Pierre the Maze Detective

Pierre the Maze Detective
Cover of first book in the series, Pierre the Maze Detective: The Search for the Stolen Maze Stone (2015).
  • Pierre the Maze Detective:
    The Search for the Stolen Maze Stone
  • Pierre The Maze Detective:
    The Mystery of the Empire Maze Tower
  • Pierre The Maze Detective:
    The Curious Case of the Castle in the Sky
  • Pierre The Maze Detective:
    The hunt for the Maze Pyramid
AuthorHiro Kamigaki, IC4DESIGN
CountryJapan
GenreChildren's literature, puzzle
PublisherUK, US: Laurence King Publishing (Hachette)[1]
Japan: Nagaoka Shoten[2]
Published2015–present
Media typePrint (hardback and paperback)

Pierre the Maze Detective is a series of children’s puzzle books started in 2015 and created by Japanese illustrator Hiro Kamigaki and his studio IC4DESIGN. It consists of double-page illustrations with mazes and hidden-object challenges.[3][4][5][6]

The series is influenced by Where's Wally?, Tintin, and the broader tradition of Franco-Belgian comics. It has elements of comic book story telling, combined with search-and-find challenges.[4][3][7] The series has sold over a million copies and been translated into over 30 languages.[5][8][7][9] The franchise also includes activity books, puzzles, and a video-game adaptation.[10][11]

The narrative follows Pierre, a young detective who specializes in mazes, and his companion Carmen, as they pursue the elusive Phantom Thief X (also known as Mr. X), whose mischief magically turn cities into labyrinths.[3][12] Each spread includes a labyrinthic crowded scene with Pierre at the starting point of a maze, and Mr. X at the end of it, making it the reader's challenge to help Pierre through the maze in pursuit of his nemesis.[13]

Description

The Pierre the Maze Detective books contain a series of double-page spreads. Each spread is a different setting, which always includes a maze, and hundreds of characters engaged in their own activities,[3][4][5] much like Where's Wally?.[4][3][7] The reader must solve the labyrinth of each page, guiding in the in-story protagonists, while also uncovering hidden items, clues, and smaller puzzles hidden throughout.[14][4][13][7]

The recurring protagonists are Pierre, a courteous young detective in a red cap and suit, and his companion Carmen.[3][4] Their nemesis, Phantom Thief X (or Mr. X), kicks off each adventure with the theft of magical artifacts that turn ordinary spaces into labyrinths.[12][15]

The story unfolds as a pursuit through a sequence of interconnected mazes, where the end of each maze, leads to the beginning of the following one on the next spread. The plot is mostly developed thorugh the illustrations, and enriched with some brief written messages in each new spread.[4][13][16]

The books are "detailed, brightly-colored, brimming with energy and full of humor."[5] Kamigaki has stated that his goal is “to draw interesting scenes that no one has ever seen,” designing illustrations that reward slow observation and reveal new stories with each viewing.[16][13] He has credited the artistic influences from Where's Wally?, Tintin, and the broader tradition of Franco-Belgian comics.[4][7]

History

The series began with the publication of Pierre the Maze Detective: The Search for the Stolen Maze Stone in 2014 in Japan, launching internationally the following year.[3][9][17] It was created by Hiro Kamigaki and his team at the Hiroshima-based studio IC4DESIGN.[18]

Prior to the creation of the series, Kamigaki and his team had first gained notoriety through the production of cover art for American magazines and other and campaigns for international clients,[18][9] developeing their style of intricade, pop-art illustrations. The series was built on that experience, combining the rigors of professional visual design, while leaning into their signature playful style.[19][6][17] Each title has taken multiple years to complete,[19][6][17] with the following installments in the series being released in 2017,[20][21] 2020,[10][4] and 2025.[22] Kamigaki has stated his intention to publish a fifth and final installment.[23][24]

As of 2021, the series had sold one million copies and been translated into over 30 languages.[5][4][10][18][17][7] Multiple licensed products have been spun off, including coloring books, sticker books and jigsaw puzzles.[17][25][26]

Reception

Critical response

Reviewers have most often compared this series to Where's Wally? for its dense composition and visual humor,[3][4] allowing readers to revisit pages multiple times and continue discovering new details.[5][14]

Publishers Weekly described the debut volume as featuring “Where’s Waldo? level of detail in the illustrations, along with secondary objects to locate and the unfolding mystery itself, ought to provide hours worth of entertainment for eagle-eyed readers."[3] The Guardian described it as "seductively intricate, with the narrative guiding the reader via ballrooms, sweetshops and fairgrounds to the pinnacle of the titular tower, this gorgeous combination of search-and-find and maze is seeded with exciting hidden extras – mini-mazes, trophies and stars to spot. Too fascinating for bedtime, it’s the perfect rainy-day companion,"[20][6]

GeekDad described the first volume as “one of the finest children’s books” of its year, highlighting the rich details and subplots that invite extended observation.[14] Get Hiroshima described the artwork as “incredibly detailed and colorful,” and comparing it to the works of Jean “Moebius” Giraud for its architectural detail and imaginative scope.[5][17]

Awards and distinctions

The Pierre the Maze Detective series has been recognized for its illustration quality and design innovation:

  • World Illustration Awards 2016 – Shortlisted for Pierre the Maze Detective (Association of Illustrators).[27][8][9]
  • ADC Awards (One Club for Creativity) 2018 – Recognition for The Mystery of the Empire Maze Tower.[28][9][23]
  • NYX Awards 2020 – Grand Winner for The Curious Case of the Castle in the Sky.[4][9]
  • Kyoto Global Design Awards 2021 – Visual Design recognition for The Curious Case of the Castle in the Sky.[19][9][8]

Bibliography

Books main series

  • Kamigaki, Hiro; IC4DESIGN (2015). Pierre the Maze Detective: The Search for the Stolen Maze Stone. ISBN 978-1780675633.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[1][13]
  • Kamigaki, Hiro; IC4DESIGN (2017). Pierre The Maze Detective: The Mystery of the Empire Maze Tower. ISBN 978-1786270597.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[21][7]
  • Kamigaki, Hiro; IC4DESIGN (2020). Pierre The Maze Detective: The Curious Case of the Castle in the Sky. ISBN 978-1786277404.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[29]
  • Kamigaki, Hiro; IC4DESIGN (2025). Pierre The Maze Detective: The hunt for the Maze Pyramid. ISBN 978-1510230620.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[22][2][30]

Supplemental books

  • IC4DESIGN; Kamigaki, Hiro (2016). Pierre the Maze Detective and The Great Coloring Adventure. ISBN 978-1780677903.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[25][5]
  • IC4DESIGN; Kamigaki, Hiro (2017). Pierre the Maze Detective: The Sticker Book. ISBN 978-1780679662.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[26]

Credited artists

The books are created by Hiro Kamigaki and his Hiroshima-based illustration and design studio IC4DESIGN.[18] [19][17][9] The books have credited IC4DESIGN team members Daisuke Matsubara, Yoko Sugi, Arisa Imamura, Masami Tatsugawa, Keiko Kamigaki, Liang Xiaoming, and later Yujiro Ayano.[31]

Video game adaptation

Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective
DeveloperDarjeeling
PublisherPixmain
DirectorsNoam Roubah
Marc Lustigman
ProducerLéa Pernot
DesignersPaul Vaille
Arthur Pilewicz
ProgrammersAndré Berlemont
Julien Liauzun
Enki Londe
WriterWladimir Anselme
ComposerXavier Thiry
ReleaseSteam: June 22, 2021
Nintendo Switch: July 15, 2021
iOS: March 3, 2022
GenreAdventure / Puzzle
ModeSingle-player

Description

Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is a videogame adaptation of the eponymous book series. It is developed by the Paris-based studio Darjeeling and published by Pixmain. The game was released for PC,Nintendo Switch and iOS in 2021.[11][32][5]

It is directly based on the first book, Pierre the Maze Detective: The Search for the Stolen Maze Stone;[11][33] following Pierre as he pursues his adversary Mr. X through Opera City after the theft of the Maze Stone, a magical artifact that to transforms its surroundings into mazes.[32][33][34]

Players navigate the mazes, interact with characters, and search for hidden objects across ten levels. Each level is rendered in two-dimensional animation, [11][35][36] replicating the book's art style, while introducing animation, music, and voice acting. The adaptation made for a more immersive world, giving names and dialogue to many of the minor background characters drawn in the books.[5]

The videogame was first conceived when a Darjeeling staff member contacted IC4DESIGN after the success of the debut book, leading to a collaboration that Kamigaki later described as “surreal and humbling.”[5] Kamigaki, who had previously worked in the gaming industry, noted that seeing his static illustrations animated on screen “made the effort worth it.”[5]

Reception

The game received positive reviews[34][33][32] and multiple awards for its art direction and faithful adaptation.[11][37][38][39]

Critics praised faithful adaptation of the books’ dense but static scenes, into animated scenes, and for the accessible and exploration-focused gameplay. Eurogamer described it as “an absolute delight,” highlighting its “dense, lively worlds” and “book-like flatness.”[40] PC Gamer said that readers could "peer at big, busy, colorful environments packed with weird comedic characters while soaking in lots of amazing little details."[15]Rapid Review UK called it “a pleasant and soothing experience.”[35] The game holds a Metacritic score of 81.[41] Reviewers compared it to Where’s Wally? and noted its gentle humor and nostalgic appeal.[15][5][42]

Awards and distinctions

  • Game Connection Asia 2020 – Indie Development Awards: Winner, Best Quality of Art.[11][37][43]
  • IndieCade 2020 – Winner, Visual Design Award.[38][43][39]
  • IndiePlay China 2020 – Nominee, Best Overseas Game.[44][45]
  • Digital Dragons Indie Celebration 2021 – Finalist.[46][45]
  • Busan Indie Connect (BIC) Festival 2021 – Winner of the Jury Prize and Excellence in Art Award.[47][45]

References

  1. 1 2 "Pierre the Maze Detective: The Search for the Stolen Maze Stone". 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 "迷路探偵ピエール　ピラミッドの秘宝を取りもどせ！" [Maze Detective Pierre: Recover the treasure of the pyramid!] (in Japanese). Japan: Nagaoka Shoten. 2025. Archived from the original on 7 November 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Pierre the Maze Detective: The Search for the Stolen Maze Stone". publishersweekly.com. Publishers Weekly. 2015. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Pierre The Maze Detective: The Curious Case of the Castle in [sic]". nyxawards.com. 2020. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Walsh, Paul (18 June 2021). "Labyrinth City: Pierre The Maze Detective Gets Moving". Archived from the original on 10 July 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Pierre the Maze Detective - in pictures". The Guardian. 17 December 2015. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Pierre The Maze Detective – The Mystery of the Empire Maze Tower". Behance. 2017. Archived from the original on 18 December 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 Karkalanova, Elena (22 June 2023). "Sofia is an inspiration for Japanese illustrator Hiro Kamigaki". Radio Bulgaria (BNR). Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. The series has been translated into 37 languages in over 38 countries, including Bulgaria. The illustrator collective, created by Hiro Kamigaki in Hiroshima in 1998, is the winner of many prestigious awards and was chosen as one of the 200 best illustrators in the world by the jury of American Illustration and the Society of Illustrators.
  9. 1 2 3 "Pierre the Maze Detective". societyillustrators.org. Society of Illustrators. 2020. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Moreno, Jim (27 December 2020). "Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective Wins Art Award, Launches Free Demo". The Gamer. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Pierre: El detective the laberintos" [Pierre the Maze Detective]. La Vanguardia. 2015. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Pierre The MAZE DETECTIVE – by HIRO KAMIGAKI & IC4DESIGN". Behance. 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 Liu, Jonathan H. (4 January 2016). "Stack Overflow: The Best Books of 2015". GeekDad. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 Livingston, Christopher (14 July 2021). "I didn't know 'maze detective' was a job, but right now it's the only job I want – Labyrinth City is a puzzle adventure game, and it's cute, colorful, and packed with wonderful detail". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021.
  15. 1 2 Maunz, Shay (2 September 2020). "Amazing Mazes". timeforkids.com. Time for Kids (Time). Archived from the original on 30 September 2020.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Walsh, Paul (2017). "The Return of Pierre The Maze Detective". gethiroshima.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "The World of Pierre The Maze Detective". Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan. May 2024. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Pierre the Maze Detective 3 (visual design)". kgd-a.org. Kyoto Global Design Awards. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023.
  19. 1 2 Williams, Imogen Russell (28 October 2017). "Children's books roundup: the best new picture books and novels". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 November 2017.
  20. 1 2 "Pierre the Maze Detective: The Mystery of the Empire Maze Tower". Laurence King Publishing. 2017. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022.
  21. 1 2 "Pierre the Maze Detective: The Hunt for the Maze Pyramid". Laurence King Publishing. Archived from the original on 9 August 2025.
  22. 1 2 "Trend & Illustrations #19／IC4DESIGNが描くRetro Active" ["Trend & Illustrations #19 / IC4DESIGN’s depiction of ‘Retro Active’"]. Tokyo Illustrators Society (in Japanese). 31 October 2023. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023.
  23. ↑ "イラストレーター– カミガキヒロフミさん 緻密なデザインで人々を魅了 絵本は世界33言語に翻訳" [Illustrator – Hirofumi Kamigaki captivates with his intricate designs. His picture books have been translated into 33 languages.] (PDF). 月刊 ウェンディ広島 (in Japanese). 1 March 2025. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 November 2025.
  24. 1 2 CBC Kids team (29 July 2022). "5 colouring books that will keep you busy all summer!". Archived from the original on 29 September 2025.
  25. 1 2 Hand, Renee (2017). "Pierre the Maze Detective: The Sticker Book". New York Journal of Books. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023.
  26. ↑ "IC4DESIGN - Pierre The Maze Detective (shortlist)". Association of Illustrators. 2016. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022.
  27. ↑ "2018 ADC Awards - Illustration". oneclub.org. Art Directors Club of New York. 2018. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021.
  28. ↑ "Pierre the Maze Detective: The Curious Case of the Castle in the Sky". Laurence King Publishing. 2020. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022.
  29. ↑ "Pierre The Maze Detective – The Curious Case of the Castle in the Sky". Behance. 2022. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021.
  30. ↑ "Book: Pierre the maze detective : the curious case of the castle in the sky / Hiro Kamigaki & IC4DESIGN". National Library of New Zealand. "IC4DESIGN : Daisuke Matsubara ; Yoko Sugi ; Arisa Imamura ; Keiko Kamigaki ; Masami Tatsugawa ; Liang Xiaoming."--colophon
    IC4DESIGN are a collective of illustrators based in Hiroshima, Japan. Founded by Hirofumi Kamigaki, they were elected one of the 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide, and were one of American Illustration's and the Society of Illustrators' selected illustrators.    {{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  31. 1 2 3 McNulty, Thomas (26 May 2021). "Pierre The Maze Detective Video Game Adaptation Announced - Publisher Pixmain announces Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective, a beautiful hand-drawn maze game based on a children's book series". screenrant.com. Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023.
  32. 1 2 3 Bell, Alice (28 June 2021). "Anyone else want games of those Usborne Puzzle Adventure books from the 80s and 90s?". Archived from the original on 4 July 2021.
  33. 1 2 Ehrenhofler, Courtney (21 July 2021). "Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective Review". techraptor.net. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021.
  34. 1 2 "Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective Review". Rapid Review UK. 1 August 2021. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021.
  35. ↑ Birsner, Chris (17 September 2021). "The Best Hidden Object Games For PC". thegamer.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024.
  36. 1 2 "Game Connection Asia 2020 Indie Development Awards". game-connection.com. 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  37. 1 2 "AWARDS WINNING GAMES". IndieCade. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  38. 1 2 Smith, Olly (28 May 2021). "Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is a crime puzzler coming to mobile later this summer". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021.
  39. ↑ Purchese, Robert (3 July 2021). "The exciting revival of old puzzle books in Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022.
  40. ↑ "Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective". metacritic.com. Metacritic. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023.
  41. ↑ Breeden II, John (21 February 2022). "An A-maze-ing Adventure with Maze Detective". gameindustry.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022.
  42. 1 2 "Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective Out Now on PC, Coming July 15th to Nintendo Switch, and Q3 to mobiles". cosmocover.com. 22 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021.
  43. ↑ "2020 indiePlay中国独立游戏大赛入围名单公布！" (in Chinese). indiePlay. 18 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020.
  44. 1 2 3 "『迷路探偵ピエール：ラビリンス・シティ』がApp Storeにて本日発売開始！Steamで大好評の迷宮アドベンチャーゲームが待望のiOSデビュー！" ["Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective" launches today on the App Store – the hit maze adventure game from Steam comes to iOS]. ゲームハック (in Japanese). 4 March 2022. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022.
  45. ↑ "Indie Celebration 2021 finalists". Digital Dragons. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  46. ↑ "BIC Festival Awards 2021 – The Jury Prize and Excellence in Art". store.steampowered.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Further reading

More information on the making of, behind the scenes, and explainers for the books:

This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.