A Capcom action-RPG starring Firebrand from Ghosts'n Goblins. Side-view RPG exploration, 2D action levels, magic to unlock. More mature and dense than a simple Capcom platformer, and the gothic mood lands surprisingly well in monochrome. A real Game Boy masterpiece unjustly forgotten, essential.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player12+
Description
Action-RPG with Firebrand the gargoyle from Ghosts'n Goblins exploring the Demon Realm to become king of the demons. Published by Capcom, released in 1990 in Europe and North America. Side-scrolling RPG exploration, action-platformer levels, Firebrand's evolving powers, and story progression.
Game Boy prequel to Demon's Crest, laying the foundations of the Firebrand playstyle and the gothic strand Capcom would carry to Super Nintendo. On the large North American market the title circulated in reasonable numbers, and the US cardboard box, prone to corner wear and warping, governs the value of clean complete copies. Demand comes from Ghosts'n Goblins followers who see here the only handheld branch of the Red Arremer lineage and from hunters of the scarce action RPGs on Game Boy.
An underrated gem
An unexpected spin-off of Ghosts'n Goblins, it hands the controls to Firebrand, the red gargoyle, in a singular blend of action-platforming and side-view RPG. Stuck on Game Boy while the saga shone on home consoles, it stayed in the shadows. Its gothic mood and evolving powers will delight fans of demanding adventure.
Is Gargoyle's Quest still worth playing in 2026?
A Ghosts'n Goblins spin-off built around Firebrand, Gargoyle's Quest blends side-scrolling action with RPG-flavoured exploration in a way few 1990 titles attempt. On Game Boy, the hover and wall-cling controls remain a real pleasure, and the magic spells unlocked along the way reward backtracking. Its gothic atmosphere holds up surprisingly well in monochrome, and the hybrid format still has almost no equivalent from that era. For fans of 8-bit Capcom action with a broader structure, it remains a relevant, long-underrated little experience.
