New Mobile Game 'Gizmoville' Surprises Gamers

Game Freak, famed for the Pokémon series, has launched a new adventure RPG, Pand Land, in Japan. This isn't their first non-Pokémon project; titles like Little Town Hero and HarmoKnight have also garnered attention. While recent Pokémon games have faced criticism due to shorter development cycles, Game Freak has simultaneously released Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and the Gen 9 DLC since early 2022, alongside ongoing work on the next main series title. The studio's work on Pand Land demonstrates a healthy creative diversification.

Pand Land, available on Android and iOS in Japan, casts players as an expedition captain exploring the oceanic world of Pandoland for treasure. It offers a relaxing exploration experience, combining leisurely discovery with combat and dungeon crawling, playable solo or with friends in multiplayer mode.

Pand Land's Limited Release

Currently, Pand Land is Japan-exclusive. Future international release plans remain unannounced, but Game Freak clearly values this project. Development director Yuji Saito stated in the official announcement (via publisher WonderPlanet), "We've been working hard to create a game that takes the scale of a console game and makes it easy and simple to play."

Pokémon fans can rest assured that Pand Land's development hasn't impacted the next main series installment, the highly anticipated Pokémon Legends: Z-A, slated for release next year. Details are scarce, but the predecessor's popularity generates considerable excitement.