Nintendo's latest Direct was surprisingly long, featuring over 40 minutes of non-stop reveals, catch-ups, and updates, and while not all the announcements were of the same caliber, Professor Layton fans certainly came away happy. For years now, Professor Layton fans have had to make do with whatever knock-offs come their way, but Nintendo has finally listened to its fans, and a brand-new Professor Layton game is finally set to release on the Nintendo Switch.
It's been almost 10 long years since the last fully-fledged Professor Layton game, and fans are desperate to get their hands on any scraps of information about the newly announced Professor Layton and the New World of Steam. But while fans wait for Nintendo to reveal more about the new mystery puzzle game, it's the perfect time to look back on the series' humble beginnings.
A Brief History of the Professor Layton Franchise
A franchise originally designed for the Nintendo DS, Professor Layton first debuted in February 2007 in Japan and February 2008 in the rest of the world. The first game in the series, titled Professor Layton and the Curious Village, perfectly set the tone and formula for the rest of the franchise. In Professor Layton and the Curious Village, players control the titular detective and his young assistant Luke as they attempt to uncover the mystery behind the small village of St. Mystere, and embark on the hunt for the Golden Apple.
Gameplay in Professor Layton follows a fairly simplistic but addictive formula, whereby the player interviews a character or investigates an object, and then must complete a puzzle to uncover the mystery behind them. These puzzles range from simple logic puzzles to sliding puzzles to brain teasers, all of which have multiple different variations. Completing a puzzle successfully will either progress the story or reward players with materials to make a robot dog that can sniff out hidden clues and puzzles. From the art style to the calm and simple approach to puzzles, Professor Layton and the Curious Village is a perfect introduction for the series, immediately showcasing just how cozy and relaxed this series can be.
The first Professor Layton was an immediate success, and it was quickly followed by a sequel just over a year later titled Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box. Following its predecessor closely in terms of gameplay, this entry sees Professor Layton and Luke travel across the country via train to discover the mystery behind the titular Diabolical Box. The only real criticism for this game at the time was that it felt very similar to the first, though its puzzles were still very addictive, and its charm was undeniable. The third entry in the series released another year later. Titled Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, this entry gets a little more experimental, with some time-hopping shenanigans thrown into the mix.
In 2011, Professor Layton's prequel trilogy begins, with Professor Layton and the Last Specter. The final Nintendo DS game of the series, The Last Specter takes place three years before the original game and details Layton and Luke's first meeting and adventure. This entry followed the same formula as the rest, albeit with a unique built-in RPG side game titled Professor Layton's London Life. Moving on to the 3DS, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask released just a year later, and while it was another great title, critics believed it could have done more with the console's 3D functionality. Two years later, in 2014, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy released for the 3DS, marking the last fully-fledged Professor Layton game.
A mobile spin-off, Layton Brothers: Mystery Room released in 2013, following an adult version of Layton's son Alfendi as he embarks on his own adventures. In 2014 the crossover game Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney released, pitting the two iconic sleuths against one another. Another spin-off released in 2017 for the 3DS, titled Layton's Mystery Journey, and centering around Layton's daughter Katrielle. And now, Nintendo has finally announced a brand new game centering the original Layton himself titled Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, which will presumably come to Nintendo Switch.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam is currently in development for Nintendo Switch.