List of Mystery Dungeon video games

Mystery Dungeon (不思議のダンジョン Fushigi no Dungeon) is a series of roguelike video games. Most of the titles were developed by Chunsoft, but other titles were developed by different companies with permission from Chunsoft to use the trademark. Koichi Nakamura, founder of Chunsoft and co-creator of the Dragon Quest series, conceived the Mystery Dungeon series as Chunsoft's first original work, basing the design on the game Rogue.[1] Most Mystery Dungeon games center on exploring a dungeon with randomly generated layouts and fighting other characters in those dungeons in a turn-based manner; every time the player performs an action, such as attacking or walking, the opponents also take action.[2] The first title, Torneko no Daibōken: Fushigi no Dungeon (1993), starred Torneko, a shopkeeper character from Chunsoft's Dragon Quest IV. The games of the Mystery Dungeon series can be largely divided into five groups: those related to the Dragon Quest series; the Shiren the Wanderer series; those related to the Chocobo series, itself a spinoff of the Final Fantasy series; those related to the Pokémon franchise; and individual spin-off games of other franchises. Of the games, only the Shiren series are based on original characters rather than those of other franchises. The Mystery Dungeon games have had varying levels of success. Of them, the Pokémon games have had the biggest impact, with the first game in the subseries selling millions of copies.[2]

Games

Dragon Quest series

Title Original release date

Japan

North America

PAL region

Torneko no Daibōken: Fushigi no Dungeon September 19, 1993[3] none none
Notes:
  • Released on Super Famicom
  • Developed and published by Chunsoft[3]
  • Title translates as Torneko's Great Adventure: Mysterious Dungeon
  • First video game in the Mystery Dungeon series
  • Features Torneko (Taloon, in North America), the merchant from Dragon Warrior IV
Torneko: The Last Hope September 15, 1999[4] November 15, 2000[4] none
Notes:
  • Released on PlayStation
  • Developed by Chunsoft and Matrix Software and published by Enix[4]
  • Originally released in Japan under the title Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko's Great Adventure 2 – The Mysterious Dungeon (ドラゴンクエスト・キャラクターズ トルネコの大冒険2 ～不思議のダンジョン～?, Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko no Daibōken 2 – Fushigi no Dungeon)
  • Features Torneko, the merchant from Dragon Warrior IV
  • Also available on Game Boy Advance (2001, as Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko no Daibōken 2 Advance)[5]
Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko no Daibōken 3: Fushigi no Dungeon October 31, 2002[6] none none
Notes:
  • Released on PlayStation 2
  • Developed by Chunsoft and published by Square Enix[6]
  • Title translates as Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko's Great Adventure 3: Mystery Dungeon
  • Features Torneko, the merchant from Dragon Warrior IV
  • Also available on Game Boy Advance (2004, as Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko no Daibōken 3 Advance)[7]
Dragon Quest: Shōnen Yangus to Fushigi no Dungeon April 20, 2006[8] none none
Notes:
  • Released on PlayStation 2
  • Developed by Cavia and published by Square Enix[8]
  • Title translates as Dragon Quest: Young Yangus and the Mysterious Dungeon
  • Features Yangus, the hero of Dragon Quest VIII
Dragon Quest Fushigi no Dungeon Mobile August 7, 2006[9] none none
Notes:
  • Released for mobile phones
  • Developed and published by Square Enix[9]
  • Title translates as Dragon Quest Mysterious Dungeon Mobile
Dragon Quest Fushigi no Dungeon Mobile 2 September 14, 2009[10] none none
Notes:
  • Released for mobile phones
  • Developed and published by Square Enix[10]
  • Title translates as Dragon Quest Mysterious Dungeon Mobile 2

Shiren the Wanderer series

Title Original release date

Japan

North America

PAL region

Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer December 1, 1995[3] March 4, 2008 (Nintendo DS)[11] March 20, 2008 (Nintendo DS)[11]
Notes:
  • Released on Super Famicom
  • Developed and published by Chunsoft[3]
  • Originally released in Japan under the title Mystery Dungeon 2: Shiren the Wanderer (不思議のダンジョン２　風来のシレン?, Fushigi no Dungeon 2: Fūrai no Shiren)
  • Second video game in the Mystery Dungeon series, and the first one to feature all original characters
  • Also available on Nintendo DS (2006)[11]
BS Fūrai no Shiren Surara wo Sukue May 1996[12] none none
Notes:
  • Broadcast on Satellaview over the course of four week-long episodes
  • Developed by Chunsoft and published by Nintendo[12]
  • Title translates as BS Shiren the Wanderer Save Surara
Fūrai no Shiren GB: Tsukikage-mura no Kaibutsu November 22, 1996[13] none none
Notes:
  • Released on Game Boy
  • Developed and published by Chunsoft[13]
  • Title translates as Shiren the Wanderer GB: Moonlight Monster Village
  • Also available on Windows (1999, 2002)[14][15] and Android (2011)[16]
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fūrai no Shiren 2: Oni Shūrai! Shiren-jō! December 27, 2000[17] none none
Notes:
  • Released on Nintendo 64
  • Developed by Chunsoft and published by Nintendo[17]
  • Title translates as Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 2: Demon Invasion! Shiren Castle!
Fūrai no Shiren GB 2: Sabaku no Majō July 27, 2001[18] none none
Notes:
  • Released on Game Boy Color
  • Developed and published by Chunsoft[18]
  • Title translates as Shiren the Wanderer GB 2: Evil Castle of the Desert
  • Also available on Nintendo DS as Fushigi no Dungeon: Fūrai no Shiren DS 2: Sabaku no Majō (2008)[19]
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fūrai no Shiren Gaiden: Onna Kenshi Asuka Kenzan February 7, 2002[20] none none
Notes:
  • Released on Dreamcast
  • Developed by Neverland and published by Sega[20]
  • Title translates as Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer Side Story: Swordswoman Asuka Kenzan
  • Also available on Windows (2002)[21]
Shiren the Wanderer June 5, 2008[22] February 9, 2010[22] none
Notes:
  • Released on Wii
  • Developed by Chunsoft and published by Atlus[22]
  • Originally released in Japan under the title Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 3: The Sleeping Princess in the Clockwork Palace (不思議のダンジョン 風来のシレン3 からくり屋敷の眠り姫?, Fushigi no Dungeon – Furai no Shiren 3: Karakuri Yashiki no Nemuri Hime)
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fūrai no Shiren 4: Kami no Hitomi to Akuma no Heso February 25, 2010[24] none none
Notes:
  • Released on Nintendo DS
  • Developed by Chunsoft and published by Spike[24]
  • Title translates as Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 4: The Eye of God and the Devil's Navel
  • Also available on PlayStation Portable (2012)[24]
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fūrai no Shiren 5: Fortune Tower to Unmei no Dice December 9, 2010[25] none none
Notes:
  • Released on Nintendo DS
  • Developed and published by Chunsoft[25]
  • Title translates as Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 5: Fortune Tower and the Dice of Fate

Chocobo series

Title Original release date

Japan

North America

PAL region

Chocobo no Fushigina Dungeon December 23, 1997[26] none none
Notes:
Chocobo's Dungeon 2 December 23, 1998[29] November 30, 1999[29] none
Notes:
  • Released on PlayStation
  • Developed and published by Square[29]
  • Originally released in Japan under the title Chocobo's Dungeon 2 (チョコボの不思議なダンジョン2?, Chocobo no Fushigina Dungeon 2)
  • A WonderSwan Color version was planned but not released[27]
  • Also available on PlayStation Network (2010)[30]
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon December 13, 2007[31] July 8, 2008[31] November 7, 2008[31]
Notes:
  • Released on Wii
  • Developed by h.a.n.d. and published by Square Enix[31]
  • Originally released in Japan under the title Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon: The Labyrinth of Forgotten Time (チョコボの不思議なダンジョン 時忘れの迷宮?, Chocobo no Fushigina Dungeon: Toki Wasure no Meikyū)

Cid to Chocobo no Fushigi na Dungeon Toki Wasure no Meikyū DS+ October 30, 2008[32] none none
Notes:
  • Released on Nintendo DS
  • Developed and published by Square Enix[32]
  • Title translates as Cid and Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon: The Labyrinth of Forgotten Time DS+
  • Enhanced port of Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon

Pokémon series

Title Original release date

Japan

North America

PAL region

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team November 17, 2005[33][34] September 18, 2006[33][34] November 10, 2006[33][34]
Notes:
  • A pair of matched games, with Blue released on Nintendo DS and Red on Game Boy Advance
  • Developed by Chunsoft and published by Nintendo[33][34]
  • Originally released in Japan under the titles Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team (ポケモン不思議のダンジョン 青の救助隊?, Pokémon Fushigi no Danjon Ao no Kyūjotai)
and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team (ポケモン不思議のダンジョン 赤の救助隊?, Pokémon Fushigi no Danjon Aka no Kyūjotai)
  • The two games have only slight differences between them besides Pokémon exclusive to each game, primarily due to the Nintendo DS's two screens
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness September 11, 2007[35][36] April 20, 2008[35][36] July 4, 2008[35][36]
Notes:
  • A pair of matched games released on Nintendo DS
  • Developed by Chunsoft and published by Nintendo[35][36]
  • Originally released in Japan under the titles Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Time Exploration Team (ポケモン不思議のダンジョン 時の探検隊?, Pokémon Fushigi no Danjon Toki no Tankentai)
and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Darkness Exploration Team (ポケモン不思議のダンジョン 闇の探検隊?, Pokémon Fushigi no Danjon Yami no Tankentai)
  • The two games have only slight differences between them besides Pokémon exclusive to each game
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky April 18, 2009[37] October 12, 2009[37] November 20, 2009[37]
Notes:
  • Released on Nintendo DS
  • Developed by Chunsoft and published by Nintendo[37]
  • Originally released in Japan under the title Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Sky Exploration Team (ポケモン不思議のダンジョン 空の探検隊?, Pokémon Fushigi no Danjon Sora no Tankentai)
  • Sister game to Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, expanding on their plot
Pokémon Fushigi no Dungeon: Susume! Honoo no Boukendan, Pokémon Fushigi no Dungeon: Ikuzo! Arashi no Boukendan, and Pokémon Fushigi no Dungeon: Mezase! Hikari no Boukendan August 4, 2009[38][39] none none
Notes:
  • Three versions of the same game, released on WiiWare
  • Developed by Chunsoft and published by Nintendo[38][39]
  • Titles translate as Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Keep Going! Blazing Adventure Squad, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Let's Go! Stormy Adventure Squad, and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Go For It! Light Adventure Squad
  • The three games have only minor differences between them, and saved games can be shared between them
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity November 23, 2012[40] March 24, 2013[40] May 17, 2013[40]
Notes:
  • Released on Nintendo 3DS
  • Developed by Spike Chunsoft and published by Nintendo[40]
  • Originally released in Japan under the title Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Magnagate and the Infinite Labyrinth (ポケモン不思議のダンジョン マグナゲートと∞迷宮隊?, Pokémon Fushigi no Dungeon: Magnagate to Mugendai Meikyū)

Individual releases

Title Original release date

Japan

North America

PAL region

The Nightmare of Druaga: Fushigino Dungeon July 29, 2004[41] October 27, 2004[41] none
Notes:
Kidō Senshi Gundam: Fushigi no Dungeon April 19, 2004[42] none none
Notes:
TwinBee Dungeon May 13, 2004[43] none none
Notes:
  • Released on mobile phones
  • Developed and published by Konami[43]
  • Part of the TwinBee video game series
Etrian Mystery Dungeon March 5, 2015[44] April 7, 2015[44] Q3/Q4 2015[45]
Notes:
Fushigi no Chronicle: Furikaerimasen Katsu Madewa July 30, 2015[46] none none
Notes:

References

  1. ↑ Parish, Jeremy (2012-08-06). "Koichi Nakamura Interview: On the Birth of the Console RPG". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 DeVries, Jack (2008-03-04). "Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 株式会社スパイク・チュンソフト ゲームソフト 検索一覧 (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 株式会社スパイク・チュンソフト ゲームソフト 検索一覧 (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  5. ↑ "トルネコの大冒険2GBA　不思議のダンジョン" (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 トルネコの大冒険3　不思議のダンジョン (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  7. ↑ 株式会社スパイク・チュンソフト ゲームソフト 検索一覧 (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 ドラゴンクエスト　少年ヤンガスと不思議のダンジョン (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2013-07-31. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "ドラゴンクエスト 不思議のダンジョン Mobile" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2013-09-01. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "ドラゴンクエスト もっと不思議のダンジョン　Mobile" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2013-07-28. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 おすすめ番組 ７月のおすすめ番組は (in Japanese). Nintendo. Archived from the original on 1997-06-05. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "不思議のダンジョン風来のシレンGB〜月影村の怪物〜". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  14. ↑ "『風来のシレンGB2～砂漠の魔城～』". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. 2001. Archived from the original on 2005-02-10. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  15. ↑ 「風来のシレン インターネット版」パッケージ版の発売が決定！ (in Japanese). 4gamer.net. 2002-12-05. Archived from the original on 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  16. ↑ AI (2011-05-27). ""風来のシレン"がAndroidにやってきた。「不思議のダンジョン 風来のシレン 月影村の怪物 for Android」は本日配信開始" (in Japanese). 4gamer.net. Archived from the original on 2013-05-21. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Mysterious Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 2". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "不思議のダンジョン　風来のシレンGB2 ～砂漠の魔城～" (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2013-11-24. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  19. ↑ 株式会社スパイク・チュンソフト ゲームソフト 検索一覧 (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 株式会社スパイク・チュンソフト ゲームソフト 検索一覧 (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  21. ↑ "「風来のシレン外伝 女剣士アスカ見参！」Windows版" (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "Shiren the Wanderer". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  23. ↑ 不思議のダンジョン 風来のシレン３ ポータブル (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2013-09-06. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 不思議のダンジョン　風来のシレン４　神の眼と悪魔のヘソ (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2013-09-10. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 不思議のダンジョンシリーズ最新作「風来のシレン5 ～フォーチュンタワーと運命のダイス～」公式サイト (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2013-09-05. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 チョコボの不思議なダンジョン (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2014-01-04. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Yukiyoshi Ike Sato (December 1999). "Square WonderSwan games update". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  28. ↑ チョコボの不思議なダンジョン (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2014-01-04. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 チョコボの不思議なダンジョン 2 (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2014-01-04. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  30. ↑ チョコボの不思議なダンジョン２ (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2014-01-04. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 "Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2014-01-14. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "シドとチョコボの不思議なダンジョン『時忘れの迷宮』DS+" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2013-07-24. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 "Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 "Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2013-06-21. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 "Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 "Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 ポケモン不思議のダンジョン (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 株式会社スパイク・チュンソフト ゲームソフト 検索一覧 (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2013-09-14. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 株式会社スパイク・チュンソフト ゲームソフト 検索一覧 (in Japanese). Spike Chunsoft. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 "Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 "The Nightmare of Druaga: Fushigino Dungeon". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 "Softbank Games Mobile 特集「機動戦士ガンダム　不思議のダンジョン」1st Index" (in Japanese). SoftBank Creative. 2004. Archived from the original on 2012-10-27. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 ""コナミネット DX"で『ツインビー ダンジョン』の配信がスタート！". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. 2004-05-13. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2013-05-18.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 "Etrian Mystery Dungeon - Nintendo 3DS". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2015-03-24. Retrieved 2015-03-24.
  45. ↑ Romano, Sal (April 14, 2015). "Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker and Etrian Mystery Dungeon coming to Europe this fall". Gematsu. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  46. ↑ "Mystery Dungeon Series’ Side-Scroller Spinoff To Release In Japan This July". Siliconera. April 21, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.

External links