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Inspector Waffles Early Days

Inspector Waffles Early Days Game Cover
88%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay
Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics
100% User Score Based on 39 reviews

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Inspector Waffles Early Days Game Cover

About Inspector Waffles Early Days

Inspector Waffles Early Days is a single player action adventure game with a mystery theme. It was developed by Goloso Games and was released on November 15, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Controls Z - A button (Interact) X - B button (Cancel) Enter - Start (Pause) Inspector Waffles Early Days is a new game for Game boy color and PC, and it's  the prequel of Inspector Waffles, the adventure/detective game released in 2021.  This time, follow Waffles in his first days as a Inspector and prove to everyone that you are more than just a rookie. Find clues, report to your partner and so…

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Inspector Waffles Early Days screenshot
Inspector Waffles Early Days screenshot
Inspector Waffles Early Days screenshot
Inspector Waffles Early Days screenshot
Inspector Waffles Early Days screenshot
Inspector Waffles Early Days screenshot
Inspector Waffles Early Days screenshot
Inspector Waffles Early Days screenshot
Inspector Waffles Early Days screenshot
Inspector Waffles Early Days screenshot
Inspector Waffles Early Days screenshot
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Reviews

100%Audience ScoreBased on 39 reviews
story5 positive mentions
  • Charming and nostalgic Game Boy Color style with pixel art, chiptune music, and a cozy atmosphere.
  • Engaging detective gameplay featuring clue collection, suspect interrogation, logical deduction, and rewarding final case reports.
  • Well-written with humorous and clever dialogue, memorable characters, and an enjoyable prequel narrative that stands alone or complements the original.
  • Limited movement with stiff grid-based controls and invisible walls that can frustrate players seeking freer exploration.
  • Reading dialogue can be cumbersome due to small, all-caps font and text spread over multiple boxes.
  • Some players may find the cases and puzzles relatively easy and the tone inconsistent between lighthearted humor and darker themes.

  • story

    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    20% positive mentions, 68% neutral mentions, 12% negative mentions

    The story in Inspector Waffles: Early Days is praised for its charming, well-crafted narrative that effectively portrays the protagonist's growth as a detective through interconnected standalone cases converging into a main plot. It balances light humor, compelling mysteries, and relatable characterization, enhanced by challenging hidden side quests and puzzles that deepen engagement. Fans appreciate its appeal as both a satisfying prequel and a solid standalone experience rich with secrets and classic detective storytelling.

    • “This perspective gives the story an appealing sense of growth, allowing players to see how Waffles develops his investigative abilities while becoming involved in cases that gradually establish his reputation.”
    • “The story is spread over several standalone cases which progressively converge to the main storyline.”
    • “I loved the Waffles' characterization as a newbie investigator and a gamer, as well as his relationships, backstory, and milk plot element that make him a relatable protagonist.”
    • “Second, I was curious if the story would keep my attention, as we knew where things would turn out from the first game.”
    • “Indeed, I would have appreciated some further twists or side material but the story was well crafted and I can't really complain.”
    • “The actual cases are fairly easy, but the side quest where there is one part of the big puzzle in each map has some head-scratching parts.”

  • gameplay

    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    26% positive mentions, 58% neutral mentions, 16% negative mentions

    The gameplay centers on investigation with simple yet engaging deduction mechanics reminiscent of Ace Attorney, supported by a lightweight, retro, and controller-friendly design that suits handheld play. While its distinct style may feel limiting or "janky" to some, fans of the aesthetic will appreciate the clever puzzles, character interactions, and replay value through secrets. Overall, it offers a charming, thoughtful detective experience that balances accessibility with originality.

    • “The investigation mechanics are simple and cannot get too difficult, due to the limited number of choices, but trying to piece the solution without clicking at random is engaging and at times surprisingly thoughtful.”
    • “Not all of these questions are just mechanical 'repeat the answer we already told you' questions, either; frequently you have to think about what clues you've gathered and deduce a solution to the case that makes sense.”
    • “On the brighter side, the core gameplay of inspector waffles is still largely intact; you investigate crime scenes, collect clues, and interrogate suspects, trying to determine the truth.”
    • “While it does give the game a unique style and feel, it also makes the gameplay a bit janky due to the limitations the game imposes on itself while adhering to a specific style, limiting what can be done.”
    • “The investigation mechanics are simple and cannot get too difficult due to the limited number of choices, but trying to piece the solution without clicking at random is engaging and at times surprisingly thoughtful.”
    • “If you think you will hate the gameplay due to how it looks, you probably will; on the other hand, if you love this style, you will love the game.”

  • graphics

    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    23% positive mentions, 54% neutral mentions, 23% negative mentions

    The game features charming, authentic Game Boy Color-style 8-bit graphics and chiptune audio that lend a nostalgic, retro aesthetic. While some players initially found the sound effects and visuals divisive compared to the first game, most grew to appreciate the unique blend of point-and-click gameplay with Game Boy-inspired visuals. Overall, the graphics effectively complement the game's quirky, animal-themed humor and detective premise.

    • “Presented in a lovingly authentic Game Boy Color style, the game embraces chunky 8-bit visuals and chiptune audio.”
    • “Very short but charming point-and-click adventure game with a lovely retro Game Boy aesthetic.”
    • “The artwork and music are very authentically old school Game Boy graphics.”
    • “A bit different than the first game, they went with a game boy aesthetic for better or worse, instead of a more traditional point and click.”
    • “First, I was divided about the game boy aesthetics, especially the sound effects, which sounded pretty garish to my ears.”
    • “Pretty quickly though I got used to both, even if I still preferred the aesthetics of the first game.”

  • humor

    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game features a lighthearted and witty tone, using anthropomorphic animals to deliver playful visual jokes and clever puns, especially related to cats and dogs. Its humor complements the detective narrative well, balancing charm with moments of seriousness. Overall, the humor enhances the engaging, nostalgic mystery experience without overwhelming the gameplay.

    • “The writing maintains a light and humorous personality despite dealing with criminal investigations.”
    • “A world populated by anthropomorphic animals naturally creates opportunities for visual jokes, playful dialogue, and plenty of feline humor.”
    • “The dialogues are cool with lots of funny puns about cats and dogs and pop culture references.”

  • music

    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    57% positive mentions, 14% neutral mentions, 29% negative mentions

    The music is generally praised for its nostalgic, old-school charm and fitting chiptune style, though some miss the original's smoky jazz noir vibe. Overall, the soundtrack is considered enjoyable and enhances the cozy, investigative atmosphere of the game.

    • “Very cozy and nostalgic, rather short game, loved the soundtrack. Good old days when Inspector Waffles was a strict anti-milk-drinker and played by the rules.”
    • “The soundtrack is cool as well and it's a lot of fun trying to unveil the mysteries of Cattown.”
    • “The music is also incredibly good!”
    • “Gone is the smoky, hard-boiled jazz soundtrack of the original, replaced with a chiptune soundtrack that, while solid in its own right, doesn't have the same feel of detective noir.”
    • “Gone is the smoky, hard-boiled jazz soundtrack of the original, replaced with a chiptune soundtrack that, while solid in its own right, doesn't have the same feel of detective noir.”

  • replayability

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game offers strong replayability through its unique blend of BGC-style graphics and point-and-click gameplay, alongside charming animal-themed dialogue and hidden in-game secrets that encourage repeated playthroughs.

    • “BGC style graphics combined with point-and-click gameplay components that are unique to the platform, adding a fresh experience every time.”
    • “Charming animal-pun-filled dialogue enhances the game's personality and invites multiple playthroughs.”
    • “In-game secrets add to replay value, encouraging players to explore and discover new content.”
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Play Times

6h Median play time
6h Average play time
6-6h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Inspector Waffles Early Days is a action adventure game with mystery theme. Common tags for Inspector Waffles Early Days include indie, pixel graphics, retro, cute, top-down and others.

Inspector Waffles Early Days is available on PC, Web Browser, Steam Deck and Windows.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing Inspector Waffles Early Days.

Inspector Waffles Early Days was released on November 15, 2024.

Inspector Waffles Early Days was developed by Goloso Games.

Inspector Waffles Early Days has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Inspector Waffles Early Days for its story but disliked it for its graphics.

Inspector Waffles Early Days is a single player game.

Similar games include Inspector Waffles, Aviary Attorney, Detective Grimoire, Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, Death Trick: Double Blind and others.