{{Short description|1989 video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = Boxxle | caption = North American version cover | image = Boxxle Cover.png | developer = Atelier Double Co. | publisher = Pony Canyon, FCI | released = {{vgrelease|JP|1 September 1989|US|15 March 1990<ref name=EGM/>|EU|1991}} | genre = Puzzle | modes = Single-player | platforms = Game Boy }}
'''''Boxxle'''''{{efn|Known in Japan as {{nihongo|倉庫番|Sōkoban}}|lead=yes}} 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<ref>{{cite magazine |date=October 1989 |title=Plug It In |url=https://archive.org/details/the-games-machine-23/page/n19/mode/1up |magazine=The Games Machine |publisher=Newsfield Publications |page=20 |issue=23}}</ref> and Europe.<ref>{{cite web |language=ja |website=Atelier Double |title=履歴1989 |trans-title=History 1989 |url=http://www.double.co.jp/hp1989.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000526010213/http://www.double.co.jp/hp1989.htm |archive-date=26 May 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |language=ja |website=Atelier Double |title=履歴1991 |trans-title=History 1991 |url=http://www.double.co.jp/hp1991.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000618035756/http://www.double.co.jp/hp1991.htm |archive-date=18 June 2000}}</ref> The game was one of the first licensed third-party titles for the Game Boy.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Games Magazine|title=FCI's Little Boxes|pages=Software Games supplement 6|issue=100|date=October 1989|url=https://archive.org/details/games-100-1989-october/page/n45/mode/2up?q=boxxle}}</ref> A sequel, ''Boxxle II'', was released in 1990.
==Gameplay==
thumb|left|Gameplay screenshot
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.<ref name=EGM/> The game features 108 levels.<ref name=TOT/> An edit mode allows the player to create and modify their own levels.<ref name=EGM/> The game uses a password system for players to save progress.<ref name=AG>{{cite web|website=Allgame|last=Weiss|first=Brett Alan|title=Boxxle|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1028|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115011450/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1028|archivedate=15 November 2014}}</ref>
==Reception==
{{video game reviews
| CVG = 88%<ref name=CVG>{{cite magazine|magazine=Computer & Video Games|issue=96|date=November 1989|title=Soko Ban|pages=119|url=https://archive.org/details/c-vg-96-1989-11/page/118}}</ref>
| EGM = 7/10, 7/10, 6/10, 5/10<ref name=EGM>{{cite magazine|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|title=Electronic Gaming Review Crew|first1=Steve|last1=Harris|first2=Ed|last2=Semrad|first3=Martin|last3=Alessi|first4=Jim|last4=Stockhausen|issue=9|location=Lombard, Illinois|url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/2e766ed9-4e77-4791-b77c-4f24dfea7d14|accessdate=April 24, 2026|via=Video Game History Foundation|publisher=Sendai Publications|year=1990|ISSN=1058-918X|p=22}}</ref>
| TOT = 69%<ref name=TOT>{{cite magazine|magazine=TOTAL!|title=Boxxle|issue=9|date=September 1992|pages=37|url=https://archive.org/details/total-9-september-1992/page/n35/mode/2up?q=boxxle}}</ref>
}}
Several critics praised the challenge and addictiveness of the sokoban puzzles.<ref name=EGM/><ref name=CVG/><ref name=TOT/> ''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".<ref name=EGM/> Comparing the game to ''Tetris'', ''Computer & Video Games'' praised the game as "simple but effective", "infuriatingly addictive", and ideal for the Game Boy.<ref name=CVG/> ''TOTAL!'' found the game "unspectacular-looking", unexciting and lacking variety, and the puzzle concept "too basic [to] hold interest for long".<ref name=TOT/> ''Comic Book Resources'' and ''TheGamer'' retrospectively described ''Boxxle'' as one of the most difficult titles for the Game Boy.<ref>{{cite web|website=TheGamer|title=The Most Difficult Game Boy Games|last=Looker|first=Gavin|date=7 March 2024|url=https://www.thegamer.com/gameboy-most-difficult-games/|accessdate=7 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|website=CBR|title=10 Hardest Game Boy Games of All Time, Ranked By Difficulty|last=Hughes|first=Marley|date=17 July 2025|url=https://www.cbr.com/hardest-game-boy-games-ever-made-ranked-by-difficulty/|accessdate=7 January 2026}}</ref>
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{mobygames|id=16328}}
Category:1989 video games Category:Atelier Double games Category:Fujisankei Communications International games Category:Game Boy games Category:Pony Canyon games Category:Single-player video games Category:Sokoban Category:Game Boy-only games