Since Tetris was released alongside the original Nintendo Game Boy in 1989, handhelds (and later, mobile phones) have been associated with puzzle games. The daddy of the puzzle game, Tetris, has gone on to be one of the best-selling franchises in all of gaming. Others, like Bejeweled, Puzzle Bobble, and Candy Crush, have become popular with people who often don’t play puzzle games. A puzzle game challenges a player’s logic and reactions by presenting them with pattern-based graphics that need to be interacted with to gain points or complete missions. While it is not easy to define a puzzle game, its structure makes it easy for developers to add puzzle game aspects into games from a variety of genres. In D*Fuzed, we have a simple story of a bomb disposal robot having to dispose of bombs to save his friends. However, the story isn’t the main focus; in D*Fuzed the addictive gameplay is the core feature of the game. Similar to classics like Tetris, it will only take you a minute or two of interacting with the game to realise how it works and how to progress. Read on for a review of the new Game Boy puzzle game, D*Fuzed.
Puzzle Classic on the Go
The game stars Deef, a bomb disposal robot. Described as a turn-based, logic, puzzle game, the title was developed by Asobitech and Incube8. The latter of which also published the game. It had development issues around the middle of its development, at which point Incube8 Games bought the D*Fuzed IP from Quang to finish the game. Fran Matsusaka, who developed Wing Warriors (GBC), came in to help finish the project. The final game was then released in July 2025. I was happily surprised that the game is Game Boy and Game Boy Pocket compatible. The game is a Game Boy Color title, so it is enhanced on the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance. The title is available in both physical and digital formats. I have reviewed the digital version here.
D*Fuzed gives the player three choices when you load the game. There’s a story mode, a danger room mode, and options. The main part of the game is the story mode. Once you begin, there are some single-screen graphics displaying Deef and the story introduction, then the game goes into the gameplay. D*Fuzed is a turn-based puzzle game. Your player character is displayed on a tile. You can move up, down, left, and right. But be aware that bombs are dropping (and the further you progress, the more kinds of varied items will be thrown onto the screen).
Gameplay and Presentation
The bombs that land have numbers on them. Each move you make will count down the number until it reaches zero and explodes. If you are caught in any of the explosions or if falling items hit you, Deef dies, and you have to start the level again. Your player character (or tile) picks up ‘energy’ for each bomb he steps on and defuses. There’s a bar on the right that displays this power or energy. I couldn’t find a definition of what this energy is, so I’ll just call it energy in this review. When the bar reaches the top, Deef appears onscreen in a graphic to signify that you have beaten the level. The danger room mode is a gauntlet of puzzle rooms, each getting more chaotic the further you progress. It wasn’t that different from the story mode, the gameplay was almost the same, but there were no story elements. Danger room mode is fun when you want a quick game if you are on the bus. I might not have explained the gameplay mechanics too in-depth, and it’s easier to try the experience rather than listen to someone explaining it. Incidentally, there’s a free demo for the game. The gameplay is super addictive. It is one of those games where you just want to have another go when you have to stop playing.
The levels are organised in parts. So you have to complete three or four screens, or parts, before you get some more graphical storytelling, and the style of the screen changes. In essence, there are different environments depending on the level you are on. Because the game is so simple, you hardly notice any changes. That could be seen as a good or bad thing. It could possibly be a good thing if you see it as a sign that you are totally immersed in the experience. The turn-based defusing of bombs and general gameplay evoke similarities to one legend of gaming, Bomberman. D*Fuzed certainly is a similar game to Bomberman in terms of gameplay. However, with its simpler gameplay and the great way it is executed, D*Fuzed is arguably the more addictive game, it really is that good.
Conclusion
The Game Boy, with its portability and lack of graphical power, is a perfect console for puzzle games. The fact that Tetris on Game Boy sold 35 million copies is a testament to that. D*Fuzed had a complex development, but the final product is addictive and fun. The gameplay is turn-based, and the goal is to get Deef to defuse bombs on a tile grid. With each move that you make, the bomb’s timer will decrease, meaning you have to think tactically to make sure that you don’t end up blowing yourself up and having to restart the level. The game has infinite continues, and you’ll learn how it works by instinct after just a few minutes with it. I think that is partly what makes a good puzzle game, that is that the game is intuitive and logical. If you are a Bomberman fan, or even a puzzle game fan, I’d advise you to give D*Fuzed a chance, it’s a clever and addictive puzzle game. Happy Gaming.
8/10
BongoBongo123 is an avid Zelda fan who also likes the odd game of Smash. His interests in gaming are broad but he loves a good Metroidvania or action RPGs.