Hands-On Report: "Professor Layton and the New World of Steam." Challenge the Puzzles in This Title by QuizKnock [TGS 2025]
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/948/G094835/20250926002/
Editorial Department: RENE | 2025/09/26 05:15 (UTC)
Level 5’s new title, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam (available on Nintendo Switch 2 / Nintendo Switch), was showcased as a playable demo at the company’s booth during Tokyo Game Show 2025. This report covers our hands-on impressions, though please note it includes minor spoilers regarding certain puzzles.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam is the latest installment in the beloved Professor Layton series, where players unravel numerous puzzles while progressing through an epic story. The game’s puzzle design was developed by “QuizKnock,” the quiz team led by Takashi Iizawa, former champion of the University of Tokyo Quiz Battle.
A new promotional video has also been released—be sure to check it out.
The game is set in a fictional town called Steam Bison, located in America. This remarkable new world has rapidly advanced thanks to universal steam technology, surpassing even London in development. The adventure begins when an inexplicable event occurs in this town, prompting Professor Layton and Luke’s latest journey.
The hands-on demo was played on the Nintendo Switch 2 version, featuring support for mouse controls unique to the system. The trial version is a special edition created specifically for TGS and differs in content from the final release.
The trial begins with Professor Layton arriving in Steam Bison after receiving a letter from Luke. The town thrives through steam-powered electricity, steam locomotives, steam automobiles, steam industrial robots, and even steam computers—making daily life comfortable for its residents.
However, once they land, the main character, Luke, is nowhere to be found. This leads directly into the first puzzle: searching for a person mistaken by the airport attendant as Luke.
Solving the puzzle reveals it was simply a case of mistaken identity. The next challenge involves spotting subtle inconsistencies in the statue of the town’s hero, Pylon—a task that proves surprisingly difficult. Even the author struggled and spent considerable time on this one.
Next, players attempt a puzzle involving transporting parts for a moving bridge—but the hands-on session ended before completion.
Though the demo time was short and we didn’t reach the point where Luke is finally found, that’s certainly a regret. Nevertheless, the cleverly designed puzzles—true to QuizKnock’s style—left a strong impression, significantly boosting anticipation for the full release.
The game has been delayed from its original schedule and is now slated for release within 2026. Given the extra time spent refining quality, this delay makes sense. We eagerly await the day we can dive into the rich variety of puzzles in the official version.