Fall from Space (Open-world Game Boy ARPG) – Out now!
What is Fall from Space (Open-world Game Boy ARPG) – Out now!?
Fall from Space is an open-world, non-linear action RPG set across a solar system, with Metroidvania-style platforming. Players explore worlds, take on side quests, make choices that affect characters and events, and uncover a branching story with multiple endings.
Fall from Space is a solo-developed action RPG for Game Boy hardware, available as an HTML5 title. The game is built around exploration across multiple worlds in a solar system, combining open-world RPG structure with Metroidvania-style platforming. Players wake with no memory on a strange planet and seek answers while meeting characters, finding secrets, completing side quests, and making choices that shape the world. The story branches toward multiple endings, including secret endings, and a karma system affects events. A playthrough is estimated at 7–12 hours, with save-anywhere support and multiple save slots.
How to play Fall from Space (Open-world Game Boy ARPG) – Out now!
- In action/platformer mode, press A to jump and B to strike or use an ability.
- Use up or down to roll toward or back; combine B with up or down to step toward or back.
- Press A with down to drop through a platform, and up to enter or examine when context allows.
- Use select to toggle ability and start to open in-game menus.
- In exploration/RPG mode, press A to talk, examine, or interact; B runs once unlocked.
- During map travel, use select to toggle movement and map, and press A to examine locations or celestial objects in orbit.
Fall from Space (Open-world Game Boy ARPG) – Out now! controls
Controls are taken from the developer's itch.io page.
Tips for Fall from Space (Open-world Game Boy ARPG) – Out now!
- Enemies often telegraph attacks; step or roll back to avoid a close combat attack, then step forward to counter strike.
- Roll forward to duck under enemy projectiles.
- Talk to everyone possible in towns to discover side quests and progress the main story.
- Save regularly because the star system is described as dangerous.
Fall from Space (Open-world Game Boy ARPG) – Out now! FAQ
What kind of game is Fall from Space?
It is an open-world, non-linear action RPG with Metroidvania-style platforming, set across multiple worlds in a solar system.
How long is a playthrough?
The game offers 7–12 hours of gameplay.
Does it have multiple endings?
Yes. The story branches with multiple endings, including secret endings, and a karma system shapes the world.
Can players save anywhere?
Yes. The game includes save-anywhere support and multiple save slots.
What platforms does it run on?
It is built to run on Game Boy Color, GBA/SP, Chromatic, Analogue Pocket, and compatible hardware and software, and is available as an HTML5 title.
About this game
Read the full developer description
Awake, arise or be for ever fall’n
Waking with no memory on a strange planet,
you begin a journey for answers.
The choices you make
will shape the course of history.
A solar system inside a cartridge
Fall from Space is an open-world, non-linear action RPG, built for real Game Boy hardware and created entirely by a solo developer.
Explore a solar system full of secrets, side quests, and choices that matter.
Out now! Get your copy over at www.fallfromspace.co.uk
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Features
Explore the stars! Journey across multiple worlds. A solar system inside a cartridge, filled with side quests, encounters, secrets, and upgrades.
- Combines an open-world RPG with Metroidvania style platforming, in a unique Game Boy experience.
- A branching story with multiple endings, secret endings and a karma system that shapes the world around you.
- Quests with real choices that affect characters and events.
- 7–12 hours of gameplay, with save-anywhere support, multiple save slots, unlockables, and even Game Boy Printer support!
- Developed solo to run on Game Boy Color, GBA/SP, Chromatic, Analogue Pocket, and all compatible hardware and software.
- Original box art by Mitsuhiro Arita.
- Featuring a stunning original soundtrack by Beatscribe. Now available on Bandcamp.
Player reviews
★★★★★Extremely Fun
This is unlike anything that I have ever played let alone on the GBC. There is so much detail in the worlds and characters. Tons of fun.
★★★★★Great game and great value
This has more staying power than most gbc games. Well worth the money and right at the top of my favorite gbc game list.
★★★★★Way more depth than I anticipated!
This game truly pushes the limits of the hardware and does a fantastic job!
★★★★★AMAZING GAME
WOW! thats all i can say right away, this game is incredible and i am just blown away. It has amazing platforming, a cool combat system that is simple but can be rewarding and challenging, and the traveling in the over-world to get to other areas and then explore them is so unique. Not only a good modern game boy game, but maybe one of the coolest gameboy games ever made. and you fly from planet to planet in space i mean come on, this is great! GET IT!
★★★★★
It's a mix of the classic Metroid games, Link's Awakening, and EarthBound. I love the classic combat and environmental obstacles, but I also really enjoyed the complex story and memorable NPCs. It took me six days to complete my first playthrough, but I'm nowhere near 100% completion and still have plenty of story variants to discover. The music and graphics are beautifully crafted. I really hope they make a sequel or another game like this.
★★★★★One of the most expansive Gb
This game feels too big for the Game Boy platform (in a good way). It has RPG decision trees like classic BioWare games and really fun platforming and action sequences. The DMG-inspired palettes are worked onto the story in a fun way and the music is atmospheric and perfectly fits the vibe. Can't get much better.
Read more player reviews.
Background
Fall from Space is a large-scale, exploration-driven action RPG for the Game Boy, developed solo in my spare time since Dec 2021. Blending literary and science-fiction influences—from Paradise Lost to 90s CRPGs like Fallout—it tells a story of memory, loss and discovery across a solar system of interconnected worlds.
Built entirely within the hardware limits of the Game Boy as to run on original hardware, the project pushes the system’s boundaries to deliver an open-world action RPG experience rarely seen on the platform.
As my second project in the works for several years, it builds on everything I learned creating Tales of Monsterland and expands it using the incredible possibilities the latest versions of GB Studio tooling have opened up.
You can download the demo now to explore the full planet of Pandæmonium which should be a solid glimpse of the complete game.
If you enjoy what you see, leaving a review, sharing, retweeting, or spreading the word helps more than you might think—every bit of support makes a real difference.
Follow for future updates and announcements (and I'd love any feedback), here and on my social media accounts https://bsky.app/profile/joelj.bsky.social, www.twitter.com/joeljgames and http://instagram.com/joeljgames/.
There's an email subscription list too, reserved for major announcements.
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Demo controls
Action/Platformer mode
(A) Jump
(B) Strike / ability
(↑) Roll towards
(↓) Roll back
(B) + (↑) Step towards
(B) + (↓) Step back
[select] Toggle ability
[start] In game menus
(A) + (↓) Drop down through platform
(↑) Enter/examine (context dependant)
Exploration/RPG mode
(A) Talk / examine / interact
(B) Run (unlockable)
[start] In game menus
Over-world map travel
[select] Toggle move & map
(A) Examine location (map)
[start] In game menus
Interplanetary travel
(A) to examine a celestial object while in orbit of it
Tips:
Enemies often telegraph their attack, step or roll back to avoid a close combat attack, step forwards to counter strike.
Roll forwards to duck under enemy projectiles.
Talk to everyone you can in towns to discover side quests and progress the main story along.
Save regularly, the star system is a dangerous place!
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Credits
Original story, graphics and all development by myself.
Thanks to – Rulz, Toxa, Bryan Rollins and all the other champs in GB Studio Discord who are always generous with their time for scripting questions. Gumpy Function for feedback and GBS Central articles on game design.
Martin Gauer (2nd Law Games), CptBacon, Andy, James Gilbert, Matt Winston and Beatscribe for testing and feedback.
Chris Maltby for GB Studio, Pautomas, for scripting help, key plugins and for GB Studio, Hauntology for platforming engine mods/plugin.
The full Original Soundtrack is by Beatscribe, including the excellent Fall from Space titles and Junkton theme (and much more) as well as some great new custom SFX.
SFX by Coffee 'Valen' Bat.
The stunning box art, painted by Mitsuhiro Arita.
Anyone who’s shared, liked, reviewed or just given feedback about my games, it really means a lot and kept me going with this project over the years, I appreciate the support.
Description from Fall from Space (Open-world Game Boy ARPG) – Out now! on itch.io, by Joel J Games.
Screenshots
Not listed by the developer: release date. We left these out rather than guess.