Pushmo

A puzzle game about rescuing children by moving blocks.

Pushmo, known as Pullblox in PAL regions, is a downloadable puzzle game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS via the Nintendo eShop. Players shift blocks to create paths and rescue trapped children. The game received universal acclaim and is considered a standout title for the platform.

Quick Facts

Developer

Intelligent Systems

Publisher

Nintendo

Director

Taku Sugioka

Producer

Toshio Sengoku
Naoki Nakano
Shinya Takahashi
Kensuke Tanabe
Keisuke Terasaki

Artist

Eiko Hirao; Daisuke Yasumatsu

Composer

Shoh Murakami

Platforms

Nintendo 3DS

Released

October 5, 2011 (JP); December 8, 2011 (WW)

Facts from the source article.

Plot and setting

Pushmo is set in Pushmo Park, where Papa Blox creates and cares for the Pushmo structures. While visiting, Mallo sees Papa Blox injure his back rescuing a child and offers help. They discover another trapped child, and Mallo proceeds through the park freeing the rest. At the end, the child Corin reveals he wanted friends; the children forgive him and leave with Mallo. Papa Blox later expands the park with new Pushmo.

Reception

Pushmo received universal acclaim on Metacritic. IGN called it a beautifully original portable puzzler and the 3DS eShop's killer app. 1Up.com described it as one of the 3DS's most outstanding offerings. Nintendo World Report said it was an ingenious puzzler that consumes free time. Fourteen years after release, Atari CEO Wade Rosen named it his favorite game of 2025, calling it a beautiful non-dopamine loop game of pure joy.

Legacy

A sequel, Crashmo (Fallblox in PAL, Hikuotsu in Japan), was announced in October 2012 and released in Japan on October 31, 2012, North America on November 22, 2012, and Europe/Australia on November 15, 2012. It features Mallo saving birds across 140 levels with blocks that can be pulled in any direction. Pushmo World (Pullblox World, Hikuosu World) launched for Wii U on June 19, 2014. Stretchmo released for 3DS in Japan on May 12, 2015, and elsewhere on May 14, 2015. Mallo appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U, and as a Spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which also includes Stretchmo's Welcome Center music. Mallo is a costume for Mario after beating Super Expert in 100 Mario Challenge. A microgame based on Pushmo appears in which the player controls Mallo to reach a Flag Pole.