Tim Rattray
RPGFanEmio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club Review | RPGFan
Published 10/1/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
78
-2 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalCritic Atlas
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Switch - 8/28/2024
Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club
Explore an interactive drama full of interesting characters Continue the adventures of the Utsugi Detective Agency with the return of familiar characters—including the returning protagonist from previous games, and Ayumi Tachibana, who is now playable in certain sections of the game for the first time in the series! Playing as the investigative duo, you’ll need to learn a lot about the personalities and backstories of the other characters if you want to discover the truth. Who is harmless, and who is keeping important secrets? Ask questions, reference your notes, and make connections—you’ll have to order your thoughts and examine your leads carefully to draw the right conclusions.
- Developer
- Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 7, MAGES.
- Publisher
- Nintendo
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Critic average
80
Average of 11 scored external reviews.
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Serious / dark / groundedDefining · Curated baseline
Strategic / planning-heavyDefining · Curated baseline
Story / character-drivenDefining · Curated baseline
Puzzle / logic-focusedDefining · Curated baseline
Atmosphere-driven / aesthetic identityDefining · Curated baseline
Systems / mechanics-drivenStrongly · Curated baseline
Unconventional / experimentalStrongly · Curated baseline
Highly replayableModerately · Curated baseline
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Exploration-drivenModerately · Curated baseline
Side-content richModerately · Curated baseline
Punishing / high-pressureSlightly · Curated baseline
Short / focusedSlightly · Curated baseline
Whimsical / playful / lightheartedNot present · Curated baseline
Run-based / proceduralNot present · Curated baseline
Reflex / execution-heavyNot present · Curated baseline
Combat / action-focusedNot present · Curated baseline
Cozy / low-pressureNot present · Curated baseline
Buildcraft / customization-heavyNot present · Curated baseline
Loot / progression-drivenNot present · Curated baseline
Multiplayer / socialNot present · Curated baseline
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Review coverage
Critic signal strength
Numeric critic scoring uses full scored reviews once available. Review-in-progress scores act as temporary early signal only until full review scores exist. Unscored reviews still count as coverage, but they are not included in the critic average.
High confidencePolarized
Critic avg
80
11 scored reviews
Total coverage
11
All coverage currently scored
Score range
60–100
Lowest to highest scored review
Signal shape
Polarized
Score range is 31+ points
Critic landscape
The critic average is 80 across 11 scored reviews, with a 40-point spread. Critics are far apart on this one.
How to read this
Treat the average carefully. A polarized landscape is where reviewer match, review text, and score deltas matter more than the headline number.
Most scored reviews currently sit in the 80–89 band.
Score distribution
Shows how included scored reviews are clustered across the normalized 100-point scale.
11 included scored reviews
90–1002 reviews · 18%
80–895 reviews · 45%
70–793 reviews · 27%
Below 701 review · 9%
Showing 1-10 of 11 matching critic reviews. 11 total critic reviews. Page 1 of 2.
Martin Du
GamingTrendEmio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club review — Through death comes a bitter smile
Published 9/8/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
100
+20 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalNathan Birch
WccftechEmio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club Review – A Successful Slow-Burn Return
Published 8/28/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
85
+5 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalGiovanni Colantonio
Digital TrendsEmio — The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club review: Nintendo’s unexpectedly mature turn
Published 8/28/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
0 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalLottie Lynn
EurogamerEmio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club review - an engaging mystery with 35-year-old mechanics
Published 8/28/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
60
-20 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalAaron Potter
Daily MirrorEmio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club review – cult classic comeback is a visual novel gem
Published 8/28/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
0 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalPJ O'Reilly
Nintendo LifeReview: Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club (Switch) - A Stylish Mystery With One Foot In The Past
Published 8/28/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
70
-10 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalJames Galizio
RPG SiteEmio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club Review | RPG Site
Published 8/28/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
90
+10 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalEdie W-K
Checkpoint GamingEmio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club Review — Old-school sleuthin' - Checkpoint
Published 8/28/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
75
-5 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalTJ Denzer
ShacknewsEmio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club review: A mystery decades in the making
Published 8/28/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
0 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalPlayer reviews
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