Inspector Waffles Early Days

great great detective game, and amazing introduction to the lore, cant wait for the 3rd game

Short and cute! (very intense case too)
It was nice working with inspector Pancakes :')
Also love that we get to see the first meetings with all the co-workers and friends of Waffles

Inspector Waffles Early Days takes the familiar detective-adventure formula and compresses it into a deliberately retro package inspired by classic handheld gaming. Acting as a prequel to Inspector Waffles, it follows the feline investigator at a much earlier stage of his career, when enthusiasm and determination have yet to be matched by years of experience. This perspective gives the story an appealing sense of growth, allowing players to see how Waffles develops his investigative abilities while becoming involved in cases that gradually establish his reputation. The game is developed and published by Goloso Games, with its compact design clearly built around mystery solving, character interaction, and old-school presentation rather than spectacle.

The adventure is divided into five chapters, each centered on its own criminal investigation. The cases involve different offenses, including theft, arson, and trafficking, providing enough variety to prevent the structure from becoming overly repetitive. Each chapter essentially operates as a miniature detective episode. Players arrive at a situation, investigate the surroundings, speak with those involved, gather evidence, and eventually determine what actually happened. This episodic approach works especially well for a smaller mystery game because progress remains tangible and every completed case provides a satisfying conclusion.

Investigation is the heart of the gameplay. Waffles must carefully search locations for clues that can reveal details about suspects or contradict statements made during conversations. Environmental examination is therefore more than decorative interaction, since apparently minor discoveries can become important evidence later. The relatively compact environments complement this approach. Instead of forcing players to wander through enormous areas looking for a single interactive object, the game keeps its investigations concentrated enough that observation and reasoning remain the primary focus.

Interrogating characters provides another important part of the detective process. Witnesses and suspects may offer useful information, but their accounts cannot always be accepted without question. Evidence gathered during exploration can be presented when appropriate, allowing Waffles to challenge suspicious claims or reveal inconsistencies. This creates a satisfying connection between exploration and dialogue because clues are not simply items collected for completion. Players are expected to understand why particular pieces of evidence matter and determine when they should be used.

Waffles is accompanied by Pancakes, an experienced inspector who acts as both partner and mentor. Their relationship helps establish the protagonist's position as a newcomer who still has something to prove. Pancakes also plays an important role when investigations reach their conclusions. Rather than automatically completing a case after every clue has been discovered, the game tests whether the player actually understood the evidence. Answering questions about the investigation and identifying the responsible party creates a genuine deduction phase, giving each case a more rewarding ending than simply reaching the final dialogue sequence.

The writing maintains a light and humorous personality despite dealing with criminal investigations. A world populated by anthropomorphic animals naturally creates opportunities for visual jokes, playful dialogue, and plenty of feline humor. At the same time, the story establishes connections with the broader Inspector Waffles narrative, including the presence of a character destined to become an important adversary. This makes the prequel more meaningful for returning players while remaining understandable for newcomers who have never experienced the original adventure.

Visually, the Game Boy Color influence is impossible to miss. Pixelated environments, compact character sprites, restrained color palettes, and a straightforward interface deliberately evoke portable games from that period. The presentation is not attempting to compete with modern adventure games through elaborate animation or cinematic detail. Instead, its personality comes from how effectively it uses limited visual resources. The result has a nostalgic identity without requiring players to have grown up with the hardware that inspired it.

The simplicity extends to the overall game design. Players expecting extremely complicated forensic procedures, huge branching narratives, demanding action sequences, or sprawling open environments will not find those elements here. This is a focused detective adventure built around exploration, conversation, clue management, and deduction. Some experienced puzzle players may find portions of the investigation relatively approachable, but accessibility suits the game's scale and tone. The emphasis is on following a mystery from discovery to conclusion rather than overwhelming the player with obscure solutions.

On PC, the game includes useful modern features such as achievements, cloud functionality, Family Sharing, and full controller support. Controller support is particularly appropriate considering the handheld-inspired design. The straightforward movement and interaction systems translate naturally to gamepad controls, helping the experience retain the feeling of a compact portable adventure even when played on a desktop computer.

For Steam Deck compatibility, the game is well suited conceptually to handheld play because of its lightweight retro presentation, controller-friendly mechanics, readable adventure structure, and lack of demanding precision-based gameplay. However, players should distinguish practical playability from Valve's official Steam Deck verification system. If the Steam store does not display an official Verified or Playable classification for the title, it should be regarded as not officially rated for Steam Deck rather than automatically described as Verified. Its full controller support and modest technical nature nevertheless make it the type of game that should translate naturally to portable play, although individual compatibility can depend on the current Proton version and game build.

One of the strongest qualities of Inspector Waffles Early Days is its consistency. The visual style, humor, investigative mechanics, chapter structure, and prequel narrative all support the same compact detective concept. It does not try to artificially enlarge its scope with unnecessary systems. Instead, it concentrates on making players feel like detectives by encouraging them to examine scenes, question suspicious characters, connect evidence, and prove their conclusions. The five-case format also makes it easy to enjoy in shorter sessions, which further complements its handheld-inspired identity.

Overall, Inspector Waffles Early Days is an enjoyable detective adventure that turns technical simplicity into part of its charm. Its mysteries are approachable without being completely passive, while interrogations and end-of-case deductions provide meaningful reasons to pay attention to collected evidence. The retro graphics and animal-centered humor give it personality, and the rookie-detective premise adds worthwhile context to Waffles as a character. It may be too compact and straightforward for players seeking exceptionally complex detective simulations, but as a nostalgic, focused mystery adventure, it delivers an engaging combination of deduction, humor, and classic handheld style.

Rating: 8/10

A prequel to Inspector Waffles made with GB studio, the writing is still great, some puzzles are harder, but still fun.

My only issues are a crash and the controls stopped working a couple times.

Interesting prequel to Inspector Waffles. This game is in the style of a Game Boy, Waffles questions suspects and gains clues. For each case there are four pieces of information to work out.

There's also a hidden storyline that I missed the first playthrough with some cunning puzzles.

Looking forward to more of Waffles' adventures!