View source for Software:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon

{{Short description|Video game series spin-off from the Pokémon series}}
{{Infobox video game series
|title = Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
|image = File:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon logo.png
|caption = The ''Mystery Dungeon'' logo used in ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon''
|developer = [[Company:Spike Chunsoft|Spike Chunsoft]] (formerly Chunsoft)
|publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|[[Company:The Pokémon Company|The Pokémon Company]]|WW|[[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]]}}
|creator = Koichi Nakamura
|genre = [[Software:Role-playing video game|Role-playing]], [[Software:Roguelike|Roguelike]]
|platforms = {{Hlist|
  | Game Boy Advance
  | Nintendo DS
  | WiiWare
  | {{wipe|Nintendo 3DS}}
  | [[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]]
}}
|first release version = ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team'' and ''Red Rescue Team''
|first release date = November 17, 2005
|latest release version = ''[[Software:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]]''
|latest release date = March 6, 2020
|parent={{unbulleted list|''Pokémon''|''Mystery Dungeon''}}
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon'''''|ポケモン{{ruby|不思議|ふしぎ}}のダンジョン|Pokemon Fushigi no Danjon|lead=yes}} is a video game series [[Engineering:Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] from the main ''Pokémon'' series developed by [[Company:Spike Chunsoft|Spike Chunsoft]] (formerly [[Company:Chunsoft|Chunsoft]]). The games feature the fictional creatures called Pokémon who have the ability to speak human language navigating through a randomly generated dungeon using turn-based moves, indicative of ''Mystery Dungeon'' games. {{as of|March 2020}}, there have been eleven games across five platforms, as well as several manga adaptations and animated specials.

These games are based in dungeons (“mystery dungeons”) where a floor map is randomly generated. In the dungeons, players fight other Pokémon while obtaining items and finding stairs to the next floor, exiting the dungeon after a fixed number of floors. Across all installments, the series has sold over 17.15 million copies.{{ref|sales|[a]}}

== Gameplay ==

Although there are different features in each of the titles, the major aspects of gameplay in each title are the same. The player assumes the role of a Pokémon that was transformed from a human, found by the player's Pokémon partner in the start of the game. Before the game starts, the player will need to go through a personality test; this will decide which Pokémon the player is in the game with the exception of the WiiWare games and ''[[Software:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]]'', where the player may choose their starter. In ''[[Software:Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon]]'' and ''[[Software:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]]'', one can choose a Pokemon to be after the personality test. Gameplay is based on a classic roguelike game, with the player navigating the randomly generated dungeon with their Pokémon team. Movement and actions are turn-based; the player can use basic attacks, Pokémon moves, and items. The game starts with one partner Pokémon, but the player can recruit other Pokémon that they meet in the dungeon into their team soon after the first mission.

== Development ==
Tsunekazu Ishihara has worked previously with Chunsoft. One of the company's work was ''Tetris 2 + Bombliss'', where Ishihara was the game's producer and met Koichi Nakamura, who was the game's director. Prior to the development of ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team'', Ishihara had played a few games from the ''Mystery Dungeon'' series, namely ''[[Software:Torneko no Daibōken: Fushigi no Dungeon|Torneko no Daibōken]]'', and was impressed with the genre's depth and quality. The game's development started after Seiichiro Nagahata and Shin-ichiro Tomie approached Ishihara and agreed with working on an easier version of the genre for the mainline ''Pokémon'' fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/pokemon-mysterydungeon-gti/0/0l |title=Iwata Asks : Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity : An Impossible Combination |website=[[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]] |author=Satoru Iwata |access-date=August 2, 2021 |page=1}}</ref> During the development of ''Red and Blue Rescue Team'', Kouji Maruta, one of the programmer for these two games, and contributed previously on ''[[Software:EarthBound|EarthBound]]'' and ''Shiren the Wanderer 2: Oni Invasion! Shiren Castle!'', stated the company went through bad business performance, as employees from Chunsoft would leave the company progressively due to this issue. The game's success not only helped to give more popularity to the franchise, it also helped Chunsoft avoid bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.1101.com/intern/kobune_2020/interview/malta/malta03.html |title=ほぼ日の学生採用企画 |date=January 31, 2020 |publisher=1101.com |access-date=July 14, 2020 |language=ja |quote=『ポケモン不思議のダンジョン』とかも作りかけていたけど、おそらくこれも売れないだろうし、先行きの見通しがない状況だったと思うんです。でも、なんとその後、その『ポケモン不思議のダンジョン』が大ヒット。あんなにたくさんの人が辞める必要はなかったんじゃないかな、と思いますけど。で、ぼくも他の人と同じように別の開発会社に転職してテレビゲームの開発を続けるかどうかを考えはじめました。でも、その前にそうとう泣きましたよ。}}</ref>

== Games ==
{{VG timeline
| compressempty = yes
| subtitle = Original releases in green<br>Remakes in yellow
| 2005  = ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Team''
| 2007 = ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness''
| 2009a = ''[[Software:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]]''
| 2009b = ''[[Software:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Adventure Team|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Adventure Squad]]''
| 2012  = ''[[Software:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]]''
| 2015 = ''[[Software:Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon]]''
| 2020 = ''[[Software:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]]''
| 2020_color = gold
}}

The games are developed by [[Company:Spike Chunsoft|Spike Chunsoft]], formerly Chunsoft before the merging in 2012, and published by [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]] and [[Company:The Pokémon Company|The Pokémon Company]].

The first game released in the series was ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team'' in 2005 in Japan, then worldwide in 2006. The duo were released on two separate platforms; ''Red Rescue Team'' for Game Boy Advance; ''Blue Rescue Team'' for Nintendo DS. Two years later, ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness'' for Nintendo DS were released in 2007 in Japan, then worldwide in 2008. Starting from ''[[Software:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]]'' in 2009, the sister game and enhanced remake of ''Explorers of Time and Darkness'', the series would not be released in Taiwan and South Korea. Additionally, due to a production shortage, ''Explorers of Sky'' had limited circulation throughout Australia. Most retailers in Australia stocked UK-imported versions. Shortly after the release of ''Explorers of Sky'' in Japan, the ''[[Software:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Adventure Team|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Adventure Squad]]'' titles were released for the WiiWare exclusively in Japan. As such, they are the first and only ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon'' games to never be released overseas. They were initially revealed as logos on pamphlets given out at [[Company:McDonald's|McDonald's]].<ref name="IGNMc">{{cite web |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/995/995148p1.html |title=Pokemon Mystery Dungeon WiiWare? - Wii News at IGN |publisher=IGN |author=John Tanaka |date=June 16, 2009 |access-date=2010-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621014909/http://wii.ign.com/articles/995/995148p1.html |archive-date=June 21, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> These games utilize the 3D models from ''[[Software:Pokémon Rumble|Pokémon Rumble]]'' and ''[[Software:My Pokémon Ranch|My Pokémon Ranch]]'', making them the first games to use models instead of 2D sprites. This was done in an attempt to make "something that resembles a picture book".<ref name="IGNJuly">{{cite web |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/100/1003797p1.html |title=Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Hits WiiWare - Wii News at IGN |publisher=IGN |author=Anoop Gantayat |date=July 15, 2009 |access-date=2010-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101155005/http://wii.ign.com/articles/100/1003797p1.html |archive-date=January 1, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The three different versions have various differences, like starting points and initial Pokémon choices.<ref name="IGNJuly"/> There is a rescue feature where players can request for friends to revive their team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/15/pokemon-mystery-dungeon-for-wiiware-first-trailer-and-details/ |title=Pokemon Mystery Dungeon for WiiWare: first trailer and details {{!}} Joystiq |publisher=Joystiq |author=JC Fletcher |date=2009-07-15 |access-date=2011-02-09}}</ref> By using WiiConnect24, new missions are added to the game while the Wii is asleep, and players can share save data throughout all three games. In 2012, ''[[Software:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]]'' was released for the {{wipe|Nintendo 3DS}} in Japan, before being released worldwide in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|first=Lucas M.|last=Thomas|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/09/14/pokemon-mystery-dungeon-3ds-announced|title=Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 3DS Announced|date=September 14, 2012|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis}}</ref> From there on, the series use purpose-made 3D models, as opposed to 2D sprites or 3D models from other spin-off titles. ''[[Software:Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon|Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon]]'' is the latest non-remake release in the series, released in 2015 on Nintendo 3DS, then in 2016 in PAL regions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-05-21-pokemon-super-mystery-dungeon-unearthed-for-3ds|title=Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon unearthed for 3DS|date=May 21, 2015|work=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network}}</ref><ref name="super mystery nintendoeverything">{{cite web|url=http://nintendoeverything.com/pokemon-super-mystery-dungeon-announced-coming-to-3ds-winter-2015/ |title=Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon announced, coming to 3DS winter 2015 |date=2015-05-21 |access-date=2015-05-22 |author=Brian |publisher=Nintendo Everything}}</ref> Finally, ''[[Software:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]]'' is the latest title in the series, released on [[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]] in 2020.<ref name="twitter pokemon pmddx announcement">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Pokemon/status/1215281356311105536/ |title=Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX announced, coming to Nintendo Switch March 2020 |date=2020-01-09 |access-date=2020-01-21 |author=Pokémon |publisher=Twitter}}</ref> It is a remake of the original ''Rescue Team'' games on Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance, united as one game, with a complete overhaul of the graphics and reworked gameplay.
{{clear}}

== Animated specials ==
{{More|List of Pokémon special episodes#Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (2007-2009)}}
Likewise for animated episodes of the series, they were made for explaining parts of the games.
*''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out Of The Gate!'' (2006), an anime adaption of ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team'' and ''Red Rescue Team''.
*''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness'' (2008), an anime adaption of ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time'' and ''Explorers of Darkness''.
*''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky Beyond Time & Darkness / Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Sky Expedition ~The Final Adventure Surpassing Time and Darkness~'' (2009), an anime adaption of ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky''.
*''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Animated Shorts'' (2015), an anime adaption of ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity''.

== Comics ==
Manga adaptations of the series were made throughout the years.
*''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team'', a manga adaptation of ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team'' and ''Red Rescue Team''.
*''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blazing Exploration Team'', a manga adaptation of ''Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time'', ''Explorers of Darkness'', and ''Explorers of Sky''.
*''Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon: Go For It! Novice Investigation Team!'', a manga adaptation of ''Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon''.

==Notes==
{{note|sales|<sup>[a]</sup>}} 5.85 million copies sold from the ''Rescue Team'' titles,<ref name="CESA2014">{{cite book |title=2015CESAゲーム白書 (2015 CESA Games White Papers) |publisher=Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association |isbn=978-4-902346-32-9 |date=July 27, 2015}}</ref> 6.37 million copies sold from the ''Explorers'' titles,<ref name="CESA2014"/> 1.38 million copies sold from ''[[Software:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity|Gates to Infinity]]'',<ref name="CESA2021">{{cite book |title=2021CESAゲーム白書 (2021 CESA Games White Papers)|publisher=Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association|year=2021|isbn=978-4-902346-43-5}}</ref> 1.66 million copies sold from [[Software:Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon|''Super Mystery Dungeon'']],<ref name="CESA2021"/> and 1.89 million copies sold from ''[[Software:Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX|Rescue Team DX]]''.<ref name="CESA2022">{{cite book |title=2022CESAゲーム白書 (2022 CESA Games White Papers)|publisher=Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association|year=2022|isbn=978-4-902346-45-9}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Pokémon spin-offs}}
{{Mystery Dungeon series}}
{{Main franchises by Nintendo}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pokemon Mystery Dungeon}}
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Tactical role-playing video games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon}}