Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 14, 2026

Boxxle

Boxxle is a 1989 sokoban puzzle video game for the Game Boy developed by Atelier Double Co. and published by Pony Canyon in Japan and FCI in North America and Europe. The game was one of the first licensed third-party titles for the Game Boy. A sequel, Boxxle II, was released in 1990.

Last revised
Jun 14, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
425 w
Citations
21
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Boxxle
North American version cover
DeveloperAtelier Double Co.
PublishersPony Canyon, FCI
PlatformGame Boy
Release
  • JP: 1 September 1989
  • US: 15 March 19901
  • EU: 1991
GenrePuzzle
ModeSingle-player

Boxxlea is a 1989 sokoban puzzle video game for the Game Boy developed by Atelier Double Co. and published by Pony Canyon in Japan and FCI in North America2 and Europe.34 The game was one of the first licensed third-party titles for the Game Boy.5 A sequel, Boxxle II, was released in 1990.

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot source ↗

Similar to other sokoban puzzles, the objective of Boxxle is to manoevure the player to push a series of boxes on dots in designated positions to clear the level.1 The game features 108 levels.6 An edit mode allows the player to create and modify their own levels.1 The game uses a password system for players to save progress.7

Reception

Several critics praised the challenge and addictiveness of the sokoban puzzles.186 Electronic Gaming Monthly praised the level of thought and planning required to solve the puzzles, although found the game "gets so hard and complex it becomes more of a chore".1 Comparing the game to Tetris, Computer & Video Games praised the game as "simple but effective", "infuriatingly addictive", and ideal for the Game Boy.8 TOTAL! found the game "unspectacular-looking", unexciting and lacking variety, and the puzzle concept "too basic [to] hold interest for long".6 Comic Book Resources and TheGamer retrospectively described Boxxle as one of the most difficult titles for the Game Boy.910

Notes

Notes

  1. Known in Japan as 倉庫番 (Sōkoban)
References

References

  1. Harris, Steve; Semrad, Ed; Alessi, Martin; Stockhausen, Jim (1990). "Electronic Gaming Review Crew". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 9. Lombard, Illinois: Sendai Publications. p. 22. ISSN 1058-918X. Retrieved April 24, 2026 – via Video Game History Foundation.
  2. "Plug It In". The Games Machine. No. 23. Newsfield Publications. October 1989. p. 20.
  3. "履歴1989" [History 1989]. Atelier Double (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 26 May 2000.
  4. "履歴1991" [History 1991]. Atelier Double (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 18 June 2000.
  5. "FCI's Little Boxes". Games Magazine. No. 100. October 1989. pp. Software Games supplement 6.
  6. "Boxxle". TOTAL!. No. 9. September 1992. p. 37.
  7. Weiss, Brett Alan. "Boxxle". Allgame. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014.
  8. "Soko Ban". Computer & Video Games. No. 96. November 1989. p. 119.
  9. Looker, Gavin (7 March 2024). "The Most Difficult Game Boy Games". TheGamer. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  10. Hughes, Marley (17 July 2025). "10 Hardest Game Boy Games of All Time, Ranked By Difficulty". CBR. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
External links