Play Pitman (Japan) Online

Pitman came out for the Game Boy in 1990, published by Asmik Corporation. It was one of those early portable puzzle games that felt right at home on the small screen, offering a clear, focused challenge without a lot of frills. In an era full of action platformers and RPGs, it stood out for its methodical, almost tactical approach to problem solving.

You control a small character armed only with a shovel, and your goal is to collect all the treasure in each single screen stage while avoiding monsters. The main mechanic involves digging holes to trap enemies; they fall in and disappear after a moment, giving you a brief window to move safely. You also need to plan your digging carefully, because you can only have two open pits at a time and the layout directly affects your mobility. The pacing is deliberate, and the difficulty ramps up steadily as stages introduce more enemies and complex terrain. It feels satisfying to outsmart the monsters with well placed traps and efficient pathing.