Puyo Puyo

This article is about the video game series. For the first game in the series, seePuyo Puyo (video game).

Puyo Puyo(ぷよぷよ),previously known asPuyo Popoutside Japan, is a series oftile-matchingvideo games created byCompile.Segahas owned the franchise since 1998, with games after 2001 being developed bySonic Team.Puyo Puyowas created as a spin-off franchise toMadō Monogatari(Sorcery Saga), a series of first-person dungeon crawler role-playing games by Compile from which thePuyo Puyocharacters originated. The series has sold over 10 million copies, including theMadō Monogatarigames.

Puyo Puyo
Genre(s)	Puzzle
Developer(s)	Compile(1991–2000) Sonic Team(2001–2013) Sega(2013–present) h.a.n.d.(2009-2011, 2024) O-Two (2011-2016)
Publisher(s)	Compile (1991–2000) Sega (1992–present)
Creator(s)	Kazunari Yonemitsu
First release	Puyo Puyo October 25, 1991
Latest release	Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop April 4, 2024
Parent series	Madō Monogatari

Gameplay

Generally, the objective ofPuyo Puyogames is to defeat the opponent by causing the third column from the left of their side of the screen to become filled withPuyo.Puyo are round, slime-like creatures that, in most variations of the game, fall from the top of the screen in groups of two, three, and four. The pieces can be moved, dropped, and rotated as they fall. The piece falls until it reaches another Puyo or the bottom of the screen.When four or more Puyo of the same color line up adjacent to each other, the Puyo will connect to each other, "Pop", and disappear. Puyo of the same color can connect horizontally or vertically, but not diagonally.

The Puyo above those that are cleared fall onto other pieces or the bottom of the screen. Simultaneous Pops ( đồng thời tiêu し, simultaneous erasing) are created when more than one group is formed at a time.

A Chain occurs when falling Puyo trigger a new group of Puyo to Pop, setting off a chain reaction. Achieving a Chain results in Garbage Puyo, also known as Ojama Puyo (お tà ma ぷよ), being sent to either block the opponent's screen or counterbalance (offset, tương sát ) the Garbage Puyo sent by the opponent. Garbage Puyo are translucent pieces that disappear when adjacent Puyo are popped. If multiple groups of Puyo are cleared consecutively due to a chain, the amount of Garbage Puyo increases based solely on the number of steps in the chain. Garbage Puyo are cached above the opponent's playing field, and do not fall until the attacker's chain concludes, and then the defender puts down a piece. Garbage Puyo block the opponents' playing fields, and can cause them to lose if one is placed the third spot from the left in the top row.

Games

Release timeline

1991	Puyo Puyo
1992
1993	Nazo Puyo
	Nazo Puyo 2
1994	Nazo Puyo: Arle no Roux
	Puyo Puyo 2
1995	Super Nazo Puyo: Rulue no Roux
1996	Super Nazo Puyo 2: Rulue no Tetsuwan Hanjōki
	Puyo Puyo Sun
1997
1998	Wakuwaku Puyo Puyo Dungeon
1999	Puyo Puyo~n
	Puyo Puyo Gaiden: Puyo Wars
	Puyo Puyo Da!
2000	Arle no Bōken: Mahō no Jewel
	Puyo Puyo Box
2001	Minna de Puyo Puyo
2002
2003	Puyo Puyo Fever
2004	Puyo Puyo DX
2005	Puyo Puyo Fever 2
2006	Puyo Puyo! 15th Anniversary
2007
2008
2009	Puyo Puyo 7
2010
2011	Puyo Puyo!! 20th Anniversary
2012
2013	Puyopuyo!! Quest
	Puyopuyo!! Quest Arcade
2014	Puyo Puyo Tetris
2015
2016	Puyo Puyo Chronicle
2017
2018	Puyo Puyo Champions
2019
2020	Puyo Puyo Tetris 2
2021
2022
2023
2024	Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop

Compile games

Title screenshot from the MSX2 version of the original game.

ThefirstPuyo Puyogame was developed by Compile and released in 1991 for theMSX2andFamily Computer Disk System;the latter release was published byTokuma Shotenas a pack-in for theirFamimagamagazine. The puzzle game features characters from the 1990role-playing video gameMadō Monogatari 1-2-3,also developed by Compile. The game includes "Endless" mode, where the player attempts to amass a large score, "Mission" mode, where the player is given a pre-configured board and must attempt to satisfy conditions, and a two-player competitive mode.

Compile and Sega collaborated to create anarcadeversion ofPuyo Puyo.It was released in October 1992 for Sega's System C2 hardware.Unlike the previous release, the game focuses on competitive play; the single-player mode consists of a gauntlet consisting of either 3, 10, or 13 computer opponents, while the multiplayer mode allows two human players to battle each other. The game was ported to several major platforms in Japan, with theMega Drivebecoming a bestseller.

The game was followed byPuyo Puyo 2in September 1994, also released for Sega System C2.Puyo Puyo 2adds the ability to counter the opponent's chains; additionally, it changes the single-player gauntlet from a linear structure to a roulette-based structure that requires the player to pass certain score thresholds to advance. Like its predecessor,Puyo Puyo 2was released on a variety of home platforms. In 2004, it was included in theSega Ages 2500line ofPlayStation 2games.

Puyo Puyo Sun,released in 1996 for the Sega Titan Video arcade hardware, adds a "Sun Puyo" mechanic that allows the player to send extra garbage to opponents.Puyo Puyo~n,released in 1999 for theDreamcast,adds character-specific powers that assist the player in clearing Puyo. Compile's finalPuyo Puyogame,Puyo Puyo Box,includes ports of the first two arcade games alongside original content.

Compile released a variety of spin-off titles on home consoles, handhelds, and through theirDisc Stationdisk magazine.TheNazo Puyoseries expands on the originalPuyo Puyo's Mission mode, with theNazo Puyo: Arle no RouxforGame Gearin 1994,Super Nazo Puyo: Rulue no RouxforSuper Famicomin 1995 andSuper Nazo Puyo 2: Rulue no Tetsuwan Hanjōkifor Super Famicom in 1996 introducing role-playing elements. Other notable spin-offs include theroguelikeWakuwaku Puyo Puyo Dungeon(1998,Sega SaturnandPlayStation),Puyo Puyo Da!dancing game(1998, arcade and Dreamcast), andArle no Bōken: Mahō no Jewelmonster-collecting role-playing game (2000,Game Boy Color).

Sonic Team-developed games

Sonic Team's firstPuyo Puyogame wasMinna de Puyo Puyofor theGame Boy Advance,released in Japan in 2001 and elsewhere in 2002 asPuyo Pop.It is one of three games namedPuyo Pop.

Sega releasedPuyo Pop Feveron November 26, 2003, for their NAOMI arcade hardware. The game features a mostly new set of characters, alongside new gameplay mechanics such as Fever Mode. Like its arcade predecessors,Feverwas ported to many platforms; the Dreamcast version notably serves as Sega's finalfirst partyvideo game. A direct sequel,Puyo Puyo Fever 2was released in 2005.Fever 2added more characters and an expanded single-player mode.Puyo Puyo 7,released in 2009, adds a third protagonist and includes a new "Transformation" gameplay system.

In addition, games celebratingPuyo Puyo's 15th and 20th Anniversary were released.Puyo Puyo! 15th Anniversary(2006) includes more than ten gameplay rulesets, including the rules of the firstPuyo Puyo,Puyo Puyo 2,andPuyo Puyo Fever,reintroduces characters that were absent from the series sinceMinna de Puyo Puyo,and gives every character in the game a single-player story.Puyo Puyo!! 20th Anniversary(2011) adds even more rulesets, such asSunrules.

Puyo Puyo TetrisandPuyo Puyo Tetris 2,released in 2014 and 2020, include bothPuyo PuyoandTetrisgameplay.

Puyo Puyo!! Questis afree-to-playrole-playing gamereleased foriOSandAndroidin 2013. Sega has claimed that the game is a major success, and stated that the game has reached 11 million downloads and a monthly income of over 500 million yen (approx. US$4 million) as of February 2015.

Puyo Puyowas a mini-game inHatsune Miku: Project Mirai Deluxe/DXin 2015.In game, this was calledPuyo Puyo 39.

Puyo Puyo Chroniclewas released on December 8, 2016, in Japan forNintendo 3DS,as part of the originalPuyo Puyogame's 25th anniversary with no plans for localization, despite the demand for it. Unlike the other anniversary games, it features a role-playing game mode, although the classic rules are also included, and features a new character named Ally.

Puyo Puyo Champions(namedPuyo Puyo eSportsin Japan), a digital title with an emphasis oneSportstournament play, was released forPlayStation 4andNintendo Switchon October 25, 2018, in Japan. It was released in North America and Europe on May 7, 2019.

International releases

The 1992 arcadePuyo Puyowas translated to English with character name changes and minor visual changes to Harpy, renamed Dark Elf, character's skit. Sega added this version into theirSega Agesport on Nintendo Switch.The Game Gear version of the 1992 arcade game, when played on non-Japanese Game Gears, plays a similar version titledPuzlow Kids,but the Game Gear version was never released outside Japan.

Instead of directly translating the Mega Drive version of the 1992 arcade game, Sega decided to replace theMadou Monogataricast with villains from theAdventures of Sonic the Hedgehoganimated television series. The resulting game,Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine,was released in 1993, along with a Game Gear version adapted fromNazo Puyo.Nintendofollowed suit in 1995, modifyingSuper Puyo PuyointoKirby's Avalanche(Kirby's Ghost Trapin Europe), featuringKirbycharacters.Spectrum HoloBytealso released aPuyo Puyotitle forMicrosoft Windows 3.1and theMacintoshin August 1995, under the nameQwirks.

The next localized release was in 1999, when the Neo Geo Pocket Color port ofPuyo Puyo 2was released in English asPuyo Pop.Unlike the arcade translation, most characters kept their original names; only the character Satan retained his English arcade title of the Dark Prince.After the Game Boy AdvancePuyo Pop,Puyo Pop Feversaw a worldwide release, with North America receiving theGameCubeandNintendo DSversions and Europe receiving it on the majority of platforms it came out on.Finally, the Mega Drive version ofPuyo Puyo 2was released, untranslated, on theWii'sVirtual Consoleas an import title and the arcade version ofPuyo Puyo 2is included inSega 3D Classics Collection.Also theN-GagePuyo Popwas released worldwide in 2003.As the gameHatsune Miku: Project Mirai Deluxe/DXwas released worldwide, consequently also itsPuyo Puyomini-game saw release outside Japan.Sonic Runnersran a collaboration event withPuyo Puyo!! Questin July 2015.

Puyo Puyo Tetriswas released overseas on theNintendo Switchand thePlayStation 4in Q2 2017.This marks the first time a localizedPuyo Puyogame was marketed overseas under its original name.

Other releases

The 1995 video gameTimon & Pumbaa's Jungle Games,developed by7th Leveland published byDisney InteractiveforMicrosoft WindowsandMac OS,features a variation ofPuyo PuyotitledBug Drop,in which Puyos are replaced by bugs.

2003'sBilly Hatcher and the Giant Eggfeatures an unlockablePuyo Popminigame, which requires the use of theGameCube – Game Boy Advance link cableto download the minigame to aGame Boy Advance.

In July 2005,BandaireleasedKidou Gekidan Haro Ichiza: Haro no Puyo Puyo( cơ động kịch đoàn はろ một tòa ハロ の ぷよぷよ) (lit. "Mobile Theatrical Company Haro:Haro's Puyo Puyo ") in Japan for the GBA.It is based on theMobile Suit Gundamanime series and presented in the style of theSD Gundamseries. In this game, Puyo are replaced byGundam'smascot,Haro.

A new mobile game,Puyo!! Touch,was released for iOS and Android devices on November 26, 2015,but the service was shut down the following year on November 30, citing lackluster performance in the market.

Afan game,Puyo Puyo VS,was released forMicrosoft Windowsand focuses on multiplayer battles.

Sonic Mania(2017) contains aPuyo Puyominigame as a Boss battle in the Chemical Plant Zone and as an unlockable mode, directly referencingDr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine.DirectorChristian Whiteheadconsidered it the most "complex" Boss fight for them to develop.

Puyo Puyois playable via in-game arcade machines inYakuza 6and the PlayStation 4 version ofJudgment.

AnApple Arcadeexclusive title foriOS,macOSandtvOS,Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop,was released in April 2024and was developed byh.a.n.d..

Development

Puyo Puyowas originally conceived by Compile employee andSting Entertainmentfounder Kazunari Yonemitsu. Yonemitsu felt that the puzzle games at the time had "weak" characters and thus decided to create a puzzle game using characters from Compile'sMadou MonogatariRPG series. The success ofStreet Fighter IIinfluencedPuyo Puyo's focus on competitive gameplay, with Yonemitsu trying out many mechanics in an attempt to recapture the fighting game's competitive nature.

In March 1998, Sega obtained the rights to thePuyo Puyoseries and its characters from Compile, while Compile continued to develop and publishPuyo Puyogames, even on platforms that Sega was competing against. These games include Sega in their copyright information.Prior to assuming full development duties for the franchise, Sega portedPuyo Puyo 2to theWonderSwan.

Sales

Sega Sammy reported in 2022 that the sum of games sold, downloads of free-to-play titles, registered IDs totaled 37.7 million.This figure does not account for units sold prior to Sega's acquisition of the series, but the series' sales numbers without the free-to-play titles and registered IDs totals to at least over 10 million, including games from the Compile era of the series.

Other media

For the franchise's 24th anniversary, a stage play adaptation titledPuyo Puyo On Stageran from May 2–6, 2015, in Japan.

External links

• Official website