Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Developed by Nintendo R&D1 and published by Nintendo in 1984, Devil World is an unusual maze-action game designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. At first glance it resembles Pac-Man, but its constantly moving playfield gives the familiar formula a distinctive and surprisingly tense twist. Rating: 7/10.
You control Tamagon, a small green dragon exploring mazes filled with demons and other hazards. Each cycle consists of several different stages. In the first, the objective is to clear the maze of Boa-Boa dots. Tamagon cannot simply collect them immediately, however. He first needs to pick up one of the crosses scattered around the level, which temporarily allows him to eat the dots and breathe fire at enemies.
The next stage changes the objective completely. Four Bibles appear around the maze, and Tamagon must collect them one at a time and carry them to a central seal. Once all four have been placed, the Devil is driven away and the game proceeds to a bonus round before the cycle begins again at a higher difficulty.
The defining mechanic is the moving maze. A large blue Devil sits above the playfield and repeatedly points left, right, up or down. His minions then move the entire maze in that direction. This means you are never simply navigating a static set of corridors. A safe route can suddenly disappear, and if Tamagon becomes trapped between a wall and the edge of the screen, he is crushed instantly.
This transforms what might otherwise have been a straightforward Pac-Man clone into something much more frantic. You constantly need to watch both the enemies around Tamagon and the Devil’s next command. Heading into a narrow passage at the wrong moment can leave you with no escape when the screen begins to shift.
Combat is simple but useful. While carrying a cross, Tamagon can breathe fire, temporarily defeating the roaming demons and creating safer routes through the maze. Enemies soon return, however, so fire is more about buying time than permanently clearing an area. Later stages become increasingly difficult as faster enemies and the moving walls combine to create situations that demand quick reactions.
Devil World also supports simultaneous two-player play, with the second player controlling another Tamagon. This adds a fun cooperative element, although two dragons navigating the same cramped maze can also create plenty of confusion.
The presentation is charming for such an early Famicom game. Tamagon, the cyclopean enemies and especially the animated Devil have plenty of personality, while the bright colors keep the religious imagery surprisingly lighthearted. Sound is basic, with simple effects and short musical themes rather than an elaborate soundtrack.
The biggest weakness is repetition. There are only a few basic objectives, and the game eventually relies on increased speed and difficulty rather than introducing major new ideas. The scrolling mechanic can also feel unforgiving, particularly when a sudden direction change leaves little room to escape.
Still, Devil World remains one of Nintendo's more interesting early experiments. Its moving maze creates genuine tension, the alternating objectives add more variety than many contemporary maze games, and the simultaneous multiplayer is a welcome bonus. It may not have the timeless simplicity of Pac-Man, but it is far more inventive than its clone-like appearance suggests and remains an enjoyable curiosity from Nintendo's early Famicom years.
Developed by Nintendo R&D1 and published by Nintendo in 1984, Devil World is an unusual maze-action game designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. At first glance it resembles Pac-Man, but its constantly moving playfield gives the familiar formula a distinctive and surprisingly tense twist. Rating: 7/10.
You control Tamagon, a small green dragon exploring mazes filled with demons and other hazards. Each cycle consists of several different stages. In the first, the objective is to clear the maze of Boa-Boa dots. Tamagon cannot simply collect them immediately, however. He first needs to pick up one of the crosses scattered around the level, which temporarily allows him to eat the dots and breathe fire at enemies.
The next stage changes the objective completely. Four Bibles appear around the maze, and Tamagon must collect them one at a time and carry them to a central seal. Once all four have been placed, the Devil is driven away and the game proceeds to a bonus round before the cycle begins again at a higher difficulty.
The defining mechanic is the moving maze. A large blue Devil sits above the playfield and repeatedly points left, right, up or down. His minions then move the entire maze in that direction. This means you are never simply navigating a static set of corridors. A safe route can suddenly disappear, and if Tamagon becomes trapped between a wall and the edge of the screen, he is crushed instantly.
This transforms what might otherwise have been a straightforward Pac-Man clone into something much more frantic. You constantly need to watch both the enemies around Tamagon and the Devil’s next command. Heading into a narrow passage at the wrong moment can leave you with no escape when the screen begins to shift.
Combat is simple but useful. While carrying a cross, Tamagon can breathe fire, temporarily defeating the roaming demons and creating safer routes through the maze. Enemies soon return, however, so fire is more about buying time than permanently clearing an area. Later stages become increasingly difficult as faster enemies and the moving walls combine to create situations that demand quick reactions.
Devil World also supports simultaneous two-player play, with the second player controlling another Tamagon. This adds a fun cooperative element, although two dragons navigating the same cramped maze can also create plenty of confusion.
The presentation is charming for such an early Famicom game. Tamagon, the cyclopean enemies and especially the animated Devil have plenty of personality, while the bright colors keep the religious imagery surprisingly lighthearted. Sound is basic, with simple effects and short musical themes rather than an elaborate soundtrack.
The biggest weakness is repetition. There are only a few basic objectives, and the game eventually relies on increased speed and difficulty rather than introducing major new ideas. The scrolling mechanic can also feel unforgiving, particularly when a sudden direction change leaves little room to escape.
Still, Devil World remains one of Nintendo's more interesting early experiments. Its moving maze creates genuine tension, the alternating objectives add more variety than many contemporary maze games, and the simultaneous multiplayer is a welcome bonus. It may not have the timeless simplicity of Pac-Man, but it is far more inventive than its clone-like appearance suggests and remains an enjoyable curiosity from Nintendo's early Famicom years.
