Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure
A puzzle sandbox merging Scribblenauts with the DC Universe.
Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure is a puzzle sandbox video game released in 2013. It was developed by 5th Cell and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for the Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and Microsoft Windows. As the fifth installment in the Scribblenauts series, it was also the last game 5th Cell developed. The game merges the series' core mechanic—writing words to summon objects and solve puzzles—with the characters and locations of the DC Universe.
In gameplay, players control Maxwell, a boy whose magical notepad can bring any object or person to life, and can alter them with adjectives. A "Hero Creator" feature lets players design custom objects. Players explore DC locations such as the Batcave, Gotham City, Atlantis, Metropolis, the Fortress of Solitude, Central City, and Oa. Optional levels retell the origins of Justice League members. A Reputation Points system rewards players for completing missions and summoning new objects, with points used to unlock levels and costumes. The Wii U version includes "Sidekick mode," a co-op multiplayer option where a second player uses a Wii Remote to control characters and objects.
The plot follows Maxwell and his twin sister Lily, who both love comics and argue about which of their favorite characters would win in a fight. To settle this, they combine Lily's magic globe—which teleports users anywhere—with a page from Maxwell's notebook to travel to the DC Universe. During teleportation, the globe shatters, scattering starites (the globe's power source) across the universe. They land in Gotham City, where Batman initially mistakes them for criminals. After Maxwell helps Batman fight Deadshot, Batman learns about the starites and agrees to help. He reveals that the Joker has an ally matching Maxwell's description. They find that ally is Maxwell's villainous counterpart, Doppelganger, who aids villains in collecting starites. After defeating Joker and Doppelganger, Commissioner Gordon gives Maxwell the first starite. With it restored, Lily can teleport Maxwell anywhere but not home. Maxwell then travels to Metropolis, Oa, Wayne Manor, Arkham Asylum, Joker's funhouse, the Fortress of Solitude, the Justice League Watchtower, Central City, Atlantis, and Themyscira to recover starites. Eventually, Cyborg is tricked into sending Maxwell to a trap satellite.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure
- Developer
- 5th Cell · Shiver Entertainment (PS4, Xbox One, Switch)
- Publisher
- Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Series
- Scribblenauts
- Platforms
- Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Released
- Windows / NA · September 24, 2013 · EU · September 24, 2013Wii U, Nintendo 3DS / NA · September 24, 2013 · AUS · September 25, 2013Switch, PS4, Xbox One / WW · September 18, 2018
- Genre
- Puzzle, action
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game follows Maxwell and his twin sister Lily, who use Lily's magic globe and a page from Maxwell's notebook to travel to the DC Comics universe. During teleportation, the globe shatters, scattering starites across the universe. Batman initially mistakes them for criminals but later helps them recover the starites. Maxwell's villainous counterpart Doppelganger allies with the Joker and later with Brainiac, who steals the globe and plans to merge with 51 alternate versions of himself to destroy the multiverse. Maxwell creates a twin sister for Doppelganger named Doppelily, causing both to reform, and summons parallel-universe Justice Leaguers to defeat Brainiac. After recovering the starites, Maxwell and Lily return home.
Players visit locations such as the Batcave, Gotham City, Atlantis, Metropolis, the Fortress of Solitude, Central City, and Oa, with optional levels retelling Justice League origins. The game features a Reputation Points system for unlocking levels and costumes, and a Hero Creator for custom objects. The Wii U version includes Sidekick mode, allowing a second player to control characters and objects with a Wii Remote.
Reader's Guide
Scribblenauts Unmasked represents the final game developed by 5th Cell and the only entry in the series to fully integrate a licensed comic universe. Its significance lies in combining the open-ended object-summoning mechanics of Scribblenauts with the vast DC Comics roster, allowing players to solve puzzles using any DC character or item they can write. The game received mixed or average reviews across platforms, with critics noting its ambitious scope but also its uneven execution. IGN gave it a 9.1, praising its mental exercise and DC fan appeal, while other reviewers cited weak goal-oriented gameplay and an abundance of content that sometimes felt unfocused. The game was re-released in 2018 as part of Scribblenauts Mega Pack, which added extra missions involving the Suicide Squad and Teen Titans. A special edition sold at Walmart included a DVD of the film Green Lantern: Emerald Knights. Despite its flaws, the game is remembered as a nerd sandbox for DC fans, offering a unique way to interact with the universe through creative problem-solving.
Did You Know?
- The game is the fifth in the Scribblenauts series and the final one developed by 5th Cell.
- The Wii U version features a co-op Sidekick mode using a Wii Remote.
- The Mega Pack re-release added missions involving the Suicide Squad and Teen Titans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure?
It is a 2013 puzzle sandbox title that fuses the word-summoning gameplay of the Scribblenauts franchise with the characters and settings of the DC Comics universe. Developed by 5th Cell and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, it serves as the fifth entry in the series.
What platforms was Scribblenauts Unmasked released on?
The game launched in 2013 for the Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and Microsoft Windows. It was published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
How does the core gameplay work in Scribblenauts Unmasked?
Players guide Maxwell, a boy with a magical notepad, through DC-themed levels by typing words that conjure objects, creatures, or people to solve puzzles. The mechanic mirrors earlier Scribblenauts titles, but the challenges take place in recognizable DC locations and involve DC characters.
What makes Scribblenauts Unmasked different from other games in the series?
Rather than setting puzzles in the series' usual original worlds, this entry drops Maxwell into the DC Universe so that challenges revolve around superheroes, villains, and iconic locations. It was also the last Scribblenauts game developed by 5th Cell.
Why is Scribblenauts Unmasked considered important to the franchise?
As the fifth and final game produced by 5th Cell, it represents the studio's last creative contribution to the Scribblenauts line. Its DC Comics crossover also demonstrated how the word-summoning mechanic could be applied to a licensed property.
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