Pokemon clones are everywhere on Steam, with dozens of indie takes on Game Freak's classic formula seemingly releasing constantly. It takes a lot for a game to stand out among the Pokemon-like genre competition, especially without a unique hook like Palworld's "Pokemon with guns" moniker or Temtem's "Pokemon MMO" description. However, very few creature-collecting games on Steam feature horror elements, and even fewer utilize the original Game Boy Camera hardware to capture FMV scenes.
A Pokemon-like horror game seems like it was bound to happen eventually, especially with the recent rise of subversive horror that twists nostalgic media into something terrifying. Encryptid is a new Steam game that takes that premise and runs with it, allowing players to hunt and capture cryptids as if they were Pokemon. The result is a charming retro creature collector on the surface that gets unsettling and downright disturbing the deeper players get into it, thanks in part to the use of real-world footage via the Game Boy Camera.
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Encryptid Features at a Glance
- Creepy, authentic Game Boy inspired visuals and audio
- Live-action footage filmed on 1998's most iconic digital camera
- Capture cryptids and pit them against each other
- Multiple endings to unlock
- Cryptid horror inspired by urban myth both real and digital
- It's actually a Game Boy game
- Does not require $1000 of RAM to run
Encryptid is a short FMV horror game about hunting and catching cryptids. Use real-world footage recorded exclusively via the Gameboy Camera to identify, locate and capture iconic creatures of myth and folklore.
Encryptid Takes the Pokemon Formula and Mixes it with Cryptids and Haunting FMV Scenes
The concept of two cryptids duking it out in Pokemon-style battles is already appealing on its own. Seeing Mothman going toe-to-toe with the Loch Ness Monster is an exciting prospect that Encryptid offers players, among other potential cryptid match-ups. But battling cryptids isn't the only highlight of Encryptid, as the game offers an eerily nostalgic aesthetic that adds a layer of unease to its horror elements, made possible by the use of Game Boy-specific hardware for development.
Encryptid currently has a release window of 2026.
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
The Premise of Encryptid
While there hasn't been much shared about the story of Encryptid so far, the basic premise is like a dark twist on the typical Pokemon adventure. Rather than receiving a starter Pokemon from the local professor, players in Encryptid discover a mysterious camera in the woods that appears to belong to notable cryptozoologist Professor Pine. The camera shows unsettling, blurry photos of cryptids that Professor Pine has captured, and Encryptid tasks players with using the clues found in the photos to find the professor, capturing and battling cryptids along the way.
The Gameplay of Encryptid
Aesthetically and mechanically, Encryptid shares a lot of overlap with the original Pokemon Red and Blue games on the Game Boy. On one side of Encryptid's gameplay are the mystery puzzle-solving elements, which aren't a core part of the Pokemon franchise but give Encryptid its important horror elements. Players will need to use the photos found on Professor Pine's camera to discover the locations of cryptids and initiate combat encounters. This mechanic effectively replaces Pokemon's random tall grass encounters for discovering new creatures.
This leads players to the other side of Encryptid's gameplay: its turn-based combat. Like Pokemon, Encryptid battles have players choosing between four different options on the battle screen: Attack, Capture, Check, and Flee. Whether Encryptid has the same level of combat depth as Pokemon remains to be seen, but the ability to battle and tame cryptids can make up for any combat shortcomings. So far, the game has shown cryptids like Mothman, the Dover Demon, and the Memphre Monster. Developer Autumn Knight hasn't revealed just how many cryptids players can expect to find in the game, but there is a ton of urban myth and cryptid folklore that the game could pull from.
Encryptid Uses a 28-Year-Old Game Boy Accessory for its Authentic Retro Feel
What sets Encryptid apart from other retro creature collectors is its commitment to horror, which comes through in the uncanny nature of its cryptid photos. In an effort to make Encryptid feel like an actual original Game Boy game, the FMV scenes and cryptid images were shot using the Game Boy Camera accessory from 1998. Back in the day, the Game Boy Camera allowed users to take low-quality photos using the handheld Nintendo console. Users could then print out their photos using the companion accessory, the Game Boy Printer.
Not only is Encryptid a Game Boy-inspired game coming to Steam, but Autumn Knight has confirmed that the game is playable on the original Game Boy and plans to release it on the handheld as well.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Now, 28 years after the accessory was released, it's being used again in a creative new way. Autumn Knight is fully leaning into the Game Boy-era Pokemon game aesthetic in both the visual design of the game and in the authenticity of its FMV scenes and images. All real-world footage in Encryptid was captured using the Game Boy Camera, meaning the accessory is an integral part of the experience. Game Boy enthusiasts can even play the game on their Game Boy console or any other system capable of emulating a Game Boy. Even if Steam is the preferable platform, Pokemon and horror game fans who want a blending of the two experiences should definitely keep an eye on Encryptid.