostalgia that comes with it. The game itself is an engaging, casual play with puzzle elements simple enough for the average 3DS player. At the time it was released, BoxBoy! had generally positive reviews, as has been the case for all its sequels. What else could we expect from the developers of Super Smash Bros. Melee and Kirby but pure childhood bliss? A modern examination of the game, however, leaves much to be desired in terms of the maps and length of the game, especially considering the sequels, which solved a lot of these issues.

BoxBoy! is a single-player puzzle/platformer game where players control Qbby, a square character that can produce boxes to navigate over obstacles, toggle switches, and stop hazards. The level design is reminiscent of classroom doodling, employing black and white line art. The story of BoxBoy! is relatively simple: Qbby is trying to progress towards some nebulous end goal, and he meets different characters that are rectangularly shaped along the way. Overall, the game was quite entertaining for a 13-year-old kid who was just looking for ways to pass the time.

However, even I noticed some issues with the game at its release, namely its length and level design.

BoxBoy!  is divided into different worlds, each consisting of a certain amount of levels. The initial levels are incredibly barebones and only serve to help players understand new mechanics. While familiarizing players with new mechanics is a legitimate concern for the developers, they should have made these initial levels, as well as most levels, much longer. Upon replaying BoxBoy!, I completed the game in less than one day, and it left me wanting more. The sequels solved both issues, with more complicated levels being offered, as well as longer games with better stories, and even the addition of multiplayer in BOXBOY!+BOXGIRL! for the Nintendo switch.

Overall, BoxBoy! for the 3DS still has immense replay value and is a fun game for all ages. HAL Laboratory is often called Nintendo’s “second party developer” due to the close ties between the two companies and BoxBoy! It certainly keeps this reputation intact; could be mistaken for a Nintendo game. Upon replaying the game, I was reminded of my childhood, navigating through simple levels without a care in the world and with a smile on my face. I strongly recommend this game to anyone who wants a casual experience and doesn’t mind paying the five-dollar price tag. I also would recommend the sequels to anyone with a Nintendo switch who wants challenging levels with the fun of casual play.



About The Author

~Ben Rose (He/They) is a student at UC Irvine and a fan of mid-to-late-2010’s Nintendo games. 


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