Play Spirou Online

Spirou on the Game Boy Color came out in 2000 from Infogrames, a time when licensed platformers were common on portables. It was based on a Belgian comic series, which meant it had a built in audience but also had to stand on its own gameplay.

You control the bellhop Spirou, running and jumping through themed levels to rescue your friend. The main goal is to progress through each stage, fighting off enemies with a simple punch attack. A key mechanic is using your squirrel sidekick, Spip, who you can throw at out of reach items or enemies. You also collect stars scattered around the levels, which are needed to unlock later areas. The game moves at a steady pace, though some jumps require precise timing and the later stages get quite difficult. Playing it feels like a straightforward, sometimes challenging trip through a cartoon world.