Encryptid is a horror game in the GameBoy style, complete with black-and-white pixel graphics and 8-bit sound. It is set to be released this year on Steam.
What kind of game is this? Do you remember those ads for a Pokémon-like mobile game with a horror twist, whose actual gameplay had nothing to do with the advertising? With Encryptid, a game is on the horizon that might actually fulfill that premise years later.
At first glance, the graphics clearly reminiscent of the first-generation Pokémon games. However, the mood in the trailer takes a sharp turn when the familiar neighborhood professor disappears, and the player is sent on a quest to find so-called Cryptids, creatures from myths and legends.
The monster-collecting gameplay is paired with FMV, that is, footage of real actors. These were consistently filmed using the iconic GameBoy Camera. The result is black-and-white, pixelated, and wonderfully atmospheric.
Encryptid is set to be released in 2026 for PC and GameBoy – yes, you read that right. The title is expected to run on modern hardware as well as on the original GameBoy and devices that can emulate it. A Steam page already exists, and a demo is supposed to follow “soon”.
In a short trailer, you can get a glimpse for yourself:
Pokémon nostalgia with a spooky twist
How is it being received? The new story trailer reached a bit over 100,000 views within 2 days on the YouTube channel GameTrailers, which is quite remarkable for a small indie project with pixel graphics. In the comments, it is clear: Encryptid may cater to a niche audience, but they are passionate about it.
- maewemeetagain: “‘Releasing in 2026 for PC & GameBoy’ is not a sentence I expected to read today.”
- emeraldpistol1251: “Wake up people, new Nuzlocke material has just landed.”
- Aeroductile1: “The fact that the footage was filmed with the GameBoy Camera is really cool and captivated me. Really cool concept, I can’t wait to play it.”
Some viewers appreciate that the game seems to delve fully into the creepier realms of original Pokémon. One writes that it is essentially “Lavandia, the game,” while another says: This is the game we thought we would play as kids. Others especially rave about the GameBoy Camera, calling it simply PEAK.
Do you have an old GameBoy lying around, or would you also get Encryptid on PC? Let us know in the comments!
The title image is a collage made up of a photo by Dim Hou on Pixabay, into which a screenshot from Encryptid was inserted.
If you no longer have an old GameBoy at home but want to authentically enjoy the old classics or modern projects like Encryptid, the Analogue Pocket could be just the thing for you. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann raves: A new handheld is the best option if you want to relive the old Pokémon games
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